The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-04-19
An Essay.
An Essay.
kn essay epGyeS6 BY fequeat g nd read before the
ScsYeRfo (RlS.) LSe6w@,>I Mrs Il. Myrtle
RosfeT, ,of TT6agePt1e, Fls.

All CSSays
Ep essay srepaveSOy requess nd read before the
5cSPeRsc (Fl6,) LSe6BSe,>T Mrs. Il. Myrtle
P0steT, Of TGn9ePs1e, FIs.
Women, as rule, are sadly de-
fcient in true independence or indi-
viduality of character, and society is
so organized as to be largely respon-
sible for the defect, though much of
the fault lies within easy reach of her
own remedial powers.
1t annoys me to hear the oft res
peated theory discussed alternatives
ly, that women are not mentally capa
Bile of reaching the same intellectual
altitude that men so proudly occupy.
That they do not with some honor
able exceptions) admit, but that
they conld not if they would, / re,
specttully decline to believe.
Take boy and girl who appear
to possess the same mental calibre in
early childhood the boy is allowed
almost unlimited control OF his ac~
tions; he may run, jump, row, swim,
climb trees and fences, shout him
self hoarse, or stlnd on his head, and
il his clothes are not made so as to
give free play to bis muscles, why,
the buttons and stitches must suffer-
With this physical activity, come
muscular and brain development
And what of the girl: why the very
tact that she is a girl, changes the
whole programme. IF she goes out
to play she is not allowed the same
freedom as the boy enjoys. She is
taught that certain games are only
suitable for boys to play and if they
were allowable for girls, her gar
ments are fashioned in such man.
Aner as to preclude the possibility of
anything like the freedom OF limbs
the boy has. In FACT she is hampered
by dress and the conventionalities of
life, and driven by society with blind
ers or her bride, not able, unless un-
usually brave, to look right or left
for knowledge, only straight ahead
to what hss been pointed out to her
co w9aaa9 6 gc0l, 60 Nagggy wsll and
ue seIIieu IUr lie. 9Uin0 I wv have
with frantic hands, tugged at bit and
binders until with one great effort
they stood free in the grandeur of
their womanhood and quietly walked
up the Intellectual heights, to claim,
II not seat, at least standing room
beside their brothers. Power will
accomplish much, but perseverance
more, and what some can do by one
grand effort, Others may effect by
constant trial.
r. There are some people who are all
brains, with no PHYSICAL stamina, but
the majority need sound body, in
order to attain large intellectual de-
velopment. Allowing this to be an
axiom, let me point out one reason
at least, why women are intellectu-
ally inferior to men. The boy as l
have before said, is allowed freedom
Of action and thereby gains, not only
positive knowledge of things about
him, but also the much desired qnal-
ity, pnrceptively; he Is able to take
in many things at a glance, and as a
foundation of all else, he gets good
strong roundabout muscles, power
OF endurance AID is ready for the
practical affairs OF life. AS lie ad-
vances in years, he is taught that he
must be self-reliaut, selt.supporting.
His faculties are all on the alert, as
lie has no expectations from others,
and he is forced by his environments
to grasp here and there for such
knowledge as will aid him, and his
mental powers increase with use, if
he never looks in a book. In sum-
mer he can dress cool, and in winter
warm, because abe will be comfort
BILE and if to be so requires that he
put on a thick flannel shirt, he does
it, and never thinks whether it will
make him look too large to be grace.
tul OF not once dressed, he plunges
heart aud brain into what ever occu.
pies his thoughts, and has no fear
but that every particular rufie, ,founce
or pucker, will keep in perfect orde r.
His locomotion is not impeded h,
long heavy skirts tapping abou' hi
heels at every step, and if he is tireC