Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-02-18

led to view his acquisitions from different
stand point; where the light of practical ex-
perieuce may clear up and invigorate the
mist of his mental seclusion. No less true
is it that in the graduation of mental endow-
ment and intellectual requirements practi-
cal life is more reliable umpire than any
mental or scholastic assumption. In form
ing an estimate of the respective sexes, their
claims to intellectual superiority can only be
Justly weighed in the light Of liberal access
to every attainment for the one, and re-
stricted field for the Development Of the 9TH
err. With this allowance we shrink not from
comparison. Were we permitted the time
for this range, history would assemble its
living characters to fortify the position We
claim. In the light of genuine courage and
and elevation of soul, who will disown the
unexampled fortitude of those noble matrons
who, charging their warrior sons with the
high responsibility of a "country's MISSION"
cut short their lingering adieu with the imper-
ishable injunction, " Let victory crown your
valor, or Spartan shields return you the life
less trophies of your renown!" In legislative
and executive relations, CATHARINE of Russia
and Elizabeth of England started prosper
Gus epochs in their national capacities
Logical and metaphysical research cannot
boast Of more ardent champions than Mad
am De Stael and Margaret Fuller. Where
will you find the most fastidious artist, whose
life of skill has not failed to awaken him to
that musical inspiration which first enraptur-
ed his soul at the spirituelle of JENNY LIND?
In the light of genuine humanity, who will
compare with the indefatigable zeal and
charitable labors of JUDsoN or NIGHTIN-
GALE, who, denying the pleasures and luxu-
res of blissful nativity, have immortalized
their sympathes with Indian and Crimean
fame.
The literary world would tread its endless
cycles with only the light of its principal orbs,
without that brilliant retinue, whose reflec-
tions through FERN and GREENWOOD leaves,
point upward and invest the poesy Of nature
with the shining stars of HEMANs and SIG
Quincy. The boundaries of EPIC and EPI-
soDE will never find their measure until the
pens of STOWE and SoUTHwoRTH cease to
descry their limit. The wings of the press
are weaving their undulations with outward
vigor, but less of inward current, when shorn
of the vitalizing sanctums of SwIssHELM
or BLooMER. The itinerant lore which the
lecturing of these latter days is spreading
broadcast throughout our intelligent land, is
invigorating its logic and identifying its rhet-
ORIG with the harmonious diction of E. CAKES
SmIrH and LUCY STONE. While the cler-
cal profession is enriching its doctrines with all
of the spiritual pathos and stirring appeals
of an ANToINETTE Brown, whose emotional
sex peculiarly fits such for aspiring the soul
with heavenly relish.
Amid this paucity of allusion to female
intellect, who are historizing the progress of
the world, the objection to their want of ca
pacity will doubtless be waived, while we
hasten to the last, greatest but least fortifca-
ton Of the nobler sex. The argument with
all the gravity of its authority is submitted;
that the opening of the door of political &C
ton for an indiscriminate entrance of both
sexes would allow an interference with the
varied relations of man, and seriously leopard
ize his present ascendancy. We take excep-
tons to such untenable ground
The author of nature in all the ramifca-
tons of his creation has exhibited the perfec-
ton of his handiwork, by the mastery man.
ner in which he has blended characteristics
to establish the peculiar indemnity of each
distinctive object. Together with this match
less arrangement has he instituted his law to
regulate and control the existence and inter-
change of such numerous progeny. To one
is given magnitude another solidity, thence
tenacity, another vigorous activity, and an
other listless inertia. Force to one, subjec-
ton to another, athletic proportions here and
delicacy of organism there; angular exterior
to this and beautiful symmetry to that; at
traction to one and repulsion to another; life,
beauty and power, with vitality everywhere,
and dogmatical distinctions, restrictive enforce
ments and authoritative compulsions surround
this wonderful system of organism; but eve
ry thing is left to the free exercise of its own
peculiarities and harmony, and just apprecia-
ton follows the fiat of order reigning through
the vast universe of associated and personal
identity. Nature presents its bold and an
gular objects with all of the nobler lines of
rock, mountain, hill and granite pile, yet
amid all of such rigid aspect spring up
woodbine and sward foliage and flower, foun-
tain, rivulet and sea, to beautify and COM
plete the scene. Each has its own peculiari-
ties, but with unrestricted existence, and yet
all necessary to each other in the perfection
&c tba whole Relations of life tboroforo