第9章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A Woman-Hater",免费读到尾

  AsforSeverne,heonlyglancedatherashecamein,andthenshunnedhereye。Hepresentedtoherthegrave,resolvedcountenanceofamanwhohasbeenforcedtoadecision,butmeanstoabidebyit。

  Inrealityhewasdelightedattheturnthingshadtaken。Themoneywasnotnecessarilylost,sinceheknewwhereitwas;andZoehadcompromisedherselfbeyondretreating。Heintendedtowearthisanxiousfacealongwhile。Buthisartificialsnowhadtomelt,sorealasunshonefullonit。ThemomenthelookedfullatZoe,sherepaidhimwithsuchapoint-blankbeamofglorioustendernessandgratitudeasmadehimthrillwithpassionaswellastriumph。Hefeltherwholeheartwashis,andfromthathourhispovertywouldneverbeallowedtoweighwithher。Heclearedup,andleftoffacting,becauseitwassuperfluous;hehadnowonlytobaskinsunshine。Zoe,alwaystender,butcoytillthismoment,madelovetohimlikeayounggoddess。EvenFannyyieldedtothesolidproofofsincerityhehadgiven,andwasdownrightaffectionate。

  Hewasking。Andfromonegradationtoanother,theyenteredColognewithSeverneseatedbetweenthetwogirls,eachwithahandinhis,andagreatdispositiontopethimandspoilhim;morethanonce,indeed,adelicateheadjustgrazedeachofhissquareshoulders;butcandorcompelsmetoownthattheirfatigueandtheyawingofthecarriageatthetimeweremoretoblamethanthetiredgirls;forattheenormitytherewasapromptretirementtoadistance。MissMaitlandhadbeenalongtimeinthelandofNod;andVizard,fromthefirst,hadpreferredmalecompanionsandtobacco。

  AtColognetheyvisitedtheprideofGermany,thatmightycathedralwhichtheMiddleAgesprojected,commenced,andlefttodecayofoldagebeforecompletion,andourenterprisingagewillfinish;buttheydepartedonthesameday。

  BeforetheyreachedEngland,thelove-makingbetweenSeverneandZoe,thoughitneverpassedtheboundsofgoodtaste,wassoapparenttoanyfemaleeyethatMissMaitlandremonstratedseverelywithFanny。

  Butthetrimmerwasnowwontotheotherside。ShewouldnotoffendAuntMaitlandbyowningherconversion。Shesaid,hypocritically,\"Iamafraiditisnouseobjectingatpresent,aunt。Theattachmentistoostrongonbothsides。And,whetherheispoorornot,hehassacrificedhismoneytoherfeelings,andso,now,shefeelsboundinhonor。Iknowher;shewon\'tlistentoawordnow,aunt:whyirritateher?Shewouldquarrelwithbothofusinamoment。\"

  \"Poorgirl!\"saidMissMaitland;andtookthehint。Shehadstillanarrowinherquiver——Vizard。

  Inmid-channel,tenmilessouthofDover,shecaughthiminalucidintervalofnon-smoke。Shereminded,himhehadpromisedhertogiveMr。

  SeverneahintaboutZoe。

  \"SoIdid,\"saidhe。

  \"Andhaveyou?\"

  \"Well,no;totellthetruth,Iforgot。\"

  \"Thenpleasedoitnow;fortheyaregoingonworsethanever。\"

  \"I\'llwarnthefool,\"saidhe。

  Hedidwarnhim,andinthefollowingterms:

  \"Lookhere,oldfellow。IhearyouaregettingawfullysweetonmysisterZoe。\"

  Noanswer。Severneonhisguard。

  \"Now,youhadbettermindyoureye。Sheisaveryprettygirl,andyoumayfindyourselfentangledbeforeyouknowwhereyouare。\"

  Severnehunghishead。\"Ofcourse,Iknowitisgreatpresumptioninme。\"

  \"Presumption?fiddlestick!Suchamanasyouareoughtnottobetiedtoanywoman,or,ifyoumustbe,yououghtnottogocheap。Mind,Zoeisapoorgirl;onlytenthousandintheworld。Flirtwithwhomyoulike——thereisnoharminthat;butdon\'tgetseriouslyentangledwithanyofthem。Goodsisters,andgooddaughters,andgoodflirtsmakebadwives。\"

  \"Oh,then,\"saidSeverne,\"itisonlyonmyaccountyouobject。\"

  \"Well,principally。AndIdon\'texactlyobject。Iwarn。Inthefirstplace,assoonaseverwegetintoBarfordshire,shewillmostlikelyjiltyou。YoumaybeonlyherContinentallover。HowcanItell,_oryoueither?_Andifnot,andyouweretobeweakenoughtomarryher,shewoulddevelopunexpectedvicesdirectly——theyalldo。Andyouarenotrichenoughtoliveinahouseofyourown;youwouldhavetoliveinmine——afinefateforarisingbladelikeyou。\"

  \"Whataterribleprospect——tobetiedtothebestfriendinEnglandaswellastheloveliestwoman!\"

  \"Oh,ifthatistheviewyoutake,\"saidVizard,beamingwithdelight,\"itisnousetalkingreasonto_you。\"_

  WhentheyreachedLondon,VizardgaveMissMaitlandanoutlineofthisconversation;and,sofarfromseeingthehumorofit,which,nevertheless,wasprettystrongandcharacteristicofthemanandhisonefoible,shetookthehuff,andwouldnotevenstaytodinneratthehotel。Shewouldgointoherowncountybythenexttrain,bagandbaggage。

  Mr。SevernewastheonlyonewhoofferedtoaccompanyhertotheGreatWesternRailway。Shedeclined。Heinsisted;wentwithher;gotherticket,numberedandarrangedherpackages,andsawhersafelyoff,withanairofprofoundrespectandadmirablyfeignedregret。

  Thatshewasthedupeofhisart,maybedoubted:thathelostnothingbyit,iscertain。Menarenotruinedbycivility。Assoonasshewasseated,shesaid,\"Ibeg,sir,youwillwastenomoretimewithme。Mr。

  Severne,youhavebehavedtomelikeagentleman,andthatisveryunusualinamanofyouragenowadays。Icannotaltermyopinionaboutmynieceandyou:butI_am_sorryyouareapoorgentleman——muchtoopoortomarryher,andIwishIcouldmakeyouarichone;butIcannot。Thereismyhand。\"

  YoushouldhaveseentheairoftendervenerationwithwhichtheyoungMachiavelbowedoverherhand,andevenimprintedalighttouchonitwithhisvelvetlips。

  Thenheretired,disconsolate,and,onceoutofsight,whippedintoagin-palaceandswallowedaquarternofneatbrandy,totakethetasteoutofhismouth。\"Goit,Ned,\"saidhe,tohimself;\"youcan\'taffordtomakeenemies。

  Theoldladywentoffbitteragainstthewholeparty_exceptMr。

  Severne;_andheretiredtohisfriends,disembarrassedoftheonefoehehadnotturnedintoadownrightfriend,butonlydisarmed。WelldoesthegreatVoltairerecommendwhathewellcalls\"legrandartdeplaire。\"

  VizardsentHarrisintoBarfordshire,toprepareforthecomfortoftheparty;andtolightfiresinallthebedrooms,thoughitwassummer;andtoseethebeds,blanketsandsheetsairedattheveryfiresoftheveryroomstheyweretobeusedin。Thissacredofficehenevertrustedtoahousekeeper;heusedeventodeclare,astheresultofexperience,thatitwasbeyondtheintellectofanywomanreallytoairmattresses,blankets,andsheets——allthree。Hehadalsoaprintedlistheusedtoshowabout,offiveacquaintances,stoutfellowsall,whom\"littlebitsofwomen\"suchwashisphraseologyhadlaidlowwithdampbeds,havingcrippledtwoforlifewithrheumatismandlumbago,andsentthreetotheirlonghome。

