The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-04-09
Misfellaueons.
Sreet Ignorance.

A young lady, the other day, said, Men
are much more amusing than women, and
so like to talk to them" TO which the
reply was. "women are just as amusing
rs men, when they have got anything to
talk about" The pity of the matter Is,
that so few of the women one meets have
anything to talk about, except the out
side things, and the matters which come
within their observation, without any
trouble being taken on their part, for wo-
men, as rule, hate nothing more than
taking trouble, especially If their efforts
involve any mental exertion.
Women are extremely ready to shelter
themselves from any threatened appeal to
their intellect, by the plea that they are
mot clever" or that, being women, they
cannot be expected to know certain mat
ters of fact, or to be able to form definite
and clear judgments. No doubt II Is true
that in these latter days very large num-
Der of women have aroused themselves
from their long habit Of mental apathy,
and are willing to apply themselves, heart
and soul, to all studies that may be set be-
fore them and are opened to them. We
firmly trust that the great movements
which are agitating so many women now
will go on In overwhelming circles, till all
women are brought under their influence.
We think, too, that the desire for the cul-
tivation of mental power, and for the ac-
QUESTION of mental energy, is spreading
more rapidly among women than mere
outsiders credit. Nevertheless 1t Is not to
be denied, but to be looked at and ac-
knowledged as one Of the things to be
dealt with, that at present the majority Of
women are very indolent, and are perfect
ly content to remain so. With many, In
deed, mental exertion has come to be con-
sidcred unfeminine. A woman who tries
to understand what Is going on around
her, and to see the reasons for the serious
and exciting contests In which men en-
gage, and which she hears are of impor-
tance TO the welfare Of the whole world,
is bidden, not unfrequently, to be ashamed
of herself for caring about things (which
do not concern women" So, sometimes,
women who desire to shake Off the fetters Of
their mental bondage are unable to do so,
on account Of the utter want Of sympathy
which they experience from their mental
ly indolent sisters. Partly, too, the men,
tai Incidence of women Is forced upon
them by the supercilous manner In which
the majority of men treat the efforts of
women after knowledge. Women, unless
indeed, they are OF very unusual energy,
cannot but give up making efforts when
they lind that their cndeavors are looked
upon as Of no possible avail to redeem
them fcom ignorance. Moreover, II wo-
men are always taught that they are not
to decide for themselves. that Ii Is out Of
their province to become highly cultivate
ed intellectually and so forth, the mental
Incidence, which In greater or less degree
Is natural to all human beings, Is not like
ly TO be by such means lessened In them.
Again, II women have sufficient energy
to overcome the influence Of these dead
weights, they often find 1t impolitic to let
t.be known that they are capable Of max
Ing any effort. As writer has remarked
with more force than elegance, "If their
stockings are blue, they take care to keep
them well covered with their peticoats."
They find It convenient to assume the ap-
pearancc OF mental Incidence, even II Ii
does not really exist; and, as II is also
easier really TO be indolent than merely
to seem to be so, there Is not much won-
der that the reality should In so many
cases, fully justify the semblanccs put
forward.
Women have also their mental Incidence