Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-05-04

DiGsrence between the sexes.

j.. There are few more curious subjects of
inquiry than the distinctive differences
between the minds and characters of men
and women and the manner in which those
differences have affected the ideal types of
different ages. cations. PHILOSOPHERS and
religions. Physically, men have the
indisputable. superiority in strength, and
woman in beauty. intellectually, a certain
inferiority ofthe female sex can hardly be
denied when we remember how almost ex-
clusively the foremost places in every de-
partment ofscience, literature and art have
been occupied by men, how infinitesimally
small is the number of women who have
shown in any form the highest genius, how
many of the greatest men have hived their
greatness in defiance of the most adverse
Circumstances and how completely women
have failed in obtaining the first position
even in music or painting, for the cultiva-
tion of which their circumstances would
appear most propitious. 1t is as impos-
sible to find a female Raphael. or a female
| Handel, as a female Shakespear or Newton
Women are intellectually more desultory
and volatile than men; they are more
occupied with particular instances than
with general principles; they judge rather
by intuitive perception than by deliberate
reasoning or past experience. They are,
however, usually superior to men in nim
bleness and rapiGity of thought, and in
the gift of tact, or the power of seizing
speedily and faithfully the finer inflexions
of feeling and they have therefore often
attained very great eminence as controyer-
sationalist, as letter writers, as actresses,
and as novelists.
Morally, the general superiority of
women, over men is, think, unquestion-
able. If we take the somewhat coarse
and inadequate criterion ofpolice statistics,
we find that, while the male and female
populations are nearly the same in number,
the crimes committed by men are usually
rather more than five times as numerous
as those committed by women; and al
though it may be Justly observed that men
are the stronger and the sex upon whom
the burden Of supporting the family Is
thrown, it must be remembered on the
other hand, that extreme poverty which
verces on starvation is most common among
woman. whose means of livelihood are
more restricted, and whose earnings are
smallest and most precarious. Self-sacrifce
| is the most conspicuous element of virtu
Gus and religions character-and it Is GER
tainly for less common amcng men than
among women whose lives are usually spent
in yielding to the will and consulting the
pleasures of another.
There are two great departments of viz
tue; the impulsive, or that which springs
spontaneously from the emotions, and the
deliberative, or that which is performed
in the obedience to the sense of duty and
in both of these | imagine woman are su-
perior to men. Their sensibility is greater
they are more chaste both i'll thought
and act, more tender to the erring, more
COMPASSIONATE to the suffering, more
affectionate to all about them On the
other hand, those who have traced the
course of the wives of the poor. and ofmany
who. though in narrow circumstances. can
hardly be called poor, will probably admit
that in no other class do we so often find
entire lives spent in persistent endurance
of countless trails, in the ceaseless and
deliberate sacrifice of their own enjoyments
to the well-being or the prospects of others.
In active courage women are inferior to
men. In the courage of endurance they
are commonly their superiors; but tEelr
passive courage is not so much fortitude
which bears and deies, as resignation which
bears and bends. In the ethics of intellect
they are decidedly inferior Women very
/ rarely love truth, though they love passion
ately what they call the truth, or opinions
they have received from others, and hate
vehemently those who differ from them.
They are little capable of impartiality or
of doubt; their thinking is chiefly mode
of feeling; though very generous In their
acts. they are rarely generous in their
opinions and their leaning is naturally to
the side of striction. They persuade
4 rather than convince :: and value belief
rather as a source of consolation than as
faithful expression ofthe reality OF things.
They are less capable than men ofperceiv-
ing qualifying circumstances, of admitting
the existence of elements of good in systems
to which they are opposed, of distinguish
ing the personal character of ali opponent
from the opinions he maintains.
Men lean most to justice women to
mercy. Men are most addicted to brutali-
ty and intemperance women to frivolity
and jealousy. Men excel in energy, self
reliance, perseverance and magnanimity ;
women in humility, gentleness, modesty
and endurance. The realizing imagination
which causes us to pity and to love is more
sensitive in men. and is especially more
capable of dwelling upon the unseen.
Their religious or devotional realizatlons
are incontestably more vivid and it is pro-
bable that, while father is most moved
by the death of child in his presence, a
mother generally feels most the death OF
child In some distant land. But though
more intense. the sympathies Of women are
commonly less wide than those of men.
Their imaginations individualize more
their affections are, in consequence, con-
centrated rather on leaders than on causes
and if they care for great cause, it is
generally because it is represented by a
great man, or connected with some one
whom they love. In politics, their enthu-
siasm is more naturall loyalty than patriot
ism. In history, they are even more In
clined than men to dwell exclusively upon
biographical incidents or characteristics as
distinguished from the march of general
causes. In benevolence, they excel in
charity which alIeviates individual suffer.
ing, rather than philanthropy which deals
with large masses, and is more frequently
employed in preventing than in allaying
calamity. Jockeys History Of European
Morals. ~ ...i.l
A Cape Cod, Mass Elepement Ex'
citcuacmt. II
The Cnre C01 Gnzcttc SAYS sensation