The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-09
Brains or n WOMEN.
Sir James Browne's Lat, Ut erance
Routed.


Reiuted.
Sir James Crichton Browne has lately
brought forward a new and somewhat
threadbare argument that the brain OF
the average man is several ounces heavi-
er than that Of the average woman, and
that hence women must have smaller
mental capacity. few parallel facts
may be worth considering in this con-
nection.
The brain of an average elephant is
about three times as heavy as the brain
Of an average man, yet We do not find
that the elephant is three times as smart
as the man The brain Of an ant is in
definitely smaller than the brain OF a
sheep, vet the ant Is much more intelli-
gent than the sheep In other words, the
smaller creature may have a smaller
brain without necessarily having inferior
wits. The woman. being a smaller animal
than the man, naturally has a smaller
brain, but IL does not follow that she is
therefore more stupid. This view is. con-
firmed by the fact that II boys brain
is below a certain weight the boy IS In
variably an idiot while a girls brains may
fall several ounces below that weight and
stu the girl be rational.
Some scientists say that women's brains
are heavier in proportion TO the weight OF
their bodies than the brains Of men. 9th
er scientists say the contrary But the
relative weight Of the brain is not a sure
guide any more than its absolute weight.
There are certain small birds, built light
for flying, whose brains are heavier in
proportion to the weight Of their bodies
than the brains Of human beings. But
we do not find that these birds are more
intelligent than human beings.
The only fair test Of the comparative
ability Of two brains is to see what
they can accomplish when placed under
the same circumstances. All over the
country in our public schools boys and
girls from the same families study side
by side, and the girls average quite as
we'll as the boys. In the colleges the
young women take rather more than
;lcir share Of the qlses. This is prob
ally due not 10 superiority Of the .emi-
id brain. but 20 the fact that mans
stupid boys are sent 10 college by their
parents because e Is fashionable, while
If a girl goes 10 college IL is generally
because she really wishes 10 study.
But however we may account for II,
he fact remains that the alleged mental
inferiority Of women does not show it
self in any of the educational institu-
tons where the two sexes study together.
After graduation, however, not nearly
so many women as men score a brilliant
success in business or in the art. The
reason. l take IL. Is not because women
have insufficient intelligence, but because
most Of them prefer TO put their intelli-
gence to a different 'use-namely to apply
it to running a house and family. This
is a business fully as important and
useful as any other. And TO run house
and family successfully under present
conditions takes as much intelligence
one might almost say as much statesman
ship as 10 run a railroad or city gov
eminent. If any man doubts this, let
him send his wife off for holiday and try
for a week TO do his own homework and
take care Of half a dozen children.
Sir James Cricht0n Browne again finds
an alarming connection between femi-
nine Intelligence and lack Of personal
hearty. He fears that what woman
gains intellectually by the higher educa-
ton now I'm vogue she will lose In beauty
and grace" and as proof OF this ne
cites the Caro- tribe In india, where
the women are said 10 have the entire
control Of public affairs and to be the
very ugliest women on the lace %. the
earfh." If education tends 20 ugliness,
III WOMlu De AAhiE " NAli HN''aN
that these Indian women are the most
highly educated women on the face OF
the earth.
Rrains seem to be distributed among
women as among men without any regard
to good looks. Some bright women are
strikingly handsome, and some are strik-
inglv homely Maria Mitchell, FOR instance
was a plain girl. though she developed
INTO a fine looking elderly lady Mrs
coroerville on the other hand, was con-
snie,,ovs for her beauty. That education
and freedom do not tend, on the whole
TO make women ugly may be SHOWN Ds
one illustration on a large scale. AInerl-
can women are better educated ana more
"emancipated' than the women OF any
,ther country. Yet all Americans and
many foreigners say that no other coun-
try can boast Of so many beautltul
women. And any one who has attended
n class day at wellesley will hardly be
persuaded. as ne looks at the rosebud
Garden of girls" that education Is de-
trimental 10 good looks.
Sir James Crichton Brownies whole ar
ument is an example or the Tony INTO
which a learned man may be drawn, when
i'm following a speculative theory he closes
his eyes 10 the facts of ever, day obserVa-
ton.
The newsT { ers have lately been lhahlhs
merry over the case OF another scientific
man: This gentleman had Written learned
articles TO prove the mental feebleness OF
women from the smallness of their brains.
He died, and his own brain proved on
examination 10 weigh less than that Of
the average woman. good many
women await with interest the death
4 SIR James Crichton Browne and the
results OF a pCstmortem.-Alice stone
Blackwell In Boston Globe.