The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-09
HHI PROFESSORS DECLARATION.
CHAPTER II-(CoNrfNuED.)

are ffght, replied the OlQ lauy, Will Al
emphatic wave of her fan. Then, feel
ing that more was expected of her, she
continued: 'T have never studied
philosophy, and I do not profess to un-
derstand the claims of ordinary women.
Indeed, might almost say that my sex
in general is a mystery to me. leave
it to mems brains to grapple with the
problem"
And she took pinch of snuff and leant
back in her chair with an air of supreme
self-eomplaceney that made our mild
Professor long to shake her.
"Ah! if all women resembled youp
murmured the Advocate, lowering his
discordant voice to what he meant for a
a caressing murmur.
Excuse me-" said the Professor, push
ing up his spectacles and going a step or
two nearer to Spazzagalera. "Your re-
marks only apply to, women as regards
their connection with men. Granted
that you, like many other men, have a
preference for ignorant women; well,
that it taste, just as some people like
their meat raw instead of well cooked.
But has it ever struck you that women
are also human beings, and that it is
their claims as human beings that have
to be considered? So, the real question
of female education resolves itself into
this as human beings, and apart from
their connection with men, what is the
best method of education for women?
Here the Marchesa broke in:
"Women apart from men! That is an
impossible point of view. You positive
ly frighten me Professor. / begin to
to think your English friends must have
infected you with some Of those dreadful
theories that the Avvocato alluded to
Just now. Who knows? Perhaps the
Signore Peel.may be anemissary of one of
those subversive. sects in England or
America that try to sap the foundations
of religion, the sacredness of public
life."
Our poor Professor started to his feet
hot with indignation. The Marchesa
was an old acquaintance, it was true, but
by what right did she make such horrible
suggestions About his inoffensive English
friends? The others shrugged their
shoulders, knowing that it all meant
nothing, that their hostess was merely
airing her eloquence; but to the Profes-
sor it was personal matter. He had in
troduced his friends to the old virage, as
he inwardly styled her; he could not
silently hear them slandered.
"Please to leave the English ladies out
Of your discussion" he said, in a tone of
firm dignity that he often used with sue
cess in the classroom. "They have
nothing to do with it, and may say
once for all that they have never hinted
at any interest in the subject. As for
vour subversive doctrines, l don't know
what you mean; l have never troubled
myself about the rights and wrongs of
women in any country, and don't profess
to know much about them anywhere.
But certainly, judging by the ladies you
have chosen to allude to, Englishwomen
must unite culture and domesticity to a
most unusual extent. Your friend, the
Advocate, will willing to correct me if l
am in error'-here he glanced steadily
at the sneering countenance of his adver-
sary-"but it seems to me that, in our
country, women are roughly divided into
two categories, drudges and drones; and
that the fault of it lays at the door of
men who share the convictions that Sig
noa Spazzagalera has just expressed"
This was by far the longest speech the
Professor had ever uttered in Marchesa's
salon, and the checkered handkerchief
with which he wiped his brow was re-
turned to his brow in very limp con-
dition. ,..
The Marchesa was astounded. To be
snubbed, and in her own house, and by
one of the. Professors she patronized, was
a new and unpleasant experience. She
cited it on her finger" as the Italian
saying goes-that is, determined to take
revenge at her earliest opportunity. As
for Spazzagalera, he twiddled his coarse
beard and smiled blandly as he bowed to
the Professor and expressed hope that
he would air his views during the forth
coming discussion at the Circolo.
Marcotti was ready to accept the ehal-
lenge.
Probably / may" he answered. I
do not know what the lecturers opinions
are, but certainly, if you PROFOUND
yours, | shall do my best to contradict
YOU"
But now eleven o'clock was striking,
and the belated Professor gulped down
glass Of lemonade and hurried away, pom
dering over the Marchesa's acrimony,
contrasting it with the amused induI-
gence with which the English ladies dis
cussed the Marchesa. Also he was
amazed at his own temerity with regard
to Spazzagalera. The Advocate, as he
was well aware, knew how to play on the
strings Of popular prejudice, and gener-
ally carried his audience wiSl him when
he spoke.
sT shall make terrible mess Of it," he
reflected as he stood on his own
door-mat, mournfully shaking his
head, with a light lucifer in
one hand, and big key in the other.
"But it can't be avoided. / should not
like the English ladies to think that all
Italians hold that lawyers detestable
creed"
Al