Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-05-31

VINO hau served under him, and although
,he rayages Of almost half century, had
obliterated the features which once made
these brave men known to each other,
they mutually recollec,ed multitude oil
incidents which had occurred in their
former service. More than one Of those
who had been under his command as
sured us they could not recognize 10 the
features Of this noble old man, a trace o!
the young and gallant Frenchman who
led them to danger and glory.
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
Is the notura! catacity of the Serea
equal2 z.'t=
am aware some will excuse them
selves from an investigation Of this sub
Iecl, because they consider ii unimpor-
,ant, thinking wonan's sphere SO Ii.
mIted that she can easily perform her
duties with only enc talent. OTHERS will
reject the question as accc"rd, while So
great proportion Of the world consider
women inferior. Some will oppose the
idea from pride; they have always sup
posed themselves the lords of the crea-
tion," and they are unwilling to admit a
thought which initiates against their su-
periority. And others will rank with the
opposers from principle; they fear, If
women were confident Of their equality,
they would quit their proper sphere and
refuse due subordlnaion. But the prac-
iicabe importance of this subject de-
mands that we divest ourselves of indif-
ference, pride, sinister motives, and pre-
JUDGE, and give it faithful investigation.
The objections to the equal capacity
OF the sexes are numerous, and, to SUI
perticial mind, plausible; but, on exami-
nation, many OF them will prove Elusive
as the baseless fabric Of a dream"
And if the capacity Of females is equal
10 that OF men, why has the fact been SO
long concealed, and the general belief
been againstit? Indifference to the truth
o: proposition may long keep man
with the multitude in the belief OF an err
ror; but in this case he is an interested
judge, and wishes not to investigate, per-
baps at times closes his eyes, lest truth
dazzle them by its glare, and deprive
him OF half his comparative dignity. But
1t women have equal talents, why do they
not assert their rights and substantiate
their claims Many women themselves
have believed the inferior ability Of their
sex 10 men. Tradition and public OPT
Mon, with the weakness consequent on
ignorance, are sufficient to account for
this fact; and reverence for husband
would make a woman of this contracted
mind. silence doubt OF his superiority
as degree Of treason, should it obtrude.
Till lately, except here and there soli-
tary instance, women had not the ncces-
sary education 10 eyince to themselves
their equal rank in capacity, or TO mani
fest it 10 others; and their native retiring
modesty is directly opposed to such an
cncroaChment.
1t may be said, that in every civilized
country, there have been men whose de-
sire for literature could be repressed by
no disadvantages, and who would sur
mount every obstacle in its pursuit. If
the intellectual powers Of females are the
same, why have they not manifested the
same thirst for knowledge, and made
equal excrtions for its attainment This
question. involves many considerations.
Boys read with admiration the zeal, sue
cess, and rewards Of literary heroes and
besides a love OF science, they have hope
of gratifeG ambition to prompt them for
ward, and the highest honors and wealth
OF their country glitter in their view. But
how much opposed to this would have
been the circumstances Of a female
scholar, trimming her midnight lamp,
and neglecting other avocations to &C.
quire knowledge? Instead Of acquiring
emolument or honor, her only prospect,
ill within short period, would have
been to become almost an isolated being,
ridiculed and condemned by her own sex,
as a fanatic, and fesred and stunned by
the other. And though female learning
is now more duly appreciated, her in
ducements to acquire very superior
education must ever be small; and in
many instances, the delicacy Of her cor
porcal constitution would be an insupe-
rable barrier to great researches in lite
rature. In juvenile years the progress
Of girls in learning is allowed by all to