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'•' Movements " begin in abstractions and end in laws . A thinker promulgates a new idea , which other thinkers combat or defend ; discussion clears the subject and prepares a path for it . Declamation , often not of a wise kind , gives the idea a passioaate interest and advocacy . Finally , some one of a concrete practical mind begins to realize the abstraction , and proposes a specific . measure . The Woman Question has been much discussed since jMary "Wolstonecraft , and every year has been a year of progress . The amount of absurdity ¦ which has clogged the wheels of progress , which has disgusted yvell-wishers , and given antagonists fiercer antagonism , we may notice with regret , and with the reflection that such folly was inevitable on such a question . Still the progress has been decided : slow , yet certain . The best evidence we have seen that the question is passing from the region of speculation into that of actual legislation , we find in . an entry in the Law Amendment Journal , which we here extract , —It is entitled " On the Property of Married women : "—
On presenting a petition to the House of Lords on this subject , signed by nearly 3 , 0 o 0 ladies . Lord Brougham made , among others , the following observavations : — "He looked upon ifc as a great honour to have had this petition entrusted to him ; and no one could doubt the absolute necessity of applying a remedy to the gross aud grievous defects , he would not dignify them by the name of anomalies , of which the petitioners complained—defects which pressed upon the most meritorious part of the female community . A woman in humble circumstances , who liad devoted herself to tie support of -lier children , and by honest industry , hard labour , and skill , had amassed a sum of money , was liable to have it swept away iu an instant by what , he was sorry to say , were at present the strict legal rights of a profligate husband . It might be said that it was her
own fault to continue to be bound by the marriage tie . Was ifc ? She had no power of getting rid of it . wlen . it became an incumbranee , unless ' she chose to pass the line which separated duty from guilt ; and even then her husband could not get rid of her unless he had the means ' . of prosecuting a divorce , first in the Ecclesiastical Courts , and then in this House . The first names to the petition were those of the able and instructive wz-iter , Mrs . Jameson , and of another lady who had furnished not only innocent amitsement , but also solid instruction to the community , Mary Howitt . He should feel satisfied that this petition had not been presented in vain if hi 3 noble and learned friend behind him ( Lord tiyndhurst ) would , after Easter , redeem the half pledge he had given last session , by applying the great powers of his practised understanding to this subject . " Sir Erskiue
Perry presented a similar petition in the House of Commons , and accompanied its presentation with some excellent remarks on the defective state of the law of England on tins matter , differing as it does from the law of all other civilised nations . We may add , that the very numerous signatures were obfcaiued by the exertions ot a few ladies , unaided by any organised agitation . We are glad to say that our society are fully alive to the importance of the subject ; and that vigorous measures will be taken to press the subject still further on the attention of Parliament and the public . A meeting of the Personal Laws Committee was held at the society ' s rooms yesterday afternoon , to consider the question ,, and adopt a plan of operations—Lord Stanley , Sir Erskine Perry , and Sir Lawren . ce Peel , were present ; and further aid of a- most influential character is likely to be forthcoming . _ We understand that measures are being taken in other quarters to draw public attention to this subject ; and we would only now express our willingness to receive communications from all who are interested iu it , so that united action may ensure that success which divided councils , even in the best cause , do n ot always attain .
This is but a small measure to redress one of the many unjust laws which fetter the development of women . But let none of our enthusiastic friends despise the measure because it is small , and because it does not touch the " great question . " To gain any legislative reform on' the subject of women is an immense step . A few specific reforms of th is kind wiil be the most effectual way of getting tlie whole condition of woman modified . Attack abuses in detail , and you finish by abolishing the source of the abuses .
