oism which is shadowed in the signs of our times.

The lecturer regarded the announcement of woman's achievements,
and the offering of appropriate praise through the press, as a
gross innovation upon the obscurity of female life--he complained
that the exhibition of attainments of girls in schools was now
equal to that of boys, and the newspapers announce that "Miss
Brown received the first prize for English grammar," etc. If he
objected to so much excitement of emulation in schools, it would
be well; for the most enlightened teachers discountenance these
appeals to love of approbation and self-esteem. But while prizes
continue to be awarded, can any good reason be given why the name
of the girl should not be published as well as that of the boy?
He spoke with scorn, that "we hear of Mrs. President so and so;
and committees and secretaries of the same sex." But if women can
conduct their own business, by means of presidents and
secretaries of their own sex, can he tell us why they should not?
They will never make much progress in any moral movement while
they depend upon men to act for them. Do we shrink from reading
the announcement that Mrs. Somerville is made an honorary member
of a scientific association? That Miss Herschel has made some
discoveries, and is prepared to take her equal part in science?
Or that Miss Mitchell, of Nantucket, has lately discovered a
planet, long looked for? I can not conceive why "honor to whom
honor is due" should not be rendered to woman as well as man; nor
will it necessarily exalt her, or foster feminine pride. This
propensity is found alike in male and female, and it should not
be ministered to improperly in either sex.

In treating upon the affections, the lecturer held out the idea
that as manifested in the sexes they were opposite if not
somewhat antagonistic, and required a union as in chemistry to
form a perfect whole. The simile appeared to me far from a
correct illustration of the true union. Minds that can
assimilate, spirits that are congenial, attract one another. It
is the union of similar, not of opposite affections, which is
necessary for the perfection of the marriage bond. There seemed a
want of proper delicacy in his representing man as being bold in
the demonstration of the pure affection