, 1874-04-05

The prevailing characteTiBtic Of the present
era is the mania for riding hobbies, and the cur
vettings and caracolings Of some Of these varie-
gated animals are peculiarly distressing to the
staid old orthodox stceds which never wander
out Of their pastures OF kick up behind. The
most remarkable hobby which has come pranc-
ing into the public view has just been mounted
By Pennsylvania philosopher. He sets forth
his views upon ths Woman question in the
Lancaster Herald; SID, If there are any
spirited women in his vicinity, it is more
than likely that they have made it quite lively
for the old gentleman before this. The ancient
Stoics held that man is detached fragment OF
Herewith after death, but losing his identity.
Our Pennsylvania philosopher puts woman one
remove farther from the universal Spirit. He
argues that, az woman is part OF man, having
originally been taken from him while asleep, in
tho form OF rib, so she becomes part Of man
again and loses her separate existence after
death. Ho says:
Woman is The offspring Of in his pristine stzto
Of eelibacy while sound asleep. Therefore she Il not
separate entity original creation, but the
terpatt Of man, coming back to him in death, AZ
clinging to him in life and vanishing in eternity ~
dreams by daylight. Hence it is that the Scriptures
speak Of man having dominion, command women
to keep Silence and never represent angels In the
pzcity Of females.
This is not the worst In elucidating his
theory he becomes very ungal1ant, and speaks Of
woman as the somnambulistio rib Of man,
though often apparently terrible reality"
II the philosophers experience had been as
varied as that OF some men, the " apparently
terrible reality" would have been to him an
actual reality. There arc not wanting numbers
Of women who are anything but somnambulistic
ribs. For instance, Susan B. Anthony as SOM
nambulistc rib is an idea which it is impossible
to contemplate, or even conceive but as terri
BILE reality it is possible to form very vivid
idea OF her aud when Miss Anthony gets hold
Of the Pennsylvania philosopher and bis theory
that she will be eventually swallowed up in some
masculine identity, she will probably convince
him, not only ot her reality, but also OF the ter
TOR Of her reality. The part Of tho philosophers
theory, however, which will give him the most
trouble is the cool manner in which ho obliter-
ates the female element from the next world
The philosopher evidently fears this, - he says,
by way OF compensation:
She may be conso!ed with the thought that IS she
is not made Of tho dus. OF the easth but was elunat
Ell from living body by tho hand divine, the same
great power will preserve the soul with which be en-
dowed her in the sAme miraculous manner with
which given to that fai1er form eanobas hero
below.
This is very handsome on the part Of the phi
losophor, but it suggests possibility that will
not be consoling to the average man. Heaven
filed with male angels, male cherubs,
and male seraphs, is not I very pleaa-
ing prospect. As there il fearful
scarcity Of male angels, che1ubs. and
seraphs On earth, where Is tho material to come
from7 There is another possibility which the
philosopher has not contemplated. There sre
numerous women who are not better h.lres. In
what men are these unfortunates to be merged.
and are they to have any choice Of the men they
are to be merged into hereafter, or are they
swallowed up haphazard7 In the latter case, it
is distressing to contemplate the incong1uous
mixtures which may happen, as, for instance,
some gentle, unodending womGn dwelling here
after and through Ill eternity in some old
bruiser or shoulde1-hitter, or some mild, innocu-
GUS man carrying about With him forever ter
magant. a sour old maid, or designing widow.
The philosophers theory is bitter pill to sual-
1ow, and We presume verY few will take the dose,
He will be left to c4uter about alone m his
hobby, which is 1t least harmless, even il it il
little ridiculous.