WOMEN AS INSPIRERS 



361 



the chief figure in this history of sentiment and morals 

 would certainly be that of Woman the Inspirer." 1 



This same statement would hold equally good if applied 

 to the part taken by women in the history of science. Their 

 achievements have, in most cases, been so overshadowed by 

 those of men that their work has been usually regarded as 

 a negligible quantity. But when one considers the main- 

 springs of actions, and examines the silent undercurrents 

 which escape the notice of the superficial observer, one 

 finds, as in social and political history, that the most im- 

 portant scientific investigations are often conducted, and 

 the most momentous discoveries are made, in consequence 

 of the promptings of some devoted woman friend, or in 

 virtue of the still, small voice of a cherished wife, or sister, 

 who prefers to remain in the background in order that all 

 the glory of achievement may redound to the man. 



There have been, it may safely be asserted, few really 

 eminent men in science, as there have been few really 

 eminent men in art or letters, or in the great reform and 

 religious movements of the world, who have not been 

 assisted by some woman light-bearer, as were Hortensius 

 by Martia, Tully by Terentia and Pliny by Calpurnia. 

 There have been few that have not, during hours of doubt 

 and discouragement, been sustained and stimulated as was 

 Francis by Clara, and Jerome by Paula and Eustochium. 

 And there have been still fewer who have not had, like 

 Petrarch and Dante, their Laura or their Beatrice of whom 

 each could say : 



"This is the beacon guides to deeds of worth, 

 And urges me to see the glorious goal: 

 This bids me leave behind the vulgar throng." 



In the preceding chapters we have had notable examples 

 of women whose beneficent influence and cooperation have 



1 Women of Florence, by Isodoro del Lungo, p. xxvii, London^ 

 1907, 



