The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1832-08-11
yoR THE .sfAs.

capacity Of the diiiercnt sexes ~ prose-
cutting this subject, great deal of inge-
nuity has been displayed; !; while at the
same time, prejudice has too generally u.
surpcd the place Of. candor and honesty
By some, female talents have been base
! Iy degsadcd to. .friyolousness and insipidi'
|iy. Others, in tho enthusiasm ofchivalry,
have wandered as far on the other ex-
treme, and claimed for the female mind
attributes Of superhuman excellence and
power ascfibing their general inieriority
lin scientific aitainments to neglected ed
ucation, rather than to want ofinsellectuql
strength and energy. 81.
I Both. parties seem to me equally at va
rinuce with truth. They forget while in
sti,utiug this comparison, that tho sexes
! wcro, eyeidentJy ordained for distinct prov
inccs; 80 that any comparison, however
ingcniously managed or plausib!y main
tainod, must necessarily fail Of producing
any other effect, than that Of creating Bit
lerness Of feeling, where, il is ofthe first
importance that harmony should exist un-
interrupted and unimpaired.
/ shall not deny that cases are recorded
Of females who have made great progress
in philosophy, metaphysics, mathematics
and languagc;-perhaps there arc others
who might make equal proficiency in
these studies,zwerc circumstances proph-
ious to the undertaking. Yet Iwould en-
quirc whether multiplication ofsuch'cx-
amplcs is calculated to promote either the
happiness or true honor of the sex They
seem made to please. But the eelouded
brow-the prematurely furrowed cheek.
and the saturnine cast ofcharacter which
results from severe and abstruce investi-
cations, are but poorly calculated to .oher-
ish pleasing qualities or inspire the .gra-
ces. nn
Even men, who are gifted with finc i'm
aginations, are'common!y found defective
in the solid sciences and, though once
in an ago an4indiyidual may be found,
tlcnding warm and vigorous fancy with
a sound and discriminating judgment, the
union of such qualities is so raro, that it
always excites establishment, and 'produc-
es IN admiration ~ 70 thai sfclt ON behold
ing tho fires Of Rtna boiling through4hc
icebergs Of the north.
"a Sgkls tksrsesus, ,e~e maintain that the
general disposition and physical confor-
mation ofthe female sex unto, in disqual-
Tying them for thinking with Locke, COM
bining with Montcsquicu, or scsutinizing
the secrets Of nature with Newton,-we
allow them what is better-what gives
them an influence in J. society which
nothing else can-weullow that they pos-
sess brilliancy Of fancy, quickhess Of
apprehension and an exquisitness of taste
TO which man can justly lay no claim
Where these faculties are applied to their
proper studios hewgf irresistably they
charm! What an influence they exert /!
How wonderfully they increase tho sum
of human happiness ~ ~,
I This restlessness Of sensibility end in
qaietude Of Imagination, which constitute
the very medium Of pleasing, and give to
woman her native and strongest attract
ions, arc the qualities which unfit her for
arranging, combining, abstracting, pur-
suing and diversitying q long train of i
dees without which no considerable pro-
ficiency in abs.ruce knowledge can be
reasonably expected. Then let me ask
where isethe female who woald give up
the splendid qualities which distinguish
her sex from the other, for the coldness Of
profound knowledge and tho apathy of
speculation Where is the wife, the
mothes the domestic economist, who
would wish lobe lost in tho literary PEE
dant, and sacrifice to the forbidding pride
of masculine attainments, all the name-
lo.. ~cL L -. ~~S.,vc1 ou<J 10