  MeantimeSevernetooktheladiestoeverypublicattractionbydayandnight,andVizardthankedhim,beforethefair,forhisconsiderationintakingthemoffhishands;andSeverneretortedbythankinghimforleavingthemonhis。

  Itmayseem,atfirst,avileselection;butIamgoingtoasktheladieswhohonormewiththeirattentiontofollow,notthatgay,amorouspartyofthree,butthissolitarycyniconhisround。

  TakingaturnroundthegardeninLeicesterSquare,whichwasnewtohim,HarringtonVizard\'sobservanteyesawayoungladyriseupfromaseattogo,butturnpaledirectly,andsitdownagainuponthearmoftheseat,asifforsupport。

  \"Halloo!\"saidVizard,inhisbluntway,_\"you_arenotwell。WhatcanI

  doforyou?\"

  \"Iamallright,\"saidshe。\"Pleasegoon;\"thelatterwordsinatonethatimpliedshewasnotanovice,andtheattentionsofgentlementostrangeladiesweresuspected。

  \"Ibegyourpardon,\"saidVizard,coolly。\"Youarenotallright。Youlookasifyouweregoingtofaint。\"

  \"What,aremylipsblue?\"

  \"No;buttheyarepale。\"

  \"Well,thenitisnotacaseoffainting。It_may_beexhaustion。\"

  \"Youknowbest。Whatshallwedo?\"

  \"Why,nothing。Yes;mindourownbusiness。\"

  \"Withallmyheart;mybusinessjustnowistoofferyousomerestorative——aglassofwine。\"

  \"Oh,yes!IthinkIseemyselfgoingintoapublic-housewithyou。

  Besides,Idon\'tbelieveinstimulants。Strengthcanonlyenterthehumanbodyoneway。Iknowwhatisthematterwithme。\"

  \"Whatisit?\"

  \"Iamnotobligedtotell_you。\"_

  \"Ofcourseyouarenotobliged;butyoumightaswell。\"

  \"Well,then,itisHunger。\"

  \"Hunger!\"

  \"Hunger——famine——starvation。Don\'tyouknowEnglish?\"

  \"Ihopeyouarenotserious,madam,\"saidVizard,verygravely。\"However,ifladieswillsaysuchthingsasthat,menwithstomachsintheirbosomsmustactaccordingly。Obligemebytakingmyarm,asyouareweak,andwewilladjourntothateating-houseovertheway。\"

  \"Muchobliged,\"saidthelady,satirically,\"ouracquaintanceisnot_quite_longenoughforthat。\"

  Helookedather;atall,slim,younglady,blackmerino,bynomeansnew,cleancuffsandcollarleaningagainstthechairforsupport,andyetsacrificingherselftoconventionalpropriety,andevenwithstandinghimwithaprettylittleairofdefiancethatwaspitiable,herpallorandtheweaknessofherbodyconsidered。

  ThepoorWoman-hater\'sbowelsbegantoyearn。\"Lookhere,youlittlespitfire,\"saidhe,\"ifyoudon\'tinstantlytakemyarm,I\'llcatchyouupandcarryyouover,withnomoretroublethanyouwouldcarryathread-paper。\"

  Shelookedhimupanddownverykeenly,andatlastwithaslightexpressionoffeminineapproval,thefirstshehadvouchsafedhim。Thenshefoldedherarms,andcockedherlittlenoseathim,\"Youdaren\'t。

  I\'llcallthepolice。\"

  \"Ifyoudo,I\'lltellthemyouaremylittlecousin,madasaMarchhare:

  starving,andwon\'teat。Come,howisittobe?\"Headvanceduponher。

  \"Youcan\'tbeinearnest,sir,\"saidshe,withsuddendignity。

  \"AmInot,though?Youdon\'tknow_me。_Iamusedtobeobeyed。Ifyoudon\'tgowithmelikeasensiblegirl,I\'llcarryyou——toyourdinner——likearuffian。\"

  \"ThenI\'llgo——likealady,\"saidshe,withsuddenhumility。

  Heofferedherhisarm。Shepassedherswithin;butleanedaslightlyaspossibleonit,andherpoorpalefacewasalittlepinkastheywent。

  Heenteredtheeating-house,andaskedfortwoportionsofcoldroastbeef,nottokeepherwaiting。Theywerebrought。

  \"Sir,\"saidshe,withasubjugatedair,\"willyoubesogoodascutupthemeatsmall,andpassittomeabitortwoatatime。\"

  Hewassurprised,butobeyedherorders。

  \"Andifyoucouldmakemetalkalittle?Because,atsightofthemeatsonearme,Ifeellikeatigress——poorhumannature!Sir,Ihavenoteatenmeatforaweek,norfoodofanykindthistwodays。\"

  \"GoodGod!\"

  \"SoImustbeprudent。Peoplehavegorgedthemselveswithfuriouseatingunderthosecircumstances;thatiswhyIaskedyoutosupplymeslowly。

  Thankyou。Youneednotlookatmelikethat。BetterfolkthanIhave_died_ofhunger。SomethingtellsmeIhavereachedthelowestspoke,whenIhavebeenindebtedtoastrangerforameal。\"

  Vizardfeltthewatercomeintohiseyes;butheresistedthatpitiableweakness。\"Botherthatnonsense!\"saidhe。\"I\'llintroducemyself,andthenyoucan\'tthrow_stranger_inmyteeth。IamHarringtonVizard,aBarfordshiresquire。\"

  \"IthoughtyouwerenotaCockney。\"

  \"Lordforbid!Doesthatinformationentitlemetoanyinreturn?\"

  \"Idon\'tknow;but,whetherorno,mynameisRhodaGale。\"

  \"Haveanotherplate,MissGale?\"

  \"Thanks。\"

  Heorderedanother。

  \"Iamproudofyourconfidingyournametome,MissGale;but,totellthetruth,whatIwantedtoknowishowayoungladyofyourtalentandeducationcouldbesobadlyoffasyoumustbe。Itisnotimpertinentcuriosity。\"

  Theyoungladyreflectedamoment。\"Sir,\"saidshe,\"Idon\'tthinkitis;

  andIwouldnotmuchmindtellingyou。OfcourseIstudiedyoubeforeI

  camehere。Evenhungerwouldnotmakemesitinatavernbesideafool,orasnob,orwithafaintblushalibertine。Buttotellone\'sownstory,thatissoegotistical,foronething。

  \"Oh,itisneveregotisticaltooblige。\"

  \"Now,thatissophistical。Then,again,IamafraidIcouldnottellittoyouwithoutcrying,becauseyouseemratheramanlyman,andsomeofitmightrevoltyou,andyoumightsympathizerightout,andthenI

  shouldbreakdown。\"

  \"Nomatter。Dousbothgood。\"

  \"Yes,butbeforethewaitersandpeople!Seehowtheyarestaringatusalready。\"

  \"Wewillhaveanothergoinatthebeef,andthenadjourntothegardenforyournarrative。\"

  \"No:asmuchgardenasyoulike,butnomorebeef。Ihaveeatenonesirloin,Ireckon。Willyougivemeonecupofblackteawithoutsugarormilk?\"

  Vizardgavetheorder。

  Sheseemedtothinksomeexplanationnecessary,thoughhedidnot。

  \"Onecupofteaagreeswithmybrainandnerves,\"saidshe。\"Itsteadiesthem。Thatisamatterofindividualexperience。Ishouldnotprescribeittoothersanythemoreforthat。\"

  Vizardsatwonderingatthegirl。Hesaidtohimself,\"Whatisshe?A

  _lususnaturoe?\"_

  Whentheteacame,andshehadsippedalittle,sheperkedupwonderfully。Saidshe,\"Oh,themagiceffectoffoodeatenjudiciously!

