8 Original. PHYSICAL SCIENCE. PHYSICAL SCIENCE. MESSRS. EDITORS,-Under the above head I propose, if it meet with your approbation, to furnish a few articles for the Ladies' Repository. Once an apology might have been deemed necessary for introducing scientific articles into a periodical for the ladies; but now, I trust, no such apology need be made. The females of this country, especially, are beginning to understand and appreciate their privileges. They believe that the Creator has no more denied them a knowledge of his works than of his word. Many have learned "priceless lessons of wisdom" from this book of "elder Scripture" "Lessons of wisdom, purer than the deep And strangely wrought philosophies that burn And permit me to express the hope that one object "O, let us cherish, with a miser's care, Our love of all that's beautiful and fair And from the toil of study let us go In the first number I will give a very brief sketch of the early history of some of the most important branches of natural science. Very respectfully, yours, &c., Ohio University, Nov., 1840. INTRODUCTION. F. MERRICK. not unworthy of remark, that the first act which man performed, of which we have any account, was to systematize the zoology of paradise. Such, indeed, are the relations existing between man and the sensible objects with which he is surrounded, that he cannot, if he would, remain entirely ignorant of the phenomena of nature, which are constantly exhibiting the laws and properties of the material world. As might be expected, therefore, most of the nations of antiquity devoted considerable attention to several branches of natural science. ASTRONOMY. The heavenly bodies, from their brilliancy and apparent motion, as well as from the important purposes which they serve, must have interested mankind from the earliest periods. Hence, we hear one, whose writings are considered by many as the most ancient that have come down to us, speaking of "the sweet influences of Pleiades," and "the bands of Orion." The Chaldeans, Phoenicians, and Egyptians, made some important observations in astronomy. Greece, at an early period in her history, cultivated this science with considerable success. Thales, one of her philosophers, long before the Christian era, predicted an eclipse. Anaximander observed the obliquity of the ecliptic. Pythagoras asserted that the stars were worlds, and that the earth was round; Philolaus that the earth had an annual revolution around the sun, and Hicetas that it revolved upon its axis. Eudoxus applied the principles of geometry to this science, and made several important discoveries. Archimedes determined the distances of a number of the planets from the sun, and Hipparchus formed a catalogue of the fixed stars. The Chinese, also, made some proficiency in astronomy more than a thousand years before the commencement of the present era; and at a later period the Arabians prosecuted the science with great zeal, and not without some success. But it was not until the sixteenth century that the true system of the universe was fully developed. The labors of Tycho Brahe, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton, with those of their contemporaries, established the principles of this sublime science upon a foundation as immutable as the laws of nature themselves. CHEMISTRY AND MINERALOGY. Some knowledge of physical objects must have been coeval with the first observations of man. No sooner were his senses capable of performing their proper functions, than his eyes fell upon the wide-spread page of nature. Here he read in living and radiant characters the wonderful works of God. He saw the sun shining in his strength, the moon leading on one by one the starry host, until the whole firmament was Chemistry and mineralogy must have been in their thickly studded with the gems of night. Around him origin as they have been in their progress, nearly he saw moving innumerable forms of life. The mas- contemporaneous. It is impossible to point out the todon, with heavy tread, paced the distant plain-the precise time when the first observations were made in lion, crouching beneath the thicket of a glen, watched either, but some knowledge of both must have been for his prey-the antelope was leaping among the obtained before the Noachian deluge, as a number of cragged rocks—the verdant groves were vocal with the the valuable metals had been discovered, as well as the music of the feathered tribe-insects were sipping nec- processes for their reduction, and their uses. The protar from every opening flower; while the finny race ductions of many of the nations of antiquity show were sporting in the limpid streams in all the joyous-considerable acquaintance with these branches of sciness of life. With a scene like this spread out be-ence. This knowledge, however, was mostly confined fore him, not to have studied it with thrilling interest, to artizans, who handed it down from one generation to would indicate an insensibility to the displays of Di- another, in connection with the knowledge of their sevvine wisdom and goodness-such as we cannot attri-eral arts, except in Egypt, where chemistry, as well as bute to him while in a state of innocency. And it is mineralogy, was studied as a science. Here great pro ficiency would undoubtedly have been made in these, || and erroneous systems were adopted, but with some had not the philosophers of that age been "smitten with the delirium of alchemy." new errors, the most ridiculous and absurd, ingrafted upon them. To the immortal Linnæus belongs the The stone by which it was supposed all the baser honor of systemizing this interesting and useful scimetals might be changed into gold and silver, the elix- ence upon correct principles. By extensive observaer of life, that was expected to put an end to the rava- tion he made himself familiar with a great variety of ges of the fell destroyer, the alcahest, or