The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-21
SUNDAY IoaNINe. MARCH Fl. 1853.
SECONDARY MALES.

The invest5atio of physiology leave no
doubt that, iIis some cases at least the germs
of masculines nature lie enveloped in female
organizations and, conversely, the germs of
female natur9 in male organizations; and that
under given circumstances, these rudimen-
tary characters are susceptible of exterior de-
velopment in the individuals bearing them.
MIR. Darwin, sndeed, believes that without ex-
ception theIs is this development of the
female withiH the form of the male and of
the male within the form of the female. After
citing numerous examples in support of this
conclusion, this profound and indefatigable
searcher inte the secrets of the organic world
remarks: ave thus see that in many, pro-
badly in all cases, the secondary characters
of each sex lie dormant or latent in the oppo-
site sex, resdy to be evolved under peculiar
circumstances. We can thus understand how,
for instances, it is possible for good milking
COW to transmit her good qualities through
her male offspring to future generations; for
we may confidently believe that these quail
ties are present, though latent, in the males
of each generation. So it is with the game
cock, who can transmit his superiority in
courage and yigor through his female to his
male offspring; and with man it is known
that diseases necessarily confined to the
male sex can be transmitted through the
female to the grandson" 1t is impossible
to account intelligently for such a reversion of
the peculiarities of distant ancestors without
accepting the assumption upon which Mr..
Darwin explains it. How far the characters
of both sexes may be successfully unfolded,
in form, quality, and function, in the same
individual, is question which opens vast
field of curious speculation and almost start
ling and amazing suggestion. The boundary
of this field Mr.. Darwin barely crosses, and
then retires, as if he dreaded to challenge
the phantom of elemental and primordial
truth perpetually fitting before those who
undertake to explore the limitless realms of
nature. But that one sex may, in partial
degree, supervene upon the other in the same
individual, he does not doubt, and he Illus
trates the fact by variety of instances, some
of which we will quote. "Now," he
says, sit is well known that large number of
female birds, such as fowls, various pleas
ants, partridges, peahens, ducks, ETC., when
old or disabled, or when operated on, partly
assume the secondary male characters of their
species A duck ten years old has
been known to assume both the perfect winter
and summer pluniage of the drake. Water
ton gives curious case of hen which had
ceased laying, and had assumed the plumage,
voice, spurs and warlike disposition of the
cock; when opposed to an enemy she would
erect her hackles and show fight. Thus every
character, even to the instinct and manner of
fighting must have lain dormant in this hen I"
Thus il would seem that bisexuality, as a
latent fact, may be affirmed of every individ-
nal organization, and that the exclusive devel-
opment of one sex simply means the suppress
sion of the other which it overlies. Whether
parthenogenesis is possible in the human
race, as well as among certain vegetable and
animal species of low order, speculative
physiology neither afirms nor denies, though
it leans to the negative of the proposition
from the fact that science records no instance
of the kind among the higher orders of organ
ic beings.
And now we come to consider the NANTES
tations OF secondary sexual CHARACTER Wnicr
are brought out by some of the artificial and
extremely complex conditions of modern civ
ilization and we think that in following THU
train of reflection much light may be thrown
ON certain social and political phenomeni
which would be otherwise inexpicable. Nor
especially do we regard it as conducive
to the exploitation of what is known a
the woman's rights movement which in
wolves one of the most profound and dis
tinctive problems of the day. We charg
the Cady STATIONS, the Susan Anthonys
the Lucy Stones, the DR.. Walkers, and tn
rest nothing for this application of a
abstruse physiological theory, although 1t
effect is to place their cause on the only mai
ural, logical and consistent basis The right
which they demand could never be concede