“Well, then listen to the opinions of one who is content with the dispensations of Providence, and who believes that the finger of God himself has marked out the line which separates the impulses, the habits, the character of the two sexes:—Man has _vigor_—woman _refinement_: man has the _reasoning_ faculty best developed—woman the _perceptive_: man has the power of _abstraction_—woman _rarely_ possesses it: man is the creature of _calculation_—woman of _impulse_: man is capable of deep research, he proceeds slowly and cautiously, measuring every distance, and counting every step of his progress—woman bounds along with rapid foot, observing the most prominent objects in her path, and from them forms conclusions often erroneous, but always ingenious. The intellectual faculty in man is usually concentrated—in woman it is diffused: men of genius commonly devote themselves to some one favorite pursuit—women of genius are remarkable for their versatility. Man has the more correct _judgment_—woman the more correct _feelings_. He has a _knowledge_ of right which he often forgets—she a _consciousness_ of it which never forsakes her, even in the midst of crime: man possesses the stronger _passions_—woman the stronger _affections_: man has _boldness_—woman _fortitude_: man can perform heroic deeds—woman can endure the extreme of suffering: man has the more _physical_ daring—woman the more _moral_ courage: man controls others by the _force_ of his character—woman influences by the _gentleness_ of hers. In a word, my dear Frank, the relative position of the sexes is fixed beyond all change; their respective duties are well defined. Man has been given the weapons of moral and mental _warfare_, that he may go out into the world, and do battle with and for his fellows—while on woman is bestowed that skill in moral and mental _culture_ which enables her to improve the field of duty at home.” “Very clearly defined, cousin Grace; so then you do not agree in opinion with those who are for enlarging the boundaries of woman’s domain, and would fain make her a gladiator in the arena, instead of a spectator in the amphitheatre of action.” “That women have some wrongs to be redressed is an undoubted fact, but I am no friend to this new warfare for the ‘_rights of women_;’ let the sex only do their duty at home to parents, brothers, husbands, or friends, and they will have little cause to repine that the forum, the pulpit, or the poll is closed against them. But I have not forgotten your innuendoes respecting the selfishness of women, Frank, and I should like to tell you a story which will convince you of how much self-devotion a woman may be capable, even when the strongest passions of her nature are to be subdued.