universal sol- plants. He marked with striking precision their charvent, and some other things equally imaginary, were acteristical differences, and with equal accuracy defor several centuries the only objects of their research. || fined their organs. In short, under his hands the But the delusions of alchemy were by no means con- science of botany became entirely remodeled; and alfined to Egypt. They diffused themselves throughout almost the entire civilized world; and, in some form, continued to retard the progress of science as late as the sixteenth century. It is true, several important discoveries were made by the alchemists; but by them these were never turned to good account. In pursuit | In the general outlines of zoology the ancients were of a phantasm, they overlooked all realities. Notwith-probably better versed than in any of the natural scistanding, therefore, some of the facts accumulated by ences. Indeed, it is thought by a late writer that the them have been advantageously employed in modern times, still their occult science will for ever stand a monument of human weakness and folly. though improvements and additions have been made to his work in subsequent times, it still remains one of the many and enduring monuments upon which he left the impress of his own great mind. ZOOLOGY. work of Aristotle entitled, "On the History of Animals," exhibits almost as clearly the true principles of classification as the great work of Cuvier upon the same subject; still, in the details, his work, like those of all other ancient writers upon the same subject, GEOLOGY. Those who first applied the principles of chemistry to a useful purpose, confined their labors almost exclusively to pharmacy. Becher greatly extended the lim-abounds with egregious errors. its of the science by showing its connection with the various phenomena of nature. Stahl deduced gen- This is comparatively a modern science, though eral principles from facts which had been previously many important observations must have been made at collected. Still, it was not until about the middle of a very early period. The first cultivators of geology, the last century, when Rouelle made known the great leaving the proper subject of investigation, wasted utility of chemistry, that it became generally studied. their energies in vainly attempting to account for the From that time to the present, this branch of science || origin of the earth, and to explain the mode of its forhas numbered among its cultivators some of the first mation. Their attempts to answer the question, “How minds of Europe and in this country; and probably || was the world made ?" gave rise to the various systems none has been more extensively useful in promoting the arts of civilized life. BOTANY. of cosmogony. But after all their speculations, some of which exhibited no small ingenuity, though others were extravagantly absurd, the question remained, by Botany also came in for its share of attention among them, unanswered. The single declaration, that "in the nations of antiquity. The first writings upon this the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," subject, of which we have any account, are those of demolishes all their theories, and affords the only conSolomon. It is said that in a treatise which he wrote sistent answer to the question with which they started. upon natural history, "he spoke of trees, from the ce- In modern times philosophers had been but little dar tree that grows in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop more successful, before the commencement of the presthat springeth out of the wall." Some of the early ent century. Such was the rage for theories, that facts Greek philosophers also gave their attention to the were almost entirely disregarded, or a single fact was study of plants. But little valuable information, how-seized, and upon that a theory was constructed which ever, seems to have been collected until about three was to account for all geological phenomena. If othhundred years before Christ. At this time Theo-er facts, forcing themselves upon them, seemed at variphrastus published his "History of Plants," in which ance with their favorite theories, geologists, instead of he "treats of the origin, propagation, anatomy, and accommodating their theories to the facts, attempted to construction, of vegetable life and vegetation." This reverse the order of procedure. But nature bows not work opens the proper historic era of botany as a sci-thus obsequiously to the caprice of man; and while her ence, although the views of Theophrastus were in professed expounders were waging a ceaseless war of many respects very erroneous. Pliny, the elder, devo-words, each defending his "baseless fabric" with all that ́ted fifteen books of his "History of the World" to this subject. But consisting as his works did of an indiscriminate collection of truth and error, they contributed but little to the advancement of science. From this time until the revival of letters, botany was doomed to share the common fate of almost every department of learning. When first revived, the old VOL. I.