Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885, December 01, 1882, Page 7, Image 11
i t T H K H K S P K R I A N STU D 1? N T . I I Hut in .speaking of woman's inlcllcctiml inferiority let u undci'Btnntl one nnollier. The most, Insane ami bigoted old bnchclor docs not dream that the most brilliant woman is in mind the inferior of the stupid man, that Olcopatra, Sappho, Madame de S'ncl and Mrs Soniervillo did not outrank by far in mental strength the great ma jority of the ablest men of their day. The comparison must lie a fair one. Suppose we divide men in accordance willi their intellectual merits Into one hundred classes and women likewise Then would class one of the women pair with class one of the men ? Would the ablest repre sentatives of womankind compare favorably in mental vigor "with Thales, Pjthagorns' Plato, Newton, Bacon Kant or Hamilton ? "Would not class thirty of the women pai.i perhaps with class forty ot the men? If man be the stronger minded of the two itafilrms that ho is tho wiser .not tho better. If ho has received ton talents from heaven let him thank heaven for them and not credit himself; let him mark well to honor tho trust, but not plume himself upon tho possession. There is no mnro excuse for self glorification because one is endowed with rich mental gifts than because one possesses physical strength, noble blood or great wealth. He may well rejoice in gifts so precious, but should in no wise grow vain over them. If providence had given humble Mr; Brown Shakespeare's talents and surrounded him with Shakespeare's circum stances Mr. Brown would certainly have written a second Hamlet. What better right therefore lias Shakespeare to grow vain than Mr. Brown? Tho great poet began life with natural advantages incomparably grander than Brown why should lie not excel? But men have been entrusted with a special mental strength to enable them to fulfil their special mission and we have seen that in every sense these possessions aro but gifts and therefore in no sense tho just occasion of pride. There Is yet another consid eration that interferes with man's proclaiming himself tho superior of woman. She upon her part possesses pow ers that are denied, in any like, to men. The beauty of person nnd face, tho indescribable clinrm of manner, tho sprightliness ofmion, makes tho Cleopatra and Madamo do Stael of the world exercise an influence and a power over her subjects that a mere intellectual supariority rare ly obtains. And tho voice of woman ! so divine is tho song of.our prima donnas that bo they as Jenny Lind, with a character as chaste, as stainless, as charitable as an angel's, or be they like M. Putti, with a reputation blasted, alike they sway the heart, arouse tho soul to raptures and ecstasies and with a melody that is heavenly as far as tho earthly may judge, weave the spell of the enchantress. Such powers Demosthenes and Cicero would have envied to exorcise. Therefore let us recog nize all factors in the problem and not declaro man superior m toto became his mind is stronger, bnt hasten to gladly and proudly acknowledge her equality and recog nize in her mind, heart, character and life the supple ments of man's. D. II. W. Jr. PROGRESS IN SOIENOE. Owing to constant progress inscienco, a continual mod iflcation of former, theories is nccossnrary. How ever it is not often Unit established theories are demonstrated to bo wholly false; they may bo defective in some of their details, but in essential particulars thoy are usually in accord with observed facts before they receive the endors ment of scholars, scientists and investigators. H6nco sen- satioual annuoneeinents of tliscoverlcs subversive of current theories should not be accepted readily without proof or question. Investigation, demonstration, and lime, are important If not Indispensable factors in deter mined tho truth or falsity of theories. Therefore now theories should be presented as tentative and probable, not as absolutely true and immutable; and our judgement upon them should be suspended until we aro able to render a deliberate and intelligent opinion as to their merits. Concerning tho constant evolution ol theories nseien lifio exohango says : Professor Huxley gained a biilliaut reputation, which lie still maintains, by announcing that he has discovered protoplasm to bo tho source of all organic life. But soon after Dr. Lionel Beale, tho great English Microscopist, denied the truth of Professor flux ley's theories, and asserted that bioplamm must be put in tho place of protoplasm. The oulogies over Mr- Darwin's grave arc yet fresh. They lifted him to a place among tho immortals, for his wonderful discovery of progress in creation by the law of natural selection. But now comes a Mr. To who, who has for years been studying with the best naturalists and biologists of Eu rope and announces that lifo is not due to protoplasm, but to atomized charges of electricity conducted into tho sys tem by tho oxygon of respiration. "Variations, ho says, aro caused not by natural solectlon, bnt by tho action of electricity on reproductive germs. Mr. Towno holds to the theory of evolution, but not to the form which gave a world-wide reputation toIr. Darwin. Tho famous Prof. Ilelmhollz, one of llio higlicst authorities iu Europe, is said to agree with Mr. Towno. When tho scientists dis agree, time and investigation must decide Quido. Canto i. Boy Gun Joy Fun. Canto ii. Gun Bust; Boy Cussed. -Ex. LABOR. Success Is labor's prize, Work Is tho mother of Furao, And who on a 'boom" shall rlso To tho height of mi houost namoT Tho bco by industry reapoth Tho Btoros which enrich tho hives; Ml that is thrifty creopcth, For loll Is tho law of llvos. And ho who reaps without flowing a btttor harvest reaps, Tho law of gradual growing Is a law that never sloops. The State University Collogo Association of Minnesota at Miuueapolis, opened Tuesday, November 10th, the closing day of tho week of prayer. Tho meeting was long and enthusiastic. At tho close one gentleman offered $100. for a building for the University Association MgjsjJBS area a I