  NowIamalioness,anddonotfearthefuture。Yes;Iwilltellyoumystory——and,ifyouthinkyouaregoingtohearalove-story,youwillbenicelycaught——ha-ha!No,_sir;\"_saidshe,withrisingfervorandheightenedcolor,\"youwillhearastorythepublicisdeeplyinterestedinanddoesnotknowit;ay,astorythatwillcertainlybereferredtowithwonderandshame,whenevercivilizationshallbecomeareality,andlawceasetobeatoolofinjusticeandmonopoly。\"Shepausedamoment;

  thensaidalittledoggedly,asoneusedtoencounterprejudice,\"Iamamedicalstudent;awould-bedoctor。\"

  \"Ah!\"

  \"Andsowellqualifiedbygenuinegifts,bystudyfrommyinfancy,byzeal,quicksenses,andcultivatedjudgment,that,werealltheleadingLondonphysiciansexaminedto-morrowbyqualifiedpersonsatthesameboardasmyself,mostofthosewealthypractitioners——notall,mindyou——

  wouldcutanindifferentfigureinmodernsciencecomparedwithme,whomyouhavehadtorescuefromstarvation——becauseIamawoman。\"

  Hereyeflashed。Butshemoderatedherself,andsaid,\"Thatistheoutline;anditisagrievance。Now,grievancesarebores。Youcanescapethisonebeforeitistoolate。\"

  \"Ifitlieswithme,Idemandtheminutestdetails,\"saidVizard,warmly。

  \"Youshallhavethem;andtruetotheletter。\"

  Vizardsettledthesmallaccount,andadjourned,withhiscompanion,tothegarden。Shewalkedbyhisside,withherfacesometimesthoughtfullybentontheground,andsometimesconfrontinghimwithardor,andtoldhimatruestory,thesimplicityofwhichIshalltrynottospoilwithanyvulgarartsoffiction。

  ALITTLENARRATIVEOFDRYFACTSTOLDTOAWOMAN-HATERBYAWOMAN。

  CHAPTERXII。

  \"MyfatherwasanAmerican,mymotherEnglish。IwasbornnearEpsomandlivedtheretenyears。ThenmyfatherhadpropertylefthiminMassachusetts,andwewenttoBoston。Bothmyparentseducatedme,andbeganveryearly。Iobservethatmostparentsarebabiesatteaching,comparedwithmine。Myfatherwasalinguist,andtaughtmetolispGerman,French,andEnglish;mymotherwasanideaedwoman:shetaughtmethreerarities——attention,observation,andaccuracy。IfIwentawalkinthecountry,Ihadtobringherhomeabudget:themenandwomenontheroad,theirdresses,appearance,countenances,andwords;everykindofbirdintheair,andinsectandchrysalisinthehedges;thecropsinthefields,theflowersandherbsonthebanks。IfIwalkedinthetown,I

  mustnotbeeyesandnoeyes;woebetidemeifIcouldonlyreportthedresses!Really,Ihaveknownme,whenIwasbuteight,comehometomymotherladenwithdetails,whenperhapsanuntrainedgirlofeighteencouldonlyhavespecifiedthatshehadgoneupanddownathoroughfare。

  Anothertimemotherwouldtakemeonavisit:nextday,orperhapsnextweek,shewouldexpectmetodescribeeveryarticleoffurnitureinherfriend\'sroom,andthebooksonthetable,andrepeattheconversation,thetopicsatallevents。Shetaughtmetomasterhistory_accurately。_

  Todothisshewasartfulenoughtoturnsportintoscience。Sheutilizedagame:youngpeopleinBostonplayit。Awritesananecdoteonpaper,orperhapsproducesitinprint。ShereadsitofftoB。Bgoesaway,andwritesitdownbymemory;thenreadsherwritingouttoC。Chastolisten,andconveyherimpressiontopaper。ThisshereadstoD,andD

  goesandwritesit。ThentheoriginalstoryandD\'sversionarecompared;

  and,generallyspeaking,thedifferenceofthetwoisacaution——againstoraltradition。Whenthestepsofdeviationareobserved,itisquiteastudy。

  \"Mymother,withhergoodwit,sawtherewassomethingbetterthanfuntobegotoutofthis。Shetrainedmymemoryofgreatthingswithit。Shebeganwithstrikingpassagesofhistory,andplayedthegamewithfatherandme。Butasmypowerofretaining,andrepeatingcorrectly,grewbypractice,sheenlargedthebusiness,andkeptenrichingmymemory,sothatIbegantohavetractsofhistoryatmyfingers\'ends。AsIgrewolder,sheextendedthesporttolawsandthegreatpubliccontroversiesinreligion,politics,andphilosophythathaveagitatedtheworld。Buthereshehadtogetassistancefromherlearnedfriends。Shewasawomanvaluedbymenofintellect,andshehadnomercy——milkedjurists,physicians,andtheologiansandhistoriansallintomylittlepail。Tobesure,theywereaskindaboutitasshewasunscrupulous。TheysawIwasakeenstudent,andgavemymothermanyalittlegeminwriting。Shereadthemouttome:Ilistenedhard,andthusIfixedmanygreatandgoodthingsinmytrainedmemory;andrepeatedthemagainstthetext:Iwasneverallowedtosee_that。_

  \"Withthissharptraining,schoolsubjectswerechild\'splaytome,andI

  wonagoodmanyprizesveryeasily。Mymotherwouldnotletmewasteasingleminuteovermusic。Sheusedtosay\'Musicextractswhatlittlebrainsagirlhas。Openthepiano,youshuttheunderstanding。\'IamafraidIboreyouwithmymother。\"

  \"Notatall,notatall。Iadmireher。\"

  \"Oh,thankyou!thankyou,sir!Sheneverusesbigwords;soitisonlyoflateIhavehadthe_nous_toseehowwisesheis。Shecorrectedthespecialblotsofthefemalecharacterinme,anditissweettometotalkofthatdearfriend。WhatwouldIgivetoseeherhere!

  \"Well,then,sir,shemademe,asfarasshecould,a——whatshallIsay?

  akindoflittleintellectualgymnast,fittobeginanystudy;butsheleftmetochoosemyownline。Well,Iwasfornaturalhistoryfirst;

  beganlikeagirl;gatheredwildflowersandsimplesatEpsom,alongwithanoldwoman;shediscoursedontheirtraditionalvirtues,andknewlittleoftheirrealproperties:_that_Ihavediscoveredsince。

  \"Fromherbstolivingthings;neversparedachrysalis,butalwaystookithomeandwatcheditbreakintowings。HungoverthepondsinJune,watchingtheeggsofthefrogturntotadpoles,andthetadpolestoJohnnyCrapaud。IobeyedScriptureinonething,forIstudiedtheantsandtheirways。

  \"Icollectedbirds\'eggs。Atnine,notaboyintheparishcouldfindmorenestsinadaythanIcould。Withbirdnesting,buying,andnowandthenbegging,Imadeacollectionthatfiguresinamuseumoverthewater,andisentitled\'EggsofBritishBirds。\'Thecolorsattract,andpeoplealwaysstopatit。Butitdoesnojusticewhatevertothegreatvarietyofsea-birds\'eggsonthecoastofBritain。

  \"WhenIhadlearnedwhatlittletheyteachinschools,especiallydrawing,andthatisusefulinscientificpursuits,Iwasallowedtochoosemyownbooks,andattendlectures。OneblesseddayIsatandlistenedtoAgassiz——ah!Notragedywellplayed,noroperasung,evermovedaheartsodeeplyashemovedmine,thatgreatandearnestman,whoseenthusiasmfornaturewasasfreshasmyown,andhisknowledgeathousandtimeslarger。TalkofheavenopeningtotheChristianpilgrimashepassesJordan!Why,Godmadeearthaswellasheaven,anditisworthyoftheArchitect;anditisajoydivinewhenearthopenstothetrueadmirerofGod\'sworks。Sir,earthopenedtome,asAgassizdiscoursed。

