privilege assumed by man, even making her legally his ruler, and she is powerless without that supremer hold upon him which depends on her nature and heart, and which individual women have possessed and manifested in every age of the world, in conquering its conquerors and shaping its mightiest destinies. What the Motts, Kellys and Folsoms seek is, not rights or privileges that promise to elevate woman in man's esteem, and add to her grace, dignity and power, but rather a share in certain customary usages of man which will bring her in closer rude contact with him in unwomanly pursuits and what, to her, would prove most degrading associations. They are sick of the isolation of their sex; they desire to be more than women to mix the sexes in everythingin fact, to hermaphrodite themselves. Their first object is to secure the franchise, to become voters, in order to mend the laws, improve the politics, and divide the property of the world. They charge, what we readily admit, that man acts much of the undignified in legislative assemblies, much that is low and debasing in politics, and enacts much that is false and arbitrary in law. In the former case the evil results from the partisanship arising from politics, and the devotion to politics as a trade. In the latter it results often from hasty judgment and imperfect knowledge, and, quite as often, from mercenary causes and appliBut man reaps more of evil in both cases than woman for a great majority of political and legislative acts do not necessarily nor legitimately affect woman. They rise from and fall upon masculine ambitions and enterprises. But were there treble the evil, does any woman suppose it will be abated by her becoming a politician, a partisan and a legislator? Whatever clear perception she may now have, as standing aloof, and calmly observing the faults and errors of man, all of which she can do much to correct, through her influence as the possessor of his respect and affection, she would lose the moment she became an actor in the play. Let no one think that woman will or can soften the asperities of politics or legislation, by becoming politician or legislator. Wherever she has mixed in the Vocations of man she has outstripped him in masculinity.

ances.

Man was never more ferocious as a Legionary than woman as an Amazon, in war. She has beaten him in brute capacities, behind many a barricade and in many a mob. As delver with him in mines and fields, she has exhibited the

grossest disposition. The furies are not a myth. Woman out of her sphere, excited by vulgar or base passions, of which she is-without pure and high restraints-susceptible enough, is a fury, or whatever else is bad. It depends upon herself, whether she shall save an empire, like the Roman matrons and virgins, who, through the power of affection and esteem, stayed their conquering husbands and brothers, returning victorious from exile; or destroy a city, like the courtesan who led a drunken Alexander to fire the palaces of a Persepolis, or a Cleopatra, beautiful and powerful enough to sway, as wanton, imperial Cæsar. At no period has woman lacked her share of influence on human affairs, in proportion to the civilization and intelligence of our race. She has held the sceptre, marshaled armies and made laws; but her courts have been the most scandalous, her conquests the least beneficial, and her laws the most inimical or absurd. Woman has ever ruled best when she most carefully educated and disciplined her progeny, always committed-as it were providentially-to her special care. The jewels of Cornelia were not diamonds, nor trappings of political or regal power; they were the children she had virtuously reared, to take their places as future mothers and defenders of the State. What cannot a woman do in shaping societies and nations, by well fulfilling the simple yet noble and sublime duties of her native sphere-home? From thence spring the generations, and, during the plastic period, she is the appointed molder of them-body, heart and mind. The lessons she teaches, the principles she instills, will become the ruling power, as surely as heart and mind are master of the matter of man. If woman wishes for supreme power in the State, let her be true as sister, daughter, wife and mother,-true to herself, her offspring and her kindred. Not in a selfish view alone, but regarding her and their relationship to humanity. The more completely she accomplishes that portion of the work of the race which, from its negative character, is adapted to her feminine nature, the most perfectly will she become that half of manhood, which is essential to the perfection of the race. Man is positive in his nature and character, and is fitted for certain duties and tasks. Woman's position is as clearly marked, and woe to her whenever she abandons it. She has not moved in a particular sphere for ages by accident, nor from any arbitrary arrangement. She has had her place in accordance

with her nature. She is intended, by instinct and capacity, to follow and not to lead; to obey, rather than govern; and happy is her lot when she sees it her mission to sway the heart and will of man by consulting his wishes, by approving his reasonable ambitions, by glorying in his successes, by solacing his sorrows, by virtuously rearing his children, and proving to him in her abandonment of all things else to follow his destinies, that she cherishes him and home, above the world beside.