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The difficulties of experimental inquiry , especially in the complexity which attends nil biological phenomena , can only be thorougly appreciated by those who have pursued it . In Physics we can geneially eliminate all the conditions , one after the other , until we come to those which are essential ; but in Physiology we are seldom sure if in eliminating one condition we are not altering tho whole nature of the problem . Spontaneous Generation is ono of the vexed problems of speculative Biology . From time to time it reap pears with now facts , and is siloneofl , oaly to reappear again . In tho present day there are vory few who believe in tho possibility of any but the simplest organisms being so produced , and not many who even believe so much . Tho upholders of the spontaneous hypothesis were considerabl
y shaken by ah experiment instituted by ScHUL . TSsra , and recorded in the Edinburgh . Ntiv Philosophical Journal for 1837 . He found that if the decomposing substances , which always generate infusoria and fungi when tlie atmospheric air is freely admitted to them , bo shut up in vessels to which the iiir is admitted only after passing through a rod-hot tube , or through strong sulphuric aoid , no nnimalcules or fungi nppear . Tho experiment seemed conclusive . The germs of tho fungi and animalcules wore said to he floating in the air , nnd only developing themselves cm meeting with a proper nidus . ' By destroying these gonna—which tho sulphuric acid did without altering the air-r-all development way prevented . We have already in these columns expressed our doubts of tho conclusivenesa of this experiment , although wo ave not prepared to affirm tho truth of
Spontaneous Generation . It was enough for us that the passage of the air through , sulphuric acid might very probably produce such a change in the conditions as to interfere with the development of life . What that change might be was indeed liypotlietical ; but not more hypothetical than the existence of the germs said to be destroyed . Our suspicions have been confirmed . In a letter addressed to the Academy of Sciences , and printed ii » the Amxales des Sciences ( vol . ii . p . 339 , Quairidme S&ie )> Mr . Mobhen , whose experiments had quite another object , and who never mentions Spontaneous Generation , assures us that infusoria alreadv formed' cease to live
inair which has passed through sulphuric acid ; bat that if before life is quite extinct , they are furnished with air which has not passed through sulphuric acid , they at once revive ; and the green colour which had disappeared once more shows itself . This" is final as regards the nullity of Schdltze ' s experiments . Sulphuric acid is proved to have such an action on air that the air will no longer support life . Instead , therefore , of saying sulphuric acid destroyed the germs -which were floating in the air , awaiting a proper nidus > we must say it destroyed the conditions favourable to life- We " must say so , because in Moeeen ' s experiments the germs liad already developed themselves before the altered air was admitted to them .
We are not aware that any one has made this application of Mokren ' s ' acts ; but our readers will see that the vexed question of Spontaneous Generation is once more an open question . Some new experiment must he devised , one which will be an experimentum crucis . The man who devises it will have his name handed down to posterity in company with the Trembleys , Spallanzanis , Bells , and Beb . na . bds .
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ANIMAL LIFE IN THE ALPS . Shetelies of Nature in the Alps . Translated from the German of F . Von Tschudi . Traveller ' s Library . 2 Parts . Longman and Co . We have not often , to say of a work , especially of a German work , that it might be longer with increase of interest j but , in the case of the abridgment of Von Tschudi ' s Thierleben der Alpeiitvelt , which has recently appeared in the Traveller ' s Jjibrary , we regret the omissions of valuable matter relating to the most interesting topics—and could willingly have exchanged some of the geography fora little more zoology . Nevertheless , the , selection is full of interest , and we cordially recorntqend it to the notice of our readers . 'Von Tschucli is well known as a naturalist , aud his book has had great success in Germany . It tells , indeed ^ of a region only superficially known ; and of phenomena perennial in interest . Von Tschudi divides the whole Alpine region into three circles , describes their several peculiarities , their vegetation , and their zoology ; and this , not with tlie dull inaccuracy of a statistical compiler , but with the fervid glow of an out-of-door naturalist , who loves the scenes he has lived in . Hear him describing the terrible wind called Fon : —