  \"Ifollowedhimaboutlikealittlebloodhound,anddivedintothelibrariesaftereachsubjecthetreatedortouched。

  \"ItwasanotherlittleepochinmylifewhenIread\'White\'sLetterstoPennant\'aboutnaturalhistoryinSelborne。SelborneisanEnglishvillage,nothalfsoprettyasmost;and,untilGilbertWhitecame,nobodysawanythingthereworthprinting。Hisbookshowedmethatthehumblestspotinnaturebecomesextraordinarythemomentextraordinaryobservationisappliedtoit。ImustmimicGilbertWhitedirectly。I

  pesteredmypoorparentstospendamonthortwointhedepthsofthecountry,onthevergeofaforest。Theyyielded,withgroans;Ikissedthem,andwerusticated。Ipriedintoeverylivingthing,notforgettingmyoldfriends,theinsecttribe。HereIfoundantswithgranderideasthantheyhavetohome,andsatisfiedmyselftheyhavemorebrainsthanapes。Theyco-operatemore,andincomplicatedthings。Sir,thereareantsthatmakegreatermarches,fortheirsize,thanNapoleon\'sinvasionofRussia。Eventhelessnomadtribeswillmarchthroughfieldsofgrass,whereeachbladeisahighgum-treetothem,andneverlosethetrack。I

  sawanarmyofredants,withgenerals,captains,andensigns,startatdaybreak,marchacrossaroad,throughahedge,andthenthroughhighgrasstillnoon,andsurpriseafortificationofblackants,andtakeitafterasanguinaryresistance。Allthatmusthavebeenplannedbeforehand,youknow,andcarriedouttotheletter。OnceIfoundacolonybusyonsomehardground,preparinganabode。Ihappenedtohavebeenmicroscopingawasp,soIthrewhimdownamongtheants。Theyweredisgusted。Theyranaboutcollectingopinions。Presentlyhalfofthemburrowedintotheearthbelowandunderminedhim,tillhelayonacrustofearthasthinasawafer,andadeepgravebelow。Thentheyallgotonhimexceptone,andbestoodpompousonapebble,andgaveorders。Theearthbroke——thewaspwentdownintohisgrave——andtheantssooncoveredhimwithlooseearth,andresumedtheirdomesticarchitecture。I

  concludedthatthoughthemonkeyresemblesmanmostinbody,theantcomesnearerhiminmind。Asfordogs,Idon\'tknowwheretorankthemin_nature,_becausetheyhavebeenpupilsofmanforcenturies。Iboreyou?\"

  \"No。\"

  \"Oh,yes,Ido:anenthusiastisalwaysabore。\'Lesfacheux,\'ofMolierearejustenthusiasts。Well,sir,inoneword,Iwasanaturalphilosopher——verysmall,butearnest;and,induecourse,mystudiesbroughtmetothewondersofthehumanbody。Istudiedtheoutlinesofanatomyinbooks,andplates,andpreparedfigures;andfromthat,bydegrees,Iwasledontosurgeryandmedicine——inbooks,youunderstand;

  andtheyareonlyhalfthebattle。Medicineisathingonecando。Itisanoblescience,apracticalscience,andasubtlescience,whereI

  thoughtmypowersofstudyandobservationmighthelpmetobekeenatreadingsymptoms,anddogoodtoman,andbeafamouswoman;soI

  concludedtobenefitmankindandmyself。Stop!thatsoundslikeself-deception。ItmusthavebeenmyselfandmankindIconcludedtobenefit。Anyway,Ipesteredthatsmallsectionofmankindwhichconsistedofmyparents,untiltheyconsentedtoletmestudymedicineinEurope。\"

  \"What,allbyyourself?\"

  \"Yes。Oh,girlsareveryindependentintheStates,andgoverntheoldpeople。Minesaid\'No\'afewdozentimes;buttheywereboundtoendin\'Yes,\'andIwenttoZurich。Istudiedhardthere,andearnedtheapprobationoftheprofessors。Buttheschooldeteriorated;toomanyladiespouredinfromRussia:somewerenotinearnest,andpreferredflirtingtostudy,anddidthemselvesnogood,andmadethemalestudentsidle,andwickederthanever——ifpossible。\"

  \"Whatelsecouldyouexpect?\"saidVizard。

  \"Nothingelsefrom_unpicked_women。ButwhenalltheschoolsinEuropeshallbeopen——astheyoughttobe,andmust,andshall——therewillbenodangerofshallowgirlscrowdingtoanyparticularschool。Besides,therewillbeamorestrictandrapidroutineofexaminationthentosiftoutthefemaleflirtsandthemaleduncesalongwiththem,Ihope。

  \"Well,sir,wefew,thatreallymeantmedicine,madeinquiries,andheardofafamousoldschoolinthesouthofFrance,wherewomenhadgraduatedofold;andtwoofuswenttheretotry——anItalianladyandmyself。WecarriedgoodtestimonialsfromZurich,and,nottofrightentheFrenchmenatstarting,Iattackedthemalone。Corneliawasmyelder,andmysuperiorinattainments。Shewasatruedescendantofthoselearnedladieswhohaveadornedthechairsofphilosophy,jurisprudence,anatomy,andmedicineinhernativecountry;butshehasthewisdomoftheserpent,aswellasofthesage;andsheputmeforwardbecauseofmyredhair。ShesaidthatwouldbeapassporttothedarkphilosophersofFrance。\"

  \"Wasnotthatratherfoxy,MissGale?\"

  \"Foxyasmyhairitself,Mr。Vizard。

  \"Well,Iappliedtoaprofessor。Hereceivedmewithprofoundcourtesyandfeignedrespect,butwasstaggeredatmyrequesttomatriculate。Hegesticulatedandbowed_\'alaFrancaise,_andbeggedthepermissionofhisfoxy-hairedinvaderfromNorthernclimestoconsulthiscolleagues。

  WouldIdohimthegreathonortocallagainnextdayattwelve?Ididandmetthreeotherpolishedauthorities。Onespokeforall,andsaid,IfIhadnotbroughtwithmeproofsofseriousstudy,theyshouldhavedissuadedmeveryearnestlyfromascienceIcouldnotgraduateinwithoutgoingthroughpracticalcoursesofanatomyandclinicalsurgery。

  That,howeverwitharegularFrenchshrug,wasmybusiness,nottheirs。

  Itwasnotforthemtoteachmedelicacy,butrathertolearnitfromme。

  ThatwasaFrenchsneer。TheFrenchare_ungensmoqueur,_youknow。I

  receivedbothshrugandsneerlikemarble。Heendeditallbysayingtheschoolhadnowrittenlawexcludingdoctresses;andtheoldrecordsprovedwomenhadgraduated,andevenlectured,there。Ihadonlytopaymyfees,andenteruponmyroutineofstudies。SoIwasadmittedonsufferance;butIsoonearnedthegoodopinionoftheprofessors,andofthisoneinparticular;andthenCorneliaappliedforadmission,andwasletintoo。Welivedtogether,andhadnosecrets;andIthink,sir,I

  mayventuretosaythatweshowedsomelittlewisdom,ifyouconsiderourage,andallthatwasdonetospoilus。Astoparryingtheirlittleslyattemptsatflirtation,thatisnothing;wecameprepared。But,whenourfellow-studentsfoundwewereinearnest,andhadhighviews,thechivalrousspiritofagallantnationtookfire,andtheytreateduswithadelicatereverencethatmighthaveturnedanywoman\'shead。Butwehadthecreditofasneered-atsextokeepup,andfeltourdanger,andwarnedeachother;andIrememberItoldCorneliahowmanyyoungladiesintheStatesIhadseenpuffedupbythemen\'sextravaganthomage,andbecomespoiledchildren,andoffensivelyarrogantanddiscourteous;soI

  entreatedhertocheckthosevicesinmethemomentshesawthemcoming。

  \"Whenwehadbeenhereayear,attendingallthelectures——clinicalmedicineandsurgeryincluded——newscamethatoneBritishschool,Edinburgh,hadshownsymptomsofyieldingtoContinentalcivilizationandrelaxingmonopoly。ThatturnedmeNorthdirectly。MymotherisEnglish:I

  wantedtobeaBritishdoctress,notaFrench。Corneliahadmisgivings,andevencondescendedtocryoverme。ButIamamule,andalwayswas。

