The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 5, November 1837Various
History
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 5, November 1837
Various
Periodicals
The world knew that the genius of Fulton was not adapted to the
writing of romance, while no one ever supposed that Sir Walter
Scott was possessed of mechanical skill; yet it was regarded as
mere accident, or great good fortune, that these distinguished
men stumbled into a career of thought which demanded the world's
admiration; and few dreamed that the causes of their varied
excellence were as great and different, as the effects were
dissimilar. Burns walked a poet behind his plough; and yet no other
Scottish farmer seemed a poet 'ready made,' although he may have been
as strong, as tall, and equally handsome. There _must_ have been
some difference in the head of Scotia's own bard--something that
elevated his nature, and lifted him above his walk in life. To adopt
his own language, he must have been 'one of Nature's noblemen, who
derived the patent for his honors directly from the Almighty;' and
yet, by what _outward seal_ the patent was impressed which conferred
the native title to distinction, the world knew not, and but for
phrenology, never would have known. Pope
'Lisped in numbers, _for the numbers came_;'
and so did Zerah Colburn; and yet how different their _numbers_ were!
So wonderful was this latter individual, when a mere child, that he
was esteemed by his friends as an intellectual prodigy; and parental
love, fondly doting on its gifted child, and admiring
----'such wisdom in an earthly shape,
Showed up a 'Colburn' as we show an ape.'
People had not ceased to wonder at the brilliancy of the boy, when
his mediocrity as a man produced a second surprise. He excelled in
nothing but numbers--and that was very mysterious indeed!
Woman has three characteristics, in great perfection and strength, to
wit: fear, attachment, and veneration; so much so, that a wag might
define woman to be 'a timid, affectionate, and religious animal.' Now
the phrenologist has observed, that at certain points where he has
located the organs of cautiousness, adhesiveness, and veneration,
woman's head is much fuller than man's. The most ordinary observer
will admit this to be the fact, upon inspection; but the answer he
will be likely to make, will be, that this is so, because she is
a woman; whereas she happens to be a woman, _because this is so_!
Without the full manifestations of these organs of the mind, woman's
nature would be radically changed; her gentle dependence upon man
for safety and protection would cease; her meek reliance upon her
Creator, and her distinguished reverence for sacred things, would
fail; and the gentleness, grace, and piety of her sex would depart
from her. Ambition would usurp the place of loveliness; the lord of
the creation would have to bear a _sister_ 'near the throne;' and a
rough contest for dominion would as much distinguish the sexes, as
they are at present characterized by the fullest manifestation, of
mutual courtesy and kindness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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