-2 acrimony and violence which error is wont to summon to its aid, she still remained unchanged and unmoved. Towards the close of the last century, most geologists had arranged themselves into two parties, generally known as the Volcanists and Neptunists, with Hutton at the head of the former and Werner at the head of the latter. At length some began to feel, not 1 so much the force of the arguments of the contending || false curls and artificial flowers; hold a silly conversaparties as of the common adage, that "facts are stub- tion on nothing; leer and look languishing; and-act born things." These, renouncing all theories, diligent- the fool? ly devoted themselves to observation, and in a short time had collected a great number of valuable data. In 1807 the Geological Society of London was formed upon the same principle. A new era in geology had now commenced; and from that up to the present time, its progress, considering the difficulties with which it has had to contend, has been probably unparalleled in the history of science. Original. FEMALE EDUCATION. BY CALEB ATWATER, ESQ. THE treatment and education of females in this country, compared with the treament and education which they receive in any other country, form a most striking contrast. This subject, so important in itself, as it affects not only our females, but our whole community, demands our serious consideration. We are aware of the fact, that much has been written on this subject, especially of late years. Some writers, more particularly female authors, have said many excellent things touching this matter; but, we are equally well aware, that nearly all that has appeared in novels, or in silly periodicals-written, or conducted, mostly by frivolous young men-is utterly unworthy of woman, and injurious and even disgraceful to our country. Having said thus, we leave to themselves such selfconceited authors, and their readers and admirers. In all countries, except in this Union, whether in Europe or America, the females labor out of doors in the open air. They drive or hold the plough, and sometimes draw it, beside an ass or a mule, (as in Italy.) | They rake hay, they use the hoe, the axe and the saw; they sow and reap the grain; and, in fact, perform all sorts of labor on the farm. They make long journies on business, and carry it on in their houses, shops, and store-rooms. At court, they are politicians. Forty years since, the farmers' wives and daughters labored on the farm, in parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and in all the settlements where German or Irish people dwelt in considerable numbers. The arrival of the New Englanders among them, banished the females from the fields to their houses and firesides. The change was beneficial to both sexes; but, from one extreme, how prone are we to vibrate to the other! Are our females to be mere kitchen maids, without a particle of information, except it belong to mere labor of body, without any mental cultivation ? A FASHIONABLE FEMALE EDUCATION. If they are taught any thing more, shall it be only, how to play on the harp, the guitar, and the piano forte; to draw figures on paper or cloth, with a painter's brush or a needle? To dance a waltz; walk gracefully on their toes; make a handsome courtesy; keep an album; sing a fashionable song; wear corsets, We have banished the former state of things, as to the treatment of females, and we now anxiously desire to see driven out of our land, the present frivolous practices which we have named. They are a disgrace to this enlightened age. The main objects of educating females are precisely the same with those of educating the other sex-to develop all their powers and faculties, and to prepare them for happiness and usefulness. We take it for granted, because we know it is in fact so, that females are as capable of attaining all sorts of knowledge as the other sex. Indeed, they learn more easily, and at an earlier age, than the other sex. They are more easily governed and more plastic. We have already hinted at a fashionable female education. We now proceed to state what we wish our females to learn. In addition to the common branches of education, such as reading, writing, English grammar, and arithmetic, we wish to see superadded, geography, chemistry, botany, vocal music, astronomy, algebra, rhetoric, mineralogy, geology, mechanics, natural and moral philosophy, geometry, and all the branches of the higher mathematics; civil and ecclesiastical history, biography; including more especially, the lives of great, good and distinguished women. By raising the character of woman, Christianity has already done a great deal for her, and itself. We wish to see it do more still, for her education, especially in our own country. "The dignity, purity, and loveliness of woman, ought to be made the study of both sexes. We ought to breathe into the very souls of our youth of both sexes, high and holy thoughts of the mother, sister, wife, daughter, and female friend. We should kindle into flame, a high, pure and holy admiration of a truly good, and well educated woman. to make all hearts thrill into tenderness at the fidelity, fortitude, and tenderness of woman. Christianity owe much to woman; to American women, in savage lands."* As we admit of no differences, in the capacities of the two sexes for attaining knowledge, so we know of no difference in the modes of conveying it to their minds. What food is to the body, knowledge is to the mind; it adds to its dimensions, expands, strengthens, elevates, ennobles, and invigorates it. Right education of either sex, forms good habits and eradicates bad ones. And, as good, nutritious food taken into the body, becomes incorporated with the body and forms a part of itself, so knowledge taken into the mind, and properly digested, becomes a portion of the soul itself. To such a sound, thorough and extensive education of females, as we are recommending, we are well aware that there are numerous objections in this country; and we will proceed to state and answer some of them. Let us strive Civilization and It is objected, "that such an education, occupies too much time, and costs too much money." We reply, *Thomas Smith Grimke, Esq. that following up our plan of education to its end, | Can it be supposed, for a moment, that such an eduwould not occupy as much time, nor cost as much cation, can so operate on her mind, as to make her money as are now expended on acquiring the showy, forget her appropriate duties; make her hate her husfrivolous and foolish education now in vogue. The band; will she cease to love her child and forget the present fashionable education, can, at best only render duties which she owes to her God