No -wind is better known thro ughout almost the whole mountain district of Switzerland tkan the Fon . It is not local , bu . t general , and may be called a European , or , more strictly speaking , an African wind . For , as the polar circle would seem to be the fountain-head of the frigid north wind , and the Atlantic ocean of the humid west ; so the arid sandy deserts of Africa gave birth to the hot south wind . Instead of sheltering tib against this gale , as might , naturally be supposed , the Alpine chain g ives it additional force when it reaches the mountains , ' the hot current of air , instead of rising altogether above tbenl , becomes chilled by the snow in its low ; er strata , winch , thus condensed , rush impetuously iuto tlie valleys . Its visits are most frequent in the winter and early spring , when the air from the glaciers is keenest , and the valleys have not imbibed much of the sun ' s heat , so as to equalise the temperature more gradually . For the sa-me reason it blows more violently t > y night than by day . The atmospheric phenomena which accompany it are very beautiful . On the southern horizon a
light variegated veil of clouds is seen resting on the top of the mountains . The sun sets pale and lustreless behiud the dark red sky , while the clouds continue to glow with bright purple tints . The night is imltry aud dewless , with her © and there a gust- of cold wind . A reddish halo surrounds the moon . The transparency of the atmosphere causes the Mils to appeaf much nearer than they are : the background assumes a violet tint . Far off is heard the rustling of the high woods aud the roar of the swollen mountain torrents j a sph * it of restlessness seems to be astir in the distance , and gradually it approaches the valley . The advent of the Fon is heralded by a few violent gusts , at first cold and raw . A sudden stillness succeeds ; and then in bursts an impetuous , hot wind , rising sometimes to a hurricane . It prevails with varying force for two or three days , setting all nature iu an uproar , hurling trees down tho abyss , tearing rooks asunder , causing the streams to overflow their banks , unroofing houses and cattle-sheds . Iu short , it is tho terror of the country .
Animals suffer under tho influence of this wiud , tho dry heat of which at first stimxilates , but afterwards relaxes tho sinews . Tho ohnmois drags itself uneasily up tlie north sido of tho mountain , or gets into tho deep clofts of tho rocks . Cows , horses , and goats , waudor abo \ it seeking in vaia for fresher air ; whilst the Fon dries up thoir throats and lungs . No bird ia to bo seen in wood or fell . The universal discomfort is sliared by man , who fools a lassitude in his nerves and sinews , and an indescribable oppression on his spirits . Fires aro immediately extinguished on every hearth and in every ovon ; and in many valleys watchmen go about to mako sure thixt this precaution is obsorved , as a single oareless spark might cause a disastrous conflagration i « the dried up state of the atmosphere . Yet , although tho Fon brings moro danger hx its train than nny other wind , it ie hailed with joy in tho spring time ; for it causes a vapid molting of snow and Joe ,
and changoa in n momout tho aspuct of tho country . Iu tbo Grindelwnld valley , snow two foot aud u-hulf doop lms often boon rnoltod by tho F 5 n iu twolvo hours Ifc will effect in ono day and night more than tho sun oan in a fortnight ; an < many a vnlloy where tho sun ' s rays do not penetrate , would lie in eternal vvintoi hut for tho rovlvifying gi \ lo whioh diBpovsos tlio rooont fmows aud awakons voge tation . In sonio plaoon tho Fon if ) , in fact tho ono constituent of spring y an < thus also tho ripening of grapes in autumn , in some situations , entirely * ' 'depend upon its action . In Uri , where ifc blows with considerable pertinacity , tlie rio habitants aro indebted to it for tho limited depth of tho glaciers * in thoir viilleye and fur the accessibility of thoir mountains at it much earlier season than in xnos dtabriotJH of a like , olovution . Happily , too , for mankind , tho Fon is a vory judi oiouu moltor of huow ; and tUo enormous evaporation occasioned by its hoat save
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Critics are not tho legislators , but tlie judges and police of litcratttre . They do not make laws-they interpret and try to enforce them . -Edinburgh Review .
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MAitctf 29 , 1856 . ] T HE L E AD E R . j 303
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 29, 1856, page 303, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2134/page/15/
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