  Thenthatdearfriendmadetermswithme:ImustnotbreakoffmyconnectionwiththeFrenchschool,shesaid。No;shehadthoughtitwellover;ImustaskleaveoftheFrenchprofessorstostudyintheNorth,andbringbacknotesaboutthosedistantThulians。Saysshe,\'Yourstudiesinthatsavageislandwillbeallowedtogoforsomethinghere,ifyouimproveyourtime——andyouwillbesureto,sweetheart——thatI

  maybealwaysproudofyou。\'DearCornelia!\"

  \"AmItobelieveallthis?\"saidVizard。\"Canwomenbesuchtruefriends?\"

  \"Whatcannotwomenbe?What!areyouoneofthosewhotakeusfora_clique?_Don\'tyouknowmorethanhalfmankindarewomen?\"

  \"Alas!\"

  \"Alasforthem!\"saidRhoda,sharply。

  \"Well,well,\"saidVizard,puttingonsuddenhumility,\"don\'tletusquarrel。Ihatequarreling——whereI\'msuretogettheworst。Ay,friendshipisafinething,inmenorwomen;afarnoblersentimentthanlove。Youwillnotadmitthat,ofcourse,beingawoman。\"

  \"Oh,yes,Iwill,\"saidshe。\"Why,Ihaveobservedloveattentively;andIpronounceitafeverofthemind。Itdisturbsthejudgmentandpervertstheconscience。Yousidewiththebeloved,rightorwrong。Whatpersonaldegradation!Iobserve,too,thatagrandpassionisagrandmisfortune:

  theyarealwaysinastormofhope,fears,doubt,jealousy,rapture,rage,andtheenddeceit,orelsesatiety。Friendshipissteadyandpeaceful;notmuchjealousy,noheart-burnings。Itstrengthenswithtime,andsurvivesthesmall-poxandawoodenleg。Itdoublesourjoys,anddividesourgrief,andlightsandwarmsourliveswithasteadyflame。

  _Solememundotollunt,quitolluntamicitiam。\"_

  \"Halloo!\"criedVizard。\"What!youknowLatintoo?\"

  \"Why,ofcourse——asmattering;orhowcouldIreadPliny,andCelsus,andeversomuchmorerubbishthatcustomchucksdownbeforethegatesofknowledge,andsays,\'There——beforeyougotherightroad,yououghttogothewrong;_itisusual。_Studynow,withthereverencetheydon\'tdeserve,thenon-observersofantiquity。\'\"

  \"Sparemetheancients,MissGale,\"saidVizard,\"andrevealmethegirloftheperiod。WhenIwassoill-bredastointerruptyou,youhadleftFrance,crownedwithlaurels,andwerejustinvadingBritain。

  Somethinginhiswordsorhistonediscouragedthesubtleobserver,andshesaid,coldly,\"Excuseme:Ihavehardlythecourage。MyBritishhistoryisataleofinjustice,suffering,insult,and,worstofall,defeat。Icannotpromisetorelateitwiththatcomposurewhoeverpretendstoscienceought:thewoundstillbleeds。\"

  ThenVizardwasvexedwithhimself,andlookedgraveandconcerned。Hesaid,gently,\"MissGale,Iamsorrytogiveyoupain;butwhatyouhavetoldmeissonewandinteresting,Ishallbedisappointedifyouwithholdtherest:besides,youknowitgivesnolastingpaintorelateourgriefs。Come,come——bebrave,andtellme。\"

  \"Well,Iwill,\"saidshe。\"Indeed,someinstinctmovesme。Goodmaycomeofmytellingityou。Ithink——somehow——youare——a——just——man。\"

  Intheactofsayingthis,shefixedhergrayeyessteadilyandsearchinglyuponVizard\'sface,sothathecouldscarcelymeetthem,theyweresopowerful;then,suddenly,theobservationseemedtodieoutofthem,andreflectiontotakeitsplace:thosedartingeyeswereturnedinward。Itwasamarkedvarietyofpower。Therewassomethingwizard-likeinthevividnesswithwhichtwodistinctmentalprocesseswerepresentedbythevariedactionofasingleorgan;andVizardthenbegantosuspectthatacreaturestoodbeforehimwithapowerofdiscerninganddigestingtruth,suchashehadnotyetencounteredeitherinmanorwoman。SheenteredonherBritishadventuresinherclearsilveryvoice。Itwasnot,likeInaKlosking\'s,rich,anddeep,andtender;yetithadacertaingentlebeautytothosewholovetruth,becauseitwasdispassionate,yetexpressive,andcool,yetnotcold。Onemightcallittruth\'ssilvertrumpet。

  Onthebrinkofanextraordinarypassage,Ipausetomakenofewerthanthreeremarksinmyownperson:1st。LetnoreaderofmineallowhimselftofancyRhodaGaleandherantecedentsareamereexcrescenceofmystory。Shewasrootedtoitevenbeforethefirstsceneofit——themeetingofAshmeadandtheKlosking——andthiswillsoonappear。2d。Sheisnowgoingintoacontrovertedmatter;and,thoughsheissincereandtruthful,sheisofnecessitya_partisan。_Donottakeherforajudge。

  Youbethejudge。3d。But,asajudgenevershutshismindtoeitherside,donotrefuseherafairhearing。Aboveall,donotunderratethequestion。Letnotthebalanceofyourunderstandingbesoupsetbyephemeralchildishnessastofancythatitmattersmuchwhetheryoubreakaneggtoporbottom,becauseGulliver\'stwonationswenttowaraboutit;orthatitmattersmuchwhetheryourqueeniscalledqueenofIndiaorempress,becausetwopartiesmadeanoiseaboutit,andthecountryhaswastedtenthousandsquaremilesofgoodpaperonthesubject,trivialasthedustonabutterfly\'swing。Fightagainsttheseillusionsofpettyandephemeralminds。Itdoesnotmatterthemillionthofastrawto_mankind_whetheranyonewomaniscalledqueen,orempress,ofIndia;

  anditmattersgreatlytomankindwhetherthewholeraceofwomenaretobeallowedtostudymedicineandpracticeit,iftheycanrivalthemale,oraretobedebarredfromtestingtheirscientificability,andsooutlawed,_thoughtaxed_indefianceofBritishliberty,andalljustice,humananddivine,byelevenhundredlawgivers——mostof\'emfools。

