"That is more than I can tell you, unless for the reason, that those who have given this nickname to your sex, are of the other themselves, and there are not many men who like ridicule, when it is brought home." "Then I am to understand that the appellation Blue Stocking implies a taunt." "Certainly, a learned lady is the terror of all ignorant men, and to cover their own idleness, or incapacity, they never fail to under-value what they do not possess, particularly if they find knowledge and ability in those, whom, _as females_, they consider their inferiors; but you ought to apply to your cousin, who can give you the latest _edition_. I am an old square-toes you know, and words change their meaning every day. Howard, _unde derivatur_, modern Blue-stockings if you please?" I felt a little awkwardly, but answered, "Mr. Stillingfleet, I believe, is the origin. At least his Blue-stockings at Mrs. Montagu's _soirées_ are the only parentage that I have heard of for the term, and you have defined it." "Well," said Fanny, "this is odd enough, for it appears that a gentleman wore the blue-stockings, which are transferred to the ladies; but now Phil. I want to know why learned ladies are disliked. I always thought that people were esteemed in proportion to their knowledge, if they made a right use of it." "_There_," answered Mr. Otway, "you have yourself told the whole secret; _if they make a right use of it_. Now it has happened that some ladies have made a _wrong_ use of their talents and attainments, and thus have drawn reproach upon the whole sex to which they appertain." "What _is_ this wrong use which which has been so heavily punished, may I enquire," interposed Charlotte, while my aunt, Emily, and Frederick, seemed quite delighted with this curious catechism. "The word _display_, includes the whole charge," said Mr. Otway. "Some women have foolishly destroyed the ease of society by an unseasonable introduction of their acquirements, and a pedantic exhibition of the variety and extent of them in pompous expression, unsuited to mixed companies, and uncalled for by the occasion." "But why visit the faults of a few on the whole sisterhood," interrupted Fanny, with eagerness, "Mr. Otway?" "Because men are very uncandid in their judgments, and find it easier to get rid of a vexation by annihilating the cause, than by regulating the effects." Emily here begged to know "whether men were never vain-glorious, and if they were, why they too were not nicknamed." "In fact," said Mr. Otway, "dunces and fools hate in men, as well as women, whatever they cannot understand or appreciate; and the terms Bookworm, Philosopher, Quid-nunc, &c. are frequently employed to designate persons of superior erudition; but men are simply avoided as _bores_; women are contemned as rivals."