The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-13

logical Quill with tho Thermometer
| 1T Ninety-six.
Another weeks revolution brings again to
our religious press table the pleasant faces of
the usual number of our clerical contempora-
ries. With the thermometer at ninety-six in
the shade it would not have been surprising to
have missed some of these agreeable weekly
visitors, but such is not the case. On the
contrary we have the pleasure of noticing some
At all events the theological quill does not
seem to languish as the mercurial indicator
ascends. which is very happy augllry that
although tho outward flesh may melt the in
ward fires of sanctity are still kept burning
brightly
Some brilliant woman has sent to the
Golden Age "a Screed About Women"
Although the word ''screed' is very ex-
pressive one to those who know what it means,
yet as it does not appear in "Webster's IN
abridged its definition may not be under
stood by the general reader. Among the
Hterai and quidnuncs it is supposed to mean
long article on a given topic, written in
style sometimes graphic and brilliant and
sometimes vapid and stupid. In reality
''screed" in newspaper or magazine is SO
called more on account of its quantity than
its quality. The 'Screed About Women"
upon which the Golden Age editorially COM
ments, seems to have been penned for the pur-
pose of showing the inferiority of the female
as compared with the male sex. The editor
takes up his steel-pointed lance in defence of
woman and does noble battle in her behalf.
In one respect he agrees with his CORE
spondent, to witt
She says that women are not better than men.
This Is true But neither are they worse. There
IL good deal OF human nature both IN men and
women We all have our common root and bloom
In the average morality OF our times. Society
bears little harder on womanly than on manly
dereictions but tn merely leads women to do
covertiy what men do openly. The two sexes re-
fleet each others morality. II the standard Tor
both were % little higher 1t would do neither any
harm; ana II the standard for both were exactly
the same II would do the whole Face an equal and
stupend0us benefit.
Look on woman's achievements in art !"
exclaims the correspondent, belittling her
artistic genius.
Well. responds the editor there have been very
respectable achievements in art by women; II not
In the art OF painting Though Rosa B0nheur ranks
high, yet in the art OF acting for the chief genius
OF the stage In our generation was Rache-norhing
hut a woman. WOman's function IN art. as in
everything else, is not to do over again what men
have done already; but II Is to DO something differ
anu wno %ea %h could aVe w
ten Jane Eyre No, not shakespeare himself. 1t
took q woman TO do 1t.
Woman seems to have been o congenial
subject of editorial consideration this week
among our religious or quasi religious con-
temporaries The Independent touches upon
the same theme in answer to some remarks
made by the Rev. DR.. Bellows, OF the Liberal
Christian, in q similar connection. Unlike
DR.. Bellows, the Independent admires 'the in
tellectual and literary" young woman of
twenty
Who has had the grace to cultivate her mind as
thoroughly as she could, in spite OF the sneers OF
lace and feathers, and piano Keys, and a crochet
needle, and a soft skin, and 'love, honor and
obey" as the ingredients which compose model
highest kind OF culture and refinement, and to
most other sensible men do not make women
less attractive The spirit which objects to
these has precisely the same barbarous es
sence as that Of the Bushmen chiefs, who value
them with mix Till they become balls Of
lat and lose the power OF sensible speech.
Referring to the verdict in the Walworth
case, the Independent condemns the change in
the statute of murder, which, it thinks, will
be the reduction of nearly all murders to
those of the second degree, and so far the
abolition of the death penalty in this State
and the substitution therefor of life impris-
onment The editor thinks it may we'll be
questioned whether it would not be much
safer for the people to 60 back to the common
law definition of murder, and entirely aban-
don the theory Of grades in this crime
The Methodist aflirms that there is a mani
fest effort going on to connect horse-ncing
permanently with the Summer life of our
great watering places. AT Saratoga racing
comes regularly with the season at Long
Branch the sporting men are ambitious to
establish what they are pleased to call an
American Derby" The writer then pro-
ceeds to show what evils will flow from
copying a vicious English practice, prac-
tice condemned by the best English thought"
We may expect 10 come OF II. he says, the usual
crop OF mis series, which always follow gambling
time ~ those who can Ill anord them; dishonesty,
breaches OF trust and increase OF the professionals
nifty. The English turf has always had an unsavory
od0r OF rascay, and ~ N not 10 be hoped that the
may try 90 MT racing 10 plane OF decency and
honor but IL will not stay there II drops down by
the force Of gravity TO Its own level OF rckery and
fraud.
Another effect, in the opinion Of the
Methodist, will come of the establishment of
horse racing as feature OF watering place
ifs-"it will drive the moral part Of society TO
establish resorts Of their own. from which
vicious amusemonts shall be excluded" This
does not seem TO have been the case thus far
with Saratoga and Long Branch, where the
racing season is always the most fashionable,
orderly and prosperous Of the whole year.
Northern clergymen are hardly expected to in
dulge freely in the amusement Of horse ncing.
but in Kentucky and other parts OF the South