  CHAPTERXIII。

  \"WHENIreachedGreatBritain,therightofwomentomedicinewasinthiscondition——alearnedlawyerexplaineditcarefullytome。Iwillgiveyouhiswords:Theunwrittenlawofeverynationadmitsallmankind,andnotthemalehalfonly,tothestudyandpracticeofmedicineandthesaleofdrugs。InGreatBritainthislawiscalledthecommonlawandisdeeplyrespected。Whateverlibertyitallowstomenorwomenisheldsacredinourcourtsuntil_directly_and_explicitly_withdrawnbysomeactoftheLegislature。Underthisancientliberty,womenhaveoccasionallypracticedgeneralmedicineandsurgeryuptotheyear1858。Butforcenturiesthey_monopolized,_bycustom,onebranchofpractice,theobstetric;andthat,togetherwiththeoccasionaltreatmentofchildren,andthenursingofbothsexes,whichissemi-medical,andistheir_monopoly,_seems,onthewhole,tohavecontentedthem,tilllateyears,whentheirviewswereenlargedbywidereducationandothercauses。Buttheirabstinencefromgeneralpractice,liketheirmonopolyofobstetrics,laywithwomenthemselves,andnotwiththelawofEngland。

  ThatlawisthesameinthisrespectasthecommonlawofItalyandFrance;andtheconstitutionofBologna,wheresomanydoctresseshavefilledthechairsofmedicineandothersciences,makesnomoredirectprovisionforfemalestudentsthandoestheconstitutionofanyScotchorEnglishuniversity——Thewholethinglaywiththewomenthemselves,andwithlocalcivilization。Yearsago,ItalywasfarmorecivilizedthanEngland;soItalianwomentookalargesphere。OflatetheAnglo-Saxonhasgoneinforcivilizationwithhisusualenergy,andiseclipsingItaly;thereforehiswomenaspiretolargerspheresofintellectandaction,beginningintheStates,becauseAmericanwomenarebettereducatedthanEnglish。Theadvanceof_women_inusefulattainmentsisthemostinfalliblesigninanycountryofadvancingcivilization。Allthisaboutcivilizationismyobservation,sir,andnotthelawyer\'s。Nowforthelawyeragain:SuchbeingthelawofEngland,theBritishLegislaturepassedanactin1858,therealobjectofwhichwastoprotectthepublicagainstincapabledoctors,notagainstcapabledoctressesordoctors。Theactexcludesfrommedicalpracticeallpersonswhatever,maleorfemale,unlessregisteredinacertainregister;andtogetuponthatregistertheperson,maleorfemale,mustproducealicenseordiploma,grantedbyoneoftheBritishexaminingboardsspecifiedinascheduleattachedtotheact。

  \"Now,theseexaminingboardswereallmembersoftheleadingmedicalschools。IftheLegislaturehadtakentheusualprecaution,andhadaddedaclause_compelling_thoseboardstoexamineworthyapplicants,theactwouldhavebeenasoundpublicmeasure;butforwantofthatforesight——andwithoutforesightalawgiverisanimpostorandapublicpest——theStaterobbedwomenoftheiroldcommon-lawrightswithonehand,andwiththeotherenabledarespectabletrades-uniontothrustthemoutoftheirnewstatutoryrights。Unfortunately,therespectableunion,towhomtheLegislaturedelegatedanunconstitutionalpowertheydidnotclaimthemselves,ofexcludingqualifiedpersonsfromexamination,andsorobbingthemoftheirlicenseandtheirbread,hadanoverpoweringinteresttoexcludequalifiedwomenfrommedicine。Theyhadthesameinterestasthewatchmakers\'union,theprinters\',thepainters\'

  onchina,thecalico-engravers\',andothershavetoexcludequalifiedwomenfromthosebranches,thoughpeculiarlyfittedforthem;butnotmoresothantheyareforthepracticeofmedicine,Godhavingmade_them,_andnot_men,_themedical,andunmusical,sex。

  \"Whereverthere\'satrades-union,theweakestgotothewall。ThosevulgarunionsIhavementionedexcludewomenfromskilledlabortheyexcelin,byviolenceandconspiracy,thoughthelawthreatensthemwithimprisonmentforit。Wasitinnature,then,thatthemedicalunionwouldbeinfinitelyforbearing,whentheLegislaturewentandpatteditontheback,andsaid,youcanconspirewithsafetyagainstyourfemalerivals。

  OfcoursethecliqueweretemptedmorethananycliquecouldbearbytheunwarinessoftheLegislature,andclosedthedoorsofthemedicalschoolstofemaleapplicants。Againstunqualifiedfemalepractitionerstheyneveractedwithsuchzealandconsent;andwhy?Thefemalequackisapublicpest,andagoodfoiltotheunion;thequalifieddoctressisapublicgood,andablowtotheunion。

  \"TheBritishmedicalunionwasnowinafineattitudebyactofParliament。Itcouldtalkitscontemptofmedicalwomen,andactitsterrorofthem,andkeepbothitsfeignedcontemptanditsrealalarmsafefromthetestofapublicexamination——thatcrucibleinwhichcant,surmise,andmendacityaresoonevaporatedorprecipitated,andonlythetruthstandsfirm。

  \"Forallthat,twofemalepractitionersgotupontheregister,andstandout,livinglandmarksofexperienceandthetruth,inthedeadwildernessofsurmiseandprejudice。

  \"Iwilltellyouhowtheygotin。TheactofParliamentmakestwoexceptions:first,itletsin,_withoutexamination_——andthatisveryunwise——anyforeigndoctorwhoshallbepracticinginEnglandatthedateoftheact,although,withequalincapacity,itomitstoprovidethatanyfutureforeigndoctorshallbeableto_demandexamination_inwiththeoldforeignfogies,blindfold,rightorwrong;outwiththerisingforeignluminariesofanever-advancingscience,rightorwrong;and,secondly,itletsin,withoutexamination,toexperimentonthevilebodyofthepublic,anyperson,qualifiedorunqualified,whomayhavebeenmadeadoctorbyaveryvenerableandequallyirrelevantfunctionary。

  Guess,now,whoitisthataBritishParliamentsetsabovethelaw,asadoctor-makerforthatpublicitprofessestoloveandprotect!\"

  \"TheRegiusProfessorofMedicine?\"

  \"No。\"

  \"Tyndall?\"

  \"No。\"

  \"Huxley?\"

  \"No。\"

  \"ThenIgiveitup。\"

  \"TheArchbishopofCanterbury。\"

  \"Oh,come!ajokeisajoke。\"

  \"Thisisnojoke。BrightmonumentofBritishfunkyismandimbecility,therestandstheclausesettingthatreverendandirrelevantdoctor-makerabovethelaw,whichsetshisgrace\'sfemalerelationsbelowthelaw,and,inpractice,outlawsthewholefemalepopulation,starvingthosewhodesiretopracticemedicinelearnedly,andoppressingthosewho,outofmodesty,notyetquitesmotheredbycustomandmonopoly,desiretoconsultalearnedfemalephysician,insteadofbeingdriven,likesheep,byirontyranny——inacountrythatbabblesLiberty——toamalephysicianorafemalequack。

  \"Well,sir,in1849MissElizabethBlackwellfoughtthegoodfightintheUnitedStates,andhadhertroubles;becausetheStateswerenotsocivilizedthenasnow。ShegraduateddoctoratGeneva,intheStateofNewYork。

  \"ShewaspracticinginEnglandin1858,anddemandedherplaceontheregister。SheisanEnglishwomanbybirth;butsheisanEnglishM。D。

  onlythroughAmericahavingmorebrainsthanBritain。Thisoneislandersings,\'Hail,Columbia!\'asoftenas\'GodsavetheQueen!\'Ireckon。

  \"MissGarrett,anenthusiasticstudent,travelednorth,south,east,andwest,andknockedinvainatthedoorsofeverygreatschoolanduniversityinBritain,butatlastfoundachinkintheironshuttersoftheLondonApothecaries\'。ItseemsParliamentwaswiserin1815thanin1858,foritinsertedaclauseintheApothecariesActof1815

