WOMAN'S SPHERE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2236, 6 November 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

WOMAN'S SPHERE.

Tin-, members of the British Mtscfical Association opeued their sth annual meeting at Brighton oil August 10, and it. is uslu. Kited tli.it no lesss than '2000 members of the p.ofession were in town, including "miny from America. Tho proceedings commenced at half-past 12 o'clock, when the Council and others weie teeoived in the pavillion by the Mayor (Alderman E. F. Reeves) and Corporation of Biighton, his Woiship subsequently inviting the visitors and others, liieladinij two botough members of Farlv vu\i,'nr, to luncheon in the banqneting-room. Tlirre was a very numerous attendance at the evening meeting, a large majoiity of the local professional gentlemen being present ; and i)r Withers Moore was loudly cheered on rising to dclher his addles, which he confined to a consideration of what was called the higher education of women. Was it for the good of the human race, considered as progressive, that women should be trained and admitted to complete with men in the ways and walks of life fi\»m which hithertofore (as unsuited to their sex) they had been excluded by feeling and usage, and largely indeed, by actual legislation ? Would it be well that we should have female doctors, divines, lawyers, mathematicians, and astronomers, professors, publicists, and Ministers of State ? Might not one add generals and commanders of armies ? For Amazonian ambition were still alive ; wituess the Dowager Maharanee of Baroda's recent offer to the Viceroy of India, of a corps of women warriors to aid him in solving the Afghan frontier difficulty. To the men of the old time their thought was, not that women should have her fair chance with men in the battle of life, but that man should tight it for her. But if we arc to " chance that," then those who enter into the conflict where cuffs are going — man or womin — must be content to be cuffed and cull back again ; and the age of chivalry and chivalrous courtesy (so far as woman is concerned) with all which that courtesy did to make life noble and beautiful, must, indeed, be held finally to have passed away. He thought that it was not for the good of the human race, considered as progressive, that woman should be f i cc from the restraints which law and custom had imposed upon them, and should receive an education intended to prepare them for the exercise of brain-power in competition with men. Music, painting, poetry, literature, and cookery had been as free to women as to men ; and yet a Beethoven, a Titian, a Shakspere, a Bacon, or a Soyer have never yet appeared in their midst; and they might rest assured that the day was far distant when a Hyposrates, a Harvey, a Haller, or a Hunter, wonld adorn the ranks of the lady doctors. He held that this '' higher education" unfitted women for matrimony, and after quoting opinions in support of this, he said that in these days there seemed to be danger, both in aud out of Parliament, that the attempt may be made to turn women into men. He pointed out the physical differences between men and women, especially in the weight of the brain, and quoted figures showing the comparative rates of sicknes3 in boys and girls. In conclusion he said : My arguments may he summed up very simply. Excessive work, especially in youth, is ruinous to health, both of mind and body ; excessive brain- work more surely so than any other. From the eagerness of woman's nature, competitive brain-work among gifted girls can hardly but be excessive, especially if the competition be against the superior brain-weight and brain strength of man. The resulting ruin can be averted — if it be averted at all — only by drawing so largely upon the woman's whole capital stock of vital force and energy as to leave a remainder quite inadequate for maternity.