or merely the use of the senses and hands. If two lists were made of
the most eminent men and women in poetry, painting, sculpture, music
(inclusive both of composition and performance), history, science, and
philosophy, with half-a-dozen names under each subject, the two lists
would not bear comparison. We may also infer, from the law of the
deviation from averages, so well illustrated by Mr. Galton, in his work
on Hereditary Genius, that if men are capable of a decided
pre-eminence over women in many subjects, the average of mental power
in man must be above that of woman.
Amongst the half-human progenitors of man, and amongst savages, there
have been struggles between the males during many generations for the
possession of the females. But mere bodily strength and size would do
little for victory, unless associated with courage, perseverance, and
determined energy. With social animals, the young males have to pass
through many a contest before they win a female, and the older males
have to retain their females by renewed battles. They have, also, in
the case of mankind, to defend their females, as well as their young,
from enemies of all kinds, and to hunt for their joint subsistence. But
to avoid enemies or to attack them with success, to capture wild
animals, and to fashion weapons, requires the aid of the higher mental
faculties, namely, observation, reason, invention, or imagination.
These various faculties will thus have been continually put to the test
and selected during manhood; they will, moreover, have been
strengthened by use during this same period of life. Consequently in
accordance with the principle often alluded to, we might expect that
they would at least tend to be transmitted chiefly to the male
offspring at the corresponding period of manhood.
Now, when two men are put into competition, or a man with a woman, both
possessed of every mental quality in equal perfection, save that one
has higher energy, perseverance, and courage, the latter will generally
become more eminent in every pursuit, and will gain the ascendancy.
(24. J. Stuart Mill remarks ( The Subjection of Women, 1869, p. 122),
The things in which man most excels woman are those which require most
plodding, and long hammering at single thoughts. What is this but
energy and perseverance?) He may be said to possess genius for genius
has been declared by a great authority to be patience; and patience, in
this sense, means unflinching, undaunted perseverance. But this view of
genius is perhaps deficient; for without the higher powers of the
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