What glorious rights and privileges woman has, without degrading herself in the political forum, or mixing in other gross pursuits, if she will but improve them. She has the right to love her husband, and if she does so truly, and he is worthy of her love-she should know this ere she plunges into married life—he will yield her all she asks of him, as man, politician or legislator. She has the accustomed and undisputed right to love and educate his children, in doing which she lays his affection under new tribute, and can shape them to act her thoughts when they come upon the stage. She has the right to care tenderly for his welfare, honor and happiness; and if she improves it, she will do nothing to involve, disgrace or cross him. By the home-hearth, and around the home altars, she has the elements of a divinity which, resolved into a true and pure life and example, will command his adoration, and influence all his purposes and actions. There is nothing desirable or conceivable, which man has the power to yield or confer, that woman cannot claim and secure as the mistress of his heart. Through his affections, she can counsel, inspire and lead him. He is powerless to think or do evil against her, while she is true to herself and to him. Let woman be sure of this. She cannot have observed history and experience well, if she doubts that she is, in the end, master of human affairs, no matter how little she may, for the moment, appear to affect them. From the cradle to the grave, she exerts a deep, wide and controlling influence over him. If she does not rule absolutely in all things, the fault is her own. Let her mark wherever she lacks power, and see how she is improvident of her means. If the Motts and Kellys think to cure any servitude of woman, by securing to her the franchise, and passing laws to make her an equal sharer of property and property rights the great point for which they stickle -they are mistaken. When and where the marriage relation is divine, because harmonious, and man and woman perform their respec

tive duties as love, honor and truth dictate, the statute book is an idle, useless thing. Then and there woman's desire is the law, because the pleasure and delight of man is to not only answer, but anticipate it. Then and there property loses its mercenary character. It is contemplated, not as a treasure, but as one of the means provided by God to answer the necessities and promote the happiness of

man.

Would that woman more deeply felt and appreciated her power. Would that she better nursed and distributed those affections of hers, to which man is not only a subject, but a slave. If morally and intellectually she would exalt herself, and thus more divinely halo the charms which belong to her nature, how supreme the idolatry to herself, for high and noble ends, she might exact from man! The light ever shining dimmed as it may be by ignorance, folly and conceit-brightest on his path; the central object towards which he is ever drawn by an attraction, mysterious as eternal, man loves woman as the strongest law and necessity of his being. Though she be low and depraved, he seeks her, and is controlled by her. Suppose everywhere in her home, which is her empire and throne, she were all that the pure mind can conceive of her,--the pure, the gentle, the loving and confiding; prompt to forgive, resolute to bear, quick to suggest and assure of the right; studying to be loved for her loveliness, and counseled for her wisdom, which is but the flow of virtuous thought and reflection; how could she, and how would she exalt man? Woman exerts, in her present ignorance of her real power, a vast influence; but let her know truly what she is capable of, as lord of man's love and respect, and she might revel in an autocracy of rule. Nor needs she any vote to this end. Man will be her vote whenever she cares to cast him for the framing of society and government. Let her only be a woman, a pure woman, and she is all-powerful. The more unlike man in habits and pursuits, the nearer she will draw him to her. The sexes love their opposites not in sex alone. Let woman avoid whatever would increase the general familiarity of the sexes. Familiarity breeds contempt. The field to man, the house to woman. To the house, he will surely return from his empire on lands and seas, and by the hearth, at the board and in the home circle, woman may wield the sceptre of the world by swaying him with the enchantment of her virtues and affections.

It is not our intention to add doubt to doubt, or to mystify that which, in the minds of many good people, is already a mystery profound, albeit many an apt juggler can show them the way to accomplish things even as wonderful as the "rappings" of the Rochester ladies. But as everything relating to that which is not understood, is interesting, and, for the purpose of showing that these "rappings" are nothing new under the sun, we make the following extract from Southey's "Life of Wesley," the great founder of the Methodists. The events here related are said to have occurred when John Wesley was a mere boy, about one hundred and thirty years ago, at Epworth, in Lincolnshire, England, where the preaching of his father, who was an Episcopalian, had created numerous bitter enemies, who, on several occasions, attempted to burn his house, and finally succeeded some of the members of his family, John especially, escaping with their lives, as if by miracle. It is, perhaps, not too much to attribute the disturbances related below, to the diabolical spirit of sectarian hatred which existed at the time:

"While John was at school, certain disturbances occurred in his father's house, so unaccountable that every person by whom they were witnessed believed them to be supernatural. At the latter end of the year 1715, the maid-servant was terrified by hearing at the dining-room door several dismal groans, as of a person at the point of death. The family gave little heed to her story, and endeavored to laugh her out of her fears; but a few nights afterward they began to hear strange knockings, usually three or four at a time, in different parts of the house; every person heard these noises except Mr. Wesley himself, and as, according to vulgar opinion, such sounds were not audible by the individual to whom they foreboded evil, they refrained from telling him, lest he should suppose that it betokened his own death, as they indeed all apprehended. At length, however, the disturbance became so great and so frequent that few or none of the family durst be alone and Mrs. Wesley thought

