ggest an attractiveness to
the body or suggest any refinement to the manner. You could add no
gracefulness to the gait, no lustre to the eye, no sweetness to the
voice. A perfect God made her a perfect woman to be the companion of a
perfect man in a perfect home, and her entire nature vibrated in
accord with the beauty and song of Paradise. But she rebelled against
God's government, and with the same hand with which she plucked the
fruit she launched upon the world the crimes, the wars, the tumults,
that have set the universe a-wailing,

A TERRIBLE OFFSET

to all her attractiveness. We are not surprised when we find men and
women naturally vulgar going into transgression. We expect that
people who live in the ditch shall have the manners of the ditch; but
how shocking when we find sin appended to superior education and to
the refinements of social life. The accomplishments of Mary Queen of
Scots make her patronage of Darnley, the profligate, the more
appalling. The genius of Catharine II., of Russia, only sets forth in
more powerful contrast her unappeasable ambition. The translations
from the Greek and the Latin by Elizabeth, and her wonderful
qualifications for a queen, made the more disgusting her
capriciousness of affection and her hotness of temper. The greatness
of Byron's mind made the more alarming Byron's sensuality.

Let no one who hears me this day think that refinement of manner or
exquisiteness of taste or superiority of education can in any wise
apologize for ill-temper, for an oppressive spirit, for unkindness,
for any kind of sin. Disobedience Godward and transgression manward
can give no excuse. Accomplishment heaven high is no apology for vice
hell deep.

My subject also impresses me with the regal

INFLUENCE OF WOMAN.

When I see Eve with this powerful influence over Adam and over the
generations that have followed, it suggests to me the great power all
women have for good or for evil. I have no sympathy, nor have you,
with the hollow flatteries showered upon woman from the platform and
the stage. They mean nothing, they are accepted as nothing. Woman's
nobility consists in the exercise of a Christian influence, and when I
see this powerful influence of Eve upon her husband and upon the whole
human race, I make up my mind that the frail arm of woman can strike a
blow which will resound through all eternity down among the dungeons,
or up among the thrones.

Of course, I am not speaking of