The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-27
INrrrIFcrUAL woMEN

IN ~
In the March number Of Worthing-
tons Magazine appears an enjoyable ar
tiole the purpose Of which is the dem
onstration OF a self-evident truth. IL is
an answer TO his own query, Are Intel
leotual Women Lovsbleg' The writer
is Mr. Junius Henri Browne, and before
he has progressed far with his work he
accepts unqualidedly an affirmative an
swer to his question, and then devoted
considerable space 10 simplifying the
proofs. The article is very interesting,
in that it writes down with considerable
detail the thoughts OF every man who
has had any acquaintance with intel
lectual women Mr.. Browne dlsm:sses
CURLY the epithet "blue-stocking, with
its visions OF shrill-volced. addressed,
unkempt. dowdyish females, though
contending that when the epithet was
in common use the women so character
lied could never have been half so dis
enchanting as represented. He holds
that 10 the present day intellectual
women have none OF the unlovable
characteristics attributed to them two
or three generations ago; but they are,
on the contrary, as attractive in person,
manners and dress as one could wish.
And he says they are generally sur
rounded by men very ready to fall in
love with them il in the least encour-
aged.
Intellectual and literary women Of to-
day are not diverse from other we'll
bred, interesting women, Mr. Browne
says, unless it be that they have added
grace of speech and charm OF under
standing. They do not talk Of their
theories, plans or performances, nor as
sumo an air Of superiority, nor expect
any homage for their talents; they own
the fine tact, the delicate intuition, the
quick, warm sympathy for which the
highest and best Of their sex have been
proverbial they allow their intellect,
their culture, TO sutfuse and ir-
radiate their manners and their
speech That intellectual women
should repel man from the
mere fact Of knowing how TO use their
minds our author holds 70 be a severe
reflection on the man himself; implying
that a woman must be a fool 10 be &C
ceptabie in his eyes. The fact is, Mr..
Browne says, a man does not set much |
store by woman's intellect unless he /
is accustomed to the society Of intellec- |
tual women. II be has had associations
with the contemporaneous the genuine |
womsnly class, be has only words Of
praise fer them. Intellect helps them /.
IN every way; broadens and eleyates |
them; deepens and intensihes their sex; !
gives them a background that sets them /
of p,ctorIally, rad antly, permanently.
The intellectual woman appears 10 more
advantage 10 the drawing room, OF the
promenade; gets moro attention and
has more men in her train than does
the woman who IS indifferent 10 the
amelloration u her mind As wife the
intellectual woman Is her husbands IN
falling encouragement aud sovereign
oonldante; her husband is not driven
70 the club or other resort for genial
company. Ia the company Of dull men
the intellectual woman is 50 courteous
and tactful that they do not imagine
how much they tire her; she s a grace
in any position.
Mr. Brownies paper Is concluded with
brief mention Of some Of the intellec-
tual women u history, whose charms Of
person, great though they were, counted
far less than the briliancy Of their
minds and tho lovablenoss Of their na-
lures; beginning with the peerless As.
pasta, Who shared equally with her hus-
band, Pericles, tho greatest man in the
most glorious age u Greece, the power,
wisdom aud glory ~ his reign; II once
tho most gifted and the most enchant.
ing woman Of antiquity.