Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1850-11-28
For the esIhpoiis Journal.
Rss.nie Rav.,s,s..

about to offer few observations, is
delicate one, and one which we COZ
less we approach with unaffected di
fidenre; but we have long been in
clined TO touch upon il; and, shoul
we, like some naturalist about to en-
bark upon an Unknown ocean in cues
Of a cabinet Of fossils and mineral:
return safely, with having found her
a she'll and there a pebble, our obiec
will have been accomplished. w,
do not hesitate in The least, to sa,
that this important subject has beef
very much neglected, more so, ever,
thing considered. than that Of the op
posite sex; and the reasons why il
has been so neglected may NOT per
haps, at first view, be perceptibIe tc
every one. We are the objects o.
circumstances. with our feeling:
swayed by passion, our reason cloud,
ed With prejudice, and our minds OBJ.
scured, too often, by pernicious Gus
toms; the philosophy Of this state oi
things, then, may, we think, be traced
to some principle, having its origin
in some or all OF these sources. We
are told that The female mind is not
so vigorous as that of the opposite
sex; now We do not assent TO this
proposition as a rule, although we
admit that as a general thing, il re-
quires a healthy and strong physical
constitution to undergo severe con-
tinUed mental application, and males,
OF course, are possessed generally Of
a stronger constitution than females.
But because thev have greater ply
sical strength, does not argue that
t h ey have also greater mental
strength or vigor. We know from
observation and experience that
these two qualities are rarely COM
bined in the same individual, i. e.,
great mental and physical vigor, and
we often find that he one compen-
safes the other; person with Wig
orous mind encaseG in a weakly con
will often overcome the
same difficulties with greater ease,
and much less labor, than a person |
with robust and strong constitution
with weak mind. Persons can no
lice this principle illustrated in stu
dents even Of the same sex in pur-
suing their studies, where the one
will in many cases get his or her re-
citation in half the time the other
will, wnen at the same time they are
very differently constructed as to
physical streng!h. The minds Of ie-
Males are Of course Influenced by
aste, whether in a more or less re-
ined degree in the studies which
hey pursue; but even that is no cnr.
eci test of the strength OF mind. for
individuals have often a capacity tn
accomplish many things in the acqni
linn of knowledge, and in the de
ielupment of truths in art and
cience, in The vas, ecnnnmy Of ma
ure, in whicn he or she takes little
II no delight. They are said TO he
1capahle of pursuing the more OBJ
truse branches of science on ac.
nnnt ofthis supposed mental in.eri- !
rity, and this suppOsiIion more than ,
nv other is the reason whv thev do :
nj in more instances study lhem.--- !
'ul SuppOSe it true, that the female !
lind is not so vigorous as the male; ,
'hy this. instead Of being an 0bjec- {
on, should be one of the greatest :
easnns why it should be cultivated. $
should be deciplined in obstruse E
iudies, even in the higher branches of /
lathematics; what so we'll calculates /
, siI Iengihen the mind and develope O
lie streng h of its latent powers as :
'vere decipline and painful appIica- +
ons! like the functions OF the body, Ia
le more it is exercised, within a \
roper limit, the stronger and more o
gOrous il becomes. Ii makes but !:
tile difference, in our opinion, 2
trough what means the mind is de- 2
plined, so it be accomplished;--so it v
accomplished in manner, so as v
procure the greatest amount OF n
'eiul information, whether it be by l.
cans Of studying the languages, A
ltural science, or mathematics, per- A
lps the whole combined, would be
Judicious course as any; there
ould, at least, be a variety. IL has
ZEN the practice generally, in the -
location Of females, to give them a u
ght and superficial knowledge Of
me of the elementary branches,
d then they are unceremoniouslv W
ID that they have gotten all that is to
cessary TO transact the business
At they will be required TO trans a.
IN life; as though kIc Wedge were ri'
'urden, a useless thing, and culli- H
ted mind superauiiy. bo
Now what is it that constitutes So
ty! II is composed Of individuals. sn
10, taken together, constitute the fifr
and of course, as are the III
ierent qualities and accomplish a
'nis of each one, ol the same must