Show THE COURAGE OF WOMEN it IB fortitude rather than physical demonstration let us consider in what the physical courage of woman has hitherto most differed from that of man for the difference ia one not only of degree but quality and the re suit partly of physiological conditions partly the influence of heredity and partly of the necessities of her social life and the education which is habitually assigned to her all of which must affect the future as well as the past broadly speaking it is in passive nna endurance in continuance rather than vehemence of effort in self abnegation and vicarious pleasure eliat the courage of woman excels she will face with equanimity a necessary danger but will rarely seek or delight in it joys of contest and peril have for her little meaning and no attraction they threaten the home they are physically prescribed during a great portion of her life they conflict with her special province of being beautiful and her special glory of being chosen and protected 1 doubt whether there be a woman in the world who does not in her heart of hearts still like being fought for who doe not admire even an ordinary feat of streng thor daring more than all the honors of the schools bow strange it would be were this not so when we remember that for centuries upon centuries the progress of civilization the evolution of sex has been founded upon the contest of mule for female when we think of the course of history the necessities of structure the influence of maternity the slow inheritance of one uniform tradition of conduct of all these diverse and potent factors alike tending in the same direction there is no room for wonder that a radically different conception of courage should be held by men and women and we must require very strong evidence to believe that such a conception in harmocy har mouy as it appears to be alike with nature and reason is erroneous or destructible fortnightly review |