and her neighbor? happy its possessor for a few short years, which are “Credat Judæus Appella-non ego." But if learning, happy enough, generally, without it. It then vanishes even profound learning, can blot out connubial love and disappears for ever; whereas, our system affords an and maternal affection, can ignorance give its Cimmeeducation that lasts for ever. At the very most, the rian votary, order, method, prudence, discretion, indusfirst lasts until the female is married, whereas, the oth-try, frugality, love, affection, and all the domestic virer endures for ever. tues? It is a common maxim, "that we cannot have The early education of the daughter, ought to be too much of a good thing;" but if ignorance among more thorough, deeper, clearer, sounder, more exten-women, is a good thing, we certainly have quite too sive and better than the education of the son; because much of it at present. And, finally, as to the objecthe daughter, early in life, becomes a wife and a moth- tion to learning and consequent love of ignorance, can er; retires from the world, to her own peculiar em- the latter make a good, kind, benevolent, industrious, pire-her home. The son, if not thoroughly educa- intelligent, and faithful wife; a fond, affectionate and ted for his calling, at first, is compelled by circum- faithful mother? We hold the very reverse of such stances, by the world, all around him-by rivals in an opinion. As it now too often happens, that women business-by his own shame and emulation, to educate of forty know, actually, less than many a boy only himself. Indeed, he is always learning something, twelve years old! Even the lovers of ignorance in either by good or bad luck, useful for him to know. women, will hardly dare to argue in favor of such a It is not so with the daughter who must learn in early disparity of knowledge between the former and the life or never learn. Be a woman ever so wealthy in latter. For the consolation, however, of men, who this country, she must know how to cook her food, to fear that our system of female education will soon bewash and iron her clothes and those of her family, come so perfect that they cannot find ignorant women to nurse her children and teach her daughters to do enough for wives and companions for them, we can the same. If she have servants they may be ignorant, assure them that do all we can to educate them, yet lazy and worthless; and there may be times when no there will always be ignorant women enough for all servants can be procured. She may be too poor to such men. We hope this idea will console them. To hire servants. So that every house-keeper must know another class of men, we say, consider, for a moment, all these arts of house-keeping. But it is often object- the solitary state, in which women are placed-the illed, "that a sound, substantial education makes women treatment which they sometimes receive, and which pedantic, and disagreeable companions." Were that they are compelled to bear in silence, without the powthe case, we say, then make female education com- er of complaining, and these men will be compelled to We never boast of having any thing which is acknowledge that the happiness of such women must common to all around us. Who ever boasted that he be drawn from their own minds. In such a case, who had two eyes, two arms, or ten toes? Although we will be the happiest? the well read and well educated, admitted the validity of this objection, for the purpose or the ignorant women? of showing that it destroyed itself, yet we deny the assertion altogether as applying more, or even as much to women as to men of learning, who are sometimes quite rough and rustic, if not pedantic in their manners. The farmer, the mechanic, and even the horse-ion and friend, and for the mother of their children. jockey, have as much pedantry, in their way of showing it, as the lady or the man of learning. Nay, they have more of that commodity which we may call pedantry. Vanity and obtrusiveness of knowledge and skill, resemble the noise of shallow and small streams of water, which belongs not to large and deep ones which are silent and still. We take no notice of the crack and the flourish of a horse-jockey's whip, because he is beneath our notice, but if a learned woman or a learned man should be vain of her or his knowledge, we should notice and wonder at it, because it is so uncommon a sight for us to see. So this objection destroys itself, and proves the contrary of what it affirms. It is objected, "that good, sound, substantial knowledge in women prevents their attending to their domestic duties, of wife, mother and friend." mon. Again, if pompous men, who fear women as their rivals in knowledge, prefer ignorant women, yet men of liberal minds and true politeness, prefer, enthusiastically prefer, a learned woman as their wife, compan They prefer a wife, whose conversation is agreeable; who, forgetting herself, can strive to please them; can sympathize with them; soothe all their sorrows and render them happy. Such a woman can suggest a thousand amenities, and thereby fix her empire in the heart. She can render herself so agreeable and so necessary that she may rise in the domestic circle, becoming its cement and its charm. Domestic life is her proper sphere, and it is there that she is most happy and most useful. Society, too, owes to her its balance and its tone. In the circle in which she moves she may correct what is wrong, moderate what is unruly, and restrain indecorum. She may prevent excess, check vice, and protect virtue. Domestic comfort is the chief source of her influence, and nothing tends so much to improve the character of men as domestic FEMALE FANATICS. peace. Her smile can drive away and dissipate the || goodness, in the hearts of all around her; but whatcloud on her husband's brow, and gladden his heart. ever she attempts to do should be accompanied by huThe feudal system