it better to inform her husband; for it was not possible that the matter could long be concealed from him; and, moreover, as she says, she was minded he should speak to it. The noises were now various as well as strangeloud rumblings above stairs or below, a clatter among a number of bottles, as if they had all at once been dashed to pieces, footsteps as of a man going up and down stairs at all hours of the night, sounds like that of dancing in an empty room, the door of which was locked, gobbling like a turkey cock, but most frequently a knocking about the beds at night, and in different parts of the house. Mrs. Wesley would at first have persuaded the children and servants that it was occasioned by rats within doors, and mischievous persons without, and her husband had recourse to the same ready solution; or some of his daughters, he supposed, sat up late and made a noise; and a hint that their lovers might have something to do with the mystery, made the young ladies heartily hope he might soon be convinced that there was more in the matter than he was disposed to believe. In this they were not disappointed, for on the next night, a little after midnight, he was awakened by nine loud and distinct knocks, which seemed to be in the next room, with a pause at every third stroke. He rose and went to see if he could discover the cause, but could perceive nothing; still he thought it might be some person out of doors, and relied upon a stout mastiff to rid them of this nuisance. But the dog, which, upon the first disturbance had barked violently, was ever afterwards cowed by it, and, seeming more terrified than any of the children, came whining himself to his master and mistress, as if to seek protection in a human presence. And when the man-servant, Robin Brown, took the mastiff at night into his room, to be at once a guard and companion, as soon as the latch began to jar as usual, the dog crept into bed, and barked and howled so as to alarm the house.

"The fears of the family for Mr. Wesley's life being removed as soon as he had beard the

mysterious noises, they began to apprehend that one of the sons had met with a violent death, and more particularly Samuel, the eldest. The father, therefore, one night, after several deep groans had been heard, abjured it to speak if it had power, and tell him why it troubled the house; and upon this three distinct knockings were made. He then questioned it if it were Samuel his son, bidding it, if it were, and could not speak, to knock again; but to their great comfort there was no further knocking that night: and when they heard that Samuel and the two boys were safe and well, the visitations of the goblin became rather a matter of curiosity and amusement than of alarm. Emilia gave it the name of old Jeffery, and by this name he was now known as a harmless, though by no means an agreeable, inmate of the parsonage. Jeffery was not a malicious goblin, but he was easily offended. Before Mrs. Wesley was satisfied that there was something supernatural in the noises, she recollected that one of her neighbors had frightened the rats from his dwelling by blowing a horn there; the horn, therefore, was borrowed, and blown stoutly about the house for half a day, greatly against the judgment of one of the sisters, who maintained that if it was anything supernatural it would certainly be very angry and more troublesome. Her opinion was verified by the event; Jeffery had never till then begun his operations during the day; from that time he came by day as well as by night, and was louder than before. And he never entered Mr. Wesley's study till the owner one day rebuked him sharply, called him a deaf and dumb devil, and bade him cease to disturb the innocent children, and come to him in his study, if he had anything to say. This was a sort of defiance, and Jeffery therefore took him at his word. No other person in the family ever felt the goblin, but Mr. Wesley was thrice pushed by it with considerable force.

"So he himself relates, and his evidence is clear and distinct. He says also, that once or twice he spoke to it, he heard two or three feeble squeaks, a little louder than the chirping of a bird, but not like the noise of rats. What is said of an actual appearance is not so well confirmed. Mrs. Wesley thought she saw something run from under the bed, and thought it most like a badger, but she could not well say of what shape; and the man saw something

like a white rabbit, which came from behind the oven, with its ears flat upon the neck, and its little scut standing straight up. A shadow may possibly explain the first of these appearances; the other may be imputed to that proneness which ignorant persons so commonly evince to exaggerate in all uncommon cases. These circumstances, therefore, though apparently silly in themselves, in no degree invalidate the other parts of the story, which rest upon the concurrent testimony of many intelligent witnesses The door was once violently pushed against Emilia, when there was no person on the outside; the latches were frequently lifted up; the windows clattered always before Jeffery entered a room, and whatever iron or brass was there, rung and jarred exceedingly. It was observed also, that the wind commonly rose after any of his noises, and increased with it, and whistled loudly around the house. Mr. Wesley's trencher (for it was before our potteries had pushed their ware into every village throughout the kingdom) danced one day upon the table, to his no small amazement; and the handle of Robin's hand-mill, at another time, was turned round with great swiftness; unluckily Robin had just done grinding: nothing vexed him, he said, but that the mill was empty; if there had been corn in it, Jeffery might have ground his heart out before he would have disturbed him. It was plainly a Jacobite goblin, and seldom suffered Mr. Wesley to pray for the King and the Prince of Wales without disturbing the family prayers. Mr. Wesley was sore upon this subject, and became angry, and therefore repeated the prayer. But when Samuel was informed of this, his remark was, 'As to the devil's being an enemy to King George, were I the King myself, I should rather Old Nick should be my enemy than my friend.' The children were the only persons who were distressed by these visitations; the manner in which they were affected is remarkable: when the noises began they appeared to be frightened in their sleep, a sweat came over them, and they panted and trembled till the disturbance was so loud as to awaken them. Before it ceased, the family had become quite accustomed to it, and were tired with hearing or speaking of it. 'Send me some news,' said one of the sisters to her brother Samuel, 'for we are secluded from the sight or hearing of any versal thing, except Jeffery."