  _compelling_themtoexamineallpersonswhoshouldapplytothemforexaminationafterpropercoursesofstudy。Theirchartercontainednoloop-holetoevadetheact,andsubstitute\'him\'for\'person;\'sotheyletMissGarrettinasastudent。Likeallthestudents,shehadtoattendlecturesonchemistrybotany,materiamedica,zoology,naturalphilosophy,andclinicalsurgery。Inthecollateralsubjectstheylethersitwiththemalestudents;butinanatomyandsurgeryshehadtoattendthesamelecturesprivately,andpayforlecturesalltoherself。Thiscostherenormousfees。However,itisonlyfairtosaythat,ifshehadbeenoneofadozenfemalestudents,thefeeswouldhavebeendiffused;

  asitwas,shehadtogildthepilloutofherprivatepurse。

  \"Inthehospitalteachingshemetdifficultiesanddiscouragement,thoughsheaskedfornomoreopportunitiesthanaregrantedreadilytoprofessionalnursesandfemaleamateurs。Butthewholethingisameremoneyquestion;thatisthekeytoeverylockinit。

  \"Shewasfreelyadmittedatlasttoonegreathospital,andallwentsmoothlytillsomesurgeonexaminedthestudents_vivavoce;_thenMissGarrettwasoffherguard,anddisplayedtoomarkedasuperiority;

  thereuponthemalestudentsplayedthewoman,andbeggedshemightbeexcluded;and,Iamsorrytosay,forthecreditofyoursex,thisunmanlyrequestwascompliedwithbythewomanishmalesinpower。

  \"However,athernexthospital,MissGarrettwasmorediscreet,andtookpainstoconcealhergallingsuperiority。

  \"Allhertroubleended——wherehercompetitors\'began——atthepublicexamination。Shepassedbrilliantly,andisanEnglishapothecary。IncivilizedFrancesheisalearnedphysician。

  \"Shehadnotbeenanapothecaryaweek,beforetheApothecaries\'Societyreceivedsixhundredlettersfromthemedicalsmall-fryintownandcountry;theythreatenedtosendnomoreboystotheApothecaries\',buttotheCollegeofSurgeons,ifeveranotherwomanreceivedanapothecary\'slicense。Now,youknow,allmentrembleinEnglandatthethreatsofatrades-union;sotheapothecariesinstantlycudgeledtheirbrainstofindawaytodisobeythelaw,andobeytheunion。Themedicalpressgavethemahint,andtheypassedaby-law,forbiddingtheirstudentstoreceiveanypartoftheireducation_privately,_andmadeitknown,atthesametime,thattheirfemalestudentswouldnotbeallowedtostudytheleadingsubjects_publicly。_AndsotheybaffledtheLegislature,andoutlawedhalfthenation,byajugglewhichthepressandthepublicwouldhaverisenagainst,ifasinglegrown-upmanhadbeenitsvictim,insteadoffourmillionadultwomen。Now,youareastraightforwardman;whatdoyouthinkofthat?\"

  \"Humph!\"saidVizard。\"Idonotaltogetherapproveit。Thestrongshouldnotusetheartsoftheweakinfightingtheweak。But,inspiteofyoureloquence,Imeantoforgivethemanything。Shakespearehasprovidedtherewithanexcusethatfitsalltime:

  \"\'Ourpoverty,butnotourwill,consents。\'\"

  \"Poverty!thepovertyofacompanyinthecityofLondon!_Allonsdonc。_

  Well,sir,foryearsafterthisallEurope,evenRussia,advancedincivilization,andopenedtheirmedicalschoolstowomen;sodidtheUnitedStates:onlythepig-headedBritonstoodstock-still,andgloriedinhisminorityofone;asifonesmallislandislikelytoberightinitsmonomania,andallcivilizednationswrong。

  \"ButwhileIwasstudyinginFrance,onelion-heartedEnglishwomanwasmovingournativeisle。FirstshetriedtheUniversityofLondon;andthatsetsupforaliberalfoundation。Answer——\'Ourcharterisexpresslyframedtoexcludewomenfrommedicalinstruction。\'

  \"ThenshesatdowntobesiegeEdinburgh。Now,Edinburghisaveryremarkableplace。Ithasonlyhalfthehouses,buttentimestheintellect,ofLiverpoolorManchester。Andtheuniversityhastwoadvantagesasahomeof_science_overtheEnglishuniversities:itisfarbehindtheminGreek,whichisthelanguageoferrorandnescience,andbeforetheminEnglish,andthatisatongueagooddealofknowledgeisprintedin。EdinburghistheonlycenterofBritishliterature,exceptLondon。

  \"Onemedicalprofessorreceivedthepioneerwithaconciseseverity,anddeclinedtohearherpleadhercause,andonereceivedheralmostbrutally。Hesaid,\'Norespectablewomanwouldapplytohimtostudymedicine。\'Now,respectablewomenwerestudyingitalloverEurope。\"

  \"Well,butperhapshissoullivedinanisland。\"

  \"Thatisso。However,personalapplicantsmustexpectarubortwo;andmostoftheprofessors,inandoutofmedicine,treatedherwithkindnessandcourtesy。

  \"Still,shefoundeventhefriendlyprofessorsalarmedattheideaofawomanmatriculating,andbecoming_CivisEdinensis;_soshemadeamoderateapplicationtotheSenate,viz。,forleavetoattendmedicallectures。Thisrequestwasindorsedbyamajorityofthemedicalprofessors,andgranted。Butontheappealofafewmedicalprofessorsagainstit,theSenatesuspendeditsresolution,onthegroundthattherewasonlyoneapplicant。

  \"Thisgotwind,andotherladiescameintothefielddirectly,yourhumbleservantamongthem。ThentheSenatefeltboundtorecommendtheUniversityCourttoadmitsuchfemalestudentstomatriculateascouldpassthepreliminaryexamination;thisisinhistory,logic,languages,andotherbranches;andwepreparedforitingoodfaith。Itwasahappytime:afteragoodday\'swork,IusedtogouptheCaltonHill,orArthur\'sSeat,andviewthesea,andthePiraens,andtheviolethills,andtheromanticundulationsofthecityitself,andmyheartglowedwithloveofknowledge,andwithhonorableambition。Iranoverthenamesofworthywomenwhohadadornedmedicineatsundrytimesandindiversplaces,andresolvedtodeserveasgreatanameasanyinhistory。

  Refreshedbymywalk——Igenerallywalkedeightmiles,andpracticedgymnasticstokeepmymuscleshard——Iusedtoreturntomylittlelodgings;andtheytooweresweettome,forIwaslearninganewscience——logic。\"

  \"Thatwasanuttocrack。\"

  \"Ihavemetfeweasierorsweeter。Onenon-observerhadtoldmeitwasashamscience,andmerepedantry;another,thatitpretendedtoshowmenawaytotruthwithoutobserving。Ifound,onthecontrary,thatitwasaveryprettylittlescience,whichdoesnotaffecttodiscoverphenomena,butsimplytoguardmenagainstrashgeneralization,andfalsedeductionsfromtruedata;ittaughtmetheuntrainedworldisbrimfuloffallaciesandverbalequivoquesthatoughtnottopuzzleachild,but,whenevertheycreepintoanargument,doactuallyconfoundthelearnedandthesimplealike,andallforwantofamonth\'slogic。

  \"Yes,Iwashappyonthehill,andhappybythehearth;andsothingswentontillthepreliminaryexaminationcame。Itwasnotsevere;weladiesallpassedwithcredit,thoughmanyofthemaleaspirantsfailed。\"

  \"Howdoyouaccountforthat?\"askedVizard。

  \"Withmyeyes。I_observe_thattheaveragemaleisverysuperiorinintellecttotheaveragefemale;andI_observe_thatthepickedfemaleisimmeasurablymoresuperiortotheaveragemale,thantheaveragemaleistotheaveragefemale。\"

