The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-09-20
7 Ts'Fn the Western tnrlst
FEMALE GENIIS

Female genus. NONSENSE who ever heard
Q. such thing? Why the very idea is per-
fectly ep6sterouS-genius is something en-
tirely foreign TO woman's nature; and even If
it were not, could never endure il in her l
have such an utter abhorrence of these 6us
bieu. or, in plain Anglo Saxon, these blue
stockings always neglecting domestic affairs
for law, politics. and. oh. shade Of Esculs-
plus even Tor medicine Women are going
erazv nowadavs-their heads are blled with
foolish notions that would have shocked their
gIandmothers. Had woman been endowned
with the gift, il would long since have develop
cd Itself. Such is the language Of those
who. exulung in their mental aud physical
strength. have scorned the efforts of the fe-
male Eeformers. By the way, who knows but
gh2 while they have laughed al their efforts
tt nave trembled for their own power. and
RE- feared that the reins of government were
~n be wrested from their grasp. and
MOP we're 10 receive their just reward? No
wonder they murmur at the progress of wo-
man, and sigh for tile DAYS oi wore; they were
happy days, doubtless when no jealous feel
ings were aroused in the hearts of husbands
on account OF the evident mental superiority
cf their wives, and no obtrusive fears of their
intelligent partners going to Congress first,
distributed them in the enjoyment Of the
rights.
Has woman no genius Why, il has only
been few weeks since the literary and scen
tihc world were thrown into a state of the
greatest confusion BY the announcements in all
the newspapers and periodicals Of wonder
ful and startling event. Antquated- old bach
elors. from the lowest depths of their petri-
tied hearts, have sighed for the fate of one
Of the genus homo" Strong minded wo.
men have rejoced in the conquest of one of
their number. Lucy Stone, the champion of
''woman's rights has entered into partner
ship with the victim of her fascination under
the firm of Stone Il Blackwell Whether it
was her genius that has excited so much at
tenton or not, | will not of course pretend TO
say: but every one viii certainly admit that it
would have been considered quite a common
place occurrence had Mr.. Blackwell entered
into partnership with another gentleman, or,
indeed, with any other lady.
For some time past woman's rights, sphere.
education, and influence have engrosSed the
a light. but have almost forbidden her TO
Joy is hallowed infiuence--to taste the crys-
Ia! waters gushing from the fountainhead.-
Past ages have ever asserted her natural in
ferioritv. She las been surrounded BY al
most insurmountable barriers 10 mental culti-
vation. But every age has produced women
who have broken the adamantinc chains and
rights, and not only Inscribed their names up
on the prinnacle of fame seldom reached
by their more favored lords, but bv deeds not
onl7 of herosm but of benev oience. have reg
istered them upon the lmperlshable tablets OF
the hearts Of all generations. Is she who is
tie companion OF man in his hours Of recre-
alton alone whose life is one long dream of
affection who, Graded in almost eastern mag
m6cenee, cares oltlv for the Jewels that adorn
her person, capable Of guiding tire affairs OF
state2 At this question venerable men, men
of intellect, rhe;orcans and philosophers sig
niscantly shake the head; while aspiring coll
legians and young politicians. with classical
wh>kers aud Byronian collars. with an air of
the greatest importance adjust their Grecian
pure and lovely; it is fountain pouring forth
constant stream of pure water--water that
allays the thirst of the mind, a balm for the
weary, longing soul; il is shrine at which
the world has ever paid lis untiring devotions,
but lis bind and infatuated devotees, though
remembering that God is its Father and that
heaven Is Its home. have forgotten that its
light must shine through earthly mediums;
and those ho have reflected this light have
often suffered tbs disappointed and exaggera-
ted expectations Of its worshpers: and often
has death been 10 the recipients of this hcav-
enly gift a welcome messenger, releasing them
from life cf toll and care. and crowning
item with the laurels which their talents had
SO richly won.
But female genius has ever been kept in the
most perfect obscurity, every lofty hope and
aspiration has been rudely crushed, aud the
worsbipers Of this child OF heaven have not
only denied that woman-frail, weak woman
might be the medium Of pure and holy
attention of almost every age and class
Neither authors Lor authoresses have failed
to make woman the subject Of their thoughts;
they have written and rewritten, till almost
every subject connected with her has become
old and tiite. But surrounded as | am by
giant ntellec,s: d in the full blaze ofthe genius
Of man, / viii venture ;imidly-to be sure
10 assert my opinion upon a subject which
has perhaps received less attention than any
other connected with our sex Whether the
intellect OF woman is as capable OF improve
ment that of man is a question that has
been a9i'a,ed ever since the most remote ages
Of antiquity and il is one which can not be
decided till man shall have granted to woman
the Advantages for Improvement which he
has bong ronopolized Genius is gift of
Coda ray from heaven; its very name shows
lis connection with noble and refined minds.
and that it Is akin to every thing which is
ties, and mutter to themelves something about
Pandora, Pandernonium, putting a set of
senseless dolls at the head of government,
and a good MANY other things thai, as Fanny
Fern says, '.ant in the Bible But history
furnishes Us with abundant proof of her pow
er TO govern. TIE Assyrian princess, raised
from humble station TO become the wife of
Minus and queen of almost the whole OF the
known world. with her millions OF soldiers
and worhmen, bas immortalized her name by
her conquest and daring exploits Mighty
Babylon, the wonder of all nations. enbrac-
ing an area of two hundred and twenty-f five
miles, with its lofty walls, its hanging gar
dens, and bEazen gates, was the monument OF
the greatness Of Semiramls. For several cen
-. n. .t Eu,nra bsv. bean