is gone for ever, so that to secure mility. This equally applies to both sexes. Jesus respect a woman must now effect that object by her himself has set the example and all must follow it. intrinsic qualities. For her real, intrinsic excellence, || We should doubt the success of any one who attempther usefulness, and the happiness which she confers ed to use his or her influence without humility-withon her husband, her children and the domestic circle, out the lowliness and gentleness of the Savior. The she is now most highly appreciated. To be happy, subject is so vast, and our capacities are so limited that however, a woman must be pious. If religion be ne- assumption only shows our weakness, where we should cessary in common troubles, how shall she be able to strive to follow and learn of our great Teacher. pass through graver sorrows, from which she is by no means exempt? Nothing is more affecting than a wo- What can be more disgusting than to see women, man's chastened sorrow. Her ties may all be dissolved, sometimes, even very young women, arrogating to her fond hopes all withered, her affections blighted, yet themselves, not merely the right of private judgment, peace may dwell in her heart and heaven in her eye. but of dictation, in matters of great conflicting, doubtSuch a woman, overwhelmed with deep sorrow will ful questions of national importance? Do we not retire to her chamber, her closet, and go with her whole sometimes see them become the tools of some fanatic, heart to Him who has said, "Ye that are weary and some zealot, whose ever-varying opinions they blindly heavy laden, come to me, and I will give you rest."adopt and follow, in his erratic and eccentric orbit? It is in her silent chamber, she learns to look her sor-The religion of such women consists wholly of imrows in the face, encounter and subdue them; she thus pulse and feeling. Their domestic duties are forgotbecomes familiar with the features of her grief; she ten and neglected. They wander about from house communes with affliction, as if it were a heavenly to house, retailing the errors of the day; dealing out messenger sent down by her heavenly Father to warn their favorite drugs and nostrums to weak and wayher that this is not her better home, and that she should ward Christians. They travel around, carrying with so pass through time as to prepare for her eternal them specifics, which, if used, will produce the identihome. By thus communing with her affliction, her cal mental and moral diseases which they pretend to own heart and her God, she learns to cast all her bur- cure! In this way they may kindle, for a moment, a dens of grief on that Almighty arm that can and will little blaze, but it is not a fire which originated in the sustain her, lighten her load, and make it easy to bear. sanctuary. The coals which kindled it came from the Religion is exactly what a woman needs. It is the empyric's furnace, not from the altar. To such perbest and almost the only elevating principle. It iden- sons we would say, that fanaticism is not true religion. tifies itself with all the actions of her life, because It is a noisome weed, not the Rose of Sharon. Faall her actions flow from a heart that has become a naticism is ever bold and walks with long strides, unpure fountain, into which the salt of divine grace has vailed, in the broad street; tells her tale aloud, and been cast. Religion gives a woman that dignity which courts display. She runs to the rich and to the poor, best suits her dependence—a dignity of feeling, not of to the learned and the ignorant, stirring up strife and station. She may be morally great, though her station party spirit. be a subordinate one. Religion, in woman, is never more lovely, nor more dignified and morally sublime, than when it causes her to wipe off the tear from the sufferer's brow; impart a martyr's courage to the humblest spirit; teach us, in the stillness of the sick chamber, to bow our heads in submission to the Author of our being, and endure our trials with Christian fortitude. How different is the modest and quiet mein of TRUE RELIGION. She shuns the crowd of idle gazers, and opens not the garrulous mouth of fame. Known by few, seen by few, she may be found in the retired village, the private circle, or solitary chamber; but wherever she is found, whether seated on a throne, or on a mole-hill; The greatest blessing attending female influence is whether dwelling in a lofty and splendid palace, or in the promotion of religious feeling. A religious woman a lowly and sordid shed; whether commanding an emmay, by gentle persuasion, enforce truth and cause re-pire, or sold in slavery; whether adorned with diaigion to be loved for her sake. By her example she monds, or clothed in rags; whether in prosperity or can best persuade others to love goodness. By wit-adversity, joy or sorrow, peace and purity dwell in her nessing its good effect on her, men may be brought to heart, heaven in her eye, and in all her actions dignity correctly appreciate its real value. How efficacious and love. has been such a silent appeal, when an open and direct One of the most important duties of a mother is due one would have failed! A woman may be so pious to- to her children. In infancy she is their best nurse, in wards her parents, so affectionate towards her husband, childhood and youth she is their best teacher. No so devoted to her children—she may so grace the family matter how many teachers the children may have, their and private circle that her religion is no longer condemn-mother cannot be dispensed with, because she is better ed even by the vilest of men. Many a pious son has than all others. She must teach the first lesson, and acknowledged, with tears of gratitude, what he owed so teach them that they will never be forgotten in after to his mother. Such a woman has witnesses of her life. She must give life and energy to the whole sys |