  \"Isitsosimpleasthat?\"

  \"Ay;whynot?What!areyouoneofthosewhobelievethatTruthisobscure——hidesherself——andliesinawell?Itellyou,_sir,_Truthliesinnowell。TheplaceTruthliesinis——_themiddleoftheturnpikeroad。_Butoneoldfogyputsonhisgreenspectaclestolookforher,andanotherhisred,andanotherhisblue;andsotheyallmissher,becausesheisacolorlessdiamond。Thosespectaclesarepreconceivednotions,_\'apriori_reasoning,cant,prejudice,thedepthofMr。Shallow\'sinnerconsciousness,etc。,etc。Thencomestheobserver,openstheeyesthatGodhasgivenhim,tramplesonallcoloredspectacles,andfindsTruthassurelyasthespectacledtheoristsmissher。Saythattheintellectoftheaveragemaleistotheaveragefemaleastentosix,itistotheintellectofthepickedfemaleastentoahundredandfifty,orevenless。Now,theintellectofthemaleEdinburghstudentwasmuchabovethatoftheaveragemale,butstillitfellfarbelowthatofthepickedfemale。AlltheexaminationsatEdinburghshowedthistoallGod\'sunspectacledcreaturesthatusedtheireyes。\"

  TheseremarkshitVizardhard。Theyaccordedwithhisowngoodsenseandmethodofarguing;butperhapsmymorecarefulreadersmayhavealreadyobservedthis。Henoddedheartyapprovalforonce,andshewenton:

  \"Wehadnowarighttomatriculateandenteronourmedicalcourse。But,toourdismay,therightwassuspended。Theproofsofourgeneralproficiency,whichwehopedwouldreconciletheprofessorstousasstudentsofmedicine,alarmedpeople,andraisedusunscrupulousenemiesinsomewhowerejustlyrespected,andotherswhohadinfluence,thoughtheyhardlydeservedit。

  \"AgeneralcounciloftheuniversitywascalledtoreconsiderthepledgetheSenatehadgivenus,andoverawetheuniversitycourtbytheweightofacademicopinion。Thecourtitselfwasfluctuating,andreadytoturneitherway。Alargenumberofmalestudentsco-operatedagainstuswithapetition。They,too,werealittlevexedatourrespectablefigureinthepreliminaryexamination。

  \"Theassemblymetandtheunionoratorgotup;hewasapreacheroftheGospel,andcarriedtheweightofthatoffice。Christianity,aswellasscience,seemedtoriseagainstusinhisperson。Hemadealongandeloquentspeech,basedontheintelligentsurmisesandpopularprejudicesthatwerediffusedinahundredleadingarticles,andinletterstotheeditorbymenandwomen,towhomhistorywasadeadletterinmoderncontroversies;forthePressbattledthismatterfortwoyears,andfurnishedeachpartywithanartilleryofreasons,_pro_and_con。_

  \"Hesaid,\'Woman\'ssphereisthehearthandthehome:toimpairherdelicacyistotakethebloomfromthepeach:shecouldnotqualifyformedicinewithoutmasteringanatomyandsurgery——branchesthatmustunsexher。Providence,intendinghertobeman\'shelpmate,nothisrival,hadgivenherabodyunfitforwarorhardlabor,andabrainfourounceslighterthanaman\'s,andunabletocopewithlongstudyandpracticalscience。Inshort,shewastoogood,andtoostupid,formedicine。\'

  \"Itwaseloquent,butitwas_\'apriori_reasoning,andconjecture_versus_evidence:yettheapplauseitmetwithshowedonehowhappyistheorator\'quihurleaveclesloups。\'Takingthescientificpreacher\'swholetheoryintheologyandscience,womanwashighenoughincreationtobethemotherofGod,butnothighenoughtobeasawbones。

  \"Well,aprofessorof_belles-lettres_roseonourside,notwitharivaltheory,butwithfacts。HewasapupilofLordBacon,andamanofthenineteenthcentury;soheobjectedto_\'apriori_reasoningonamatterofexperience。Tosettlethequestionofcapacityhegavealonglistofwomenwhohadbeenfamousinscience。SuchasBettesiaGozzadini,NovellaAndrea,NovellaCalderini,MaddelenaBuonsignori,andmanymore,whoweredoctorsoflawanduniversityprofessors:DoroteaBocohi,whowasprofessorbothofphilosophyandmedicine;LauraBassi,whowaselectedprofessorofphilosophyin1732byacclamation,andafterwardprofessorofexperimentalphysics;AnnaManzolini,professorofanatomyin1760;

  GaetauaAgnesi,professorofmathematics;ChristinaRoccati,doctorofphilosophyin1750;ClotildeTambroni,professorofGreekin1793;MariaDalleDonne,doctorofmedicinein1799;ZaffiraFerretti,doctorofmedicinein1800;MariaSega,doctorofmedicinein1799;MadalenaNoe,graduateofcivillawin1807。Ladiesinnumerable,whograduatedinlawandmedicineatPavia,Ferrara,andPadua,includingElenaLucreziaCornaroofPadua,averyfamouswoman。AlsoinSalamanca,Alcala\',Cordova,henamedmorethanonefamousdoctress。AlsoinHeidelberg,Gottingen,Giessen,Wurzburg,etc。,andevenatUtrect,withnumberlessgraduatesintheartsandfacultiesatMontpellierandParisinallages。

  Alsooutsidereputations,asofDoctorBouvinandhermother,acknowledgedcelebritiesintheirbranchofmedicine。Thischain,hesaid,hasneverbeenreallybroken。Therewasscarcelyagreatforeignuniversitywithoutsomefemalestudentofhighreputation。ThereweresuchwomenatViennaandPetersburg;manysuchatZurich。AtMontpellierMademoiselleDoumerguewascarryingallbeforeher,andMissGarrettandMissMaryPutnamatParis,thoughtheywereweightedintheracebyaforeignlanguage。LetthemaleEnglishphysicianpassastiffexaminationinscientificFrenchbeforehebrayedsoloud。Hehadneverdoneityet。

  This,hesaid,isnotanageofchimeras;itisawiseandwaryage,whichhasestablishedinallbranchesoflearningasuretestofabilityinmanorwoman——publicexaminationfollowedbyapublicreport。Thesepublicexaminationsareallconductedbymales,andwomenarepassingthemtriumphantlyalloverEuropeandAmerica,andgraduateasdoctorsineverycivilizedcountry,andeveninhalf-civilizedRussia。

  \"Hethenwentintoourownlittlepreliminaryexamination,andgavethestatistics:InLatinwereexamined55menand3women:10menwererejected,butnowomen;7menwererespectable,7_optimi,_orfirst-rate,1woman_bona,_and1_optima。_Inmathematicswereexamined67menand4women,ofwhom1womanwas_optima,_and1_bona:_10menwere_optimi,_and25_boni;_therestfailed。InGerman2menwereexamined,and1woman:1manwasgood,and1woman。Inlogic28menwereexamined,and1woman:thewomancameoutfifthinrank,andshehadonlybeenatitamonth。Inmoralphilosophy16menwereexamined;and1

  woman:thewomancameoutthird。Inarithmetic,51menand3women:2menwere_optimi,_and1woman_optima;_severalmenfailed,andnotonewoman。Inmechanics,81menand1woman:thewomanpassedwithfaircredit,asdid13men;therestfailing。InFrenchwereexamined58menand4women:3menand1womanwererespectable;8menand1womanpassed;twowomenattainedthehighestexcellence,_optimoe,_andnotoneman。InEnglish,63menand3women:3menweregood,and1woman;but2

  womenwere_optimoe,_andonly1man。\"

  \"Fancyyourememberingfigureslikethat,\"saidVizard。

  \"Itisalltrainingandhabit,\"saidshe,simply。

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