udite men who contended that the
nineteenth century commenced on the 1st of January, 1800, have at last
learned to count correctly. So we may venture to affirm, with fear of
raising an argument, that this New-Year's Day, 1851, begins the last half
of this present century.

Here, then, we stand on the dividing ridge of Time, the topmost pinnacle of
humanity; and, looking backward over the vast ocean of life, we can discern
amidst the rolling, heaving, struggling surges, which have engulfed so many
grand hopes, and towering aims, and strong endeavors during the world's
voyage of half a century, that important victories have been won, wonderful
things discovered, and great truths brought out of the turmoil in which
power, pride, and prejudice were contending fifty years ago. At the
beginning of the century, the stirring themes were deeds of war. Now, the
palm is won by works of peace. In 1801, the Old World was a battle-field,
the centre and moving power of destruction being placed in London. Now,
1851 finds "the whole world kin," as it were, busy in preparing for such an
Industrial Convention as was never held since time began: and this, too,
centres in London. What trophies of mind and might will be there exhibited!
Not victories won by force or fraud, with their advantages appropriated to
exalt a few individuals; but real advances made in those arts which give
the means of improvement to nations, and add to the knowledge, freedom, and
happiness of the people!

We are not intending to enlarge on this theme, which will be better done by
abler pens. We only allude to it here, in order to draw the attention of
our readers to one curious fact, which those who are aiming to place women
in the workshop, to compete with men, should consider: namely, that none,
or very few specimens of female ingenuity or industry will be found in the
world's great show-shop. The female mind has as yet manifested very little
of the kind of genius termed mechanical, or inventive. Nor is it the lack
of learning which has caused this uniform lack of constructive talent. Many
ignorant men have studied out and made curious inventions of mechanical
skill; women never. We are constrained to say we do not believe woman would
ever have invented the compass, the printing-press, the steam-engine, or
even a loom. The difference between the mental power of the two sexes, as
it is distinctly traced in Holy Writ and human history, we have described
and illustr