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manner。 Of course Osborne could not fail to be delighted at this
proof of her devotedness； the meeting was most affectionate on
both sides； and； with the view of coming to a decision respecting
their future proceedings； they adjourned to an hotel in the
vicinity。 Here； whilst seated at a table and in earnest
conversation； the young lady's father rushed in； and instantly
shot down Osborne； who expired at his feet。 With a frantic
shriek the poor girl fell on the body of her betrothed； and
finding a poniard or a knife concealed in his breast； she seized
it； instantly plunged it into her heart； and was soon a corpse
beside her lover。
CHAPTER X。
LADY GAMESTRESSES。
The passions of the two sexes are similar in the main； the
distinctions between them result less from nature than from
education。 Often we meet with women； especially the literary
sort； who seem veritable men； if not so； as the lawyers say； ‘to
all intents and purposes；' and often we meet with men； especially
town…dandies； who can only be compared to very ordinary women。
Almost all the ancients had the bad taste to speak ill of women；
among the rest even that delightful old Father ‘of the golden
mouth；' St Chrysostom。＇94＇ So that； evidently； Dr Johnson's
fierce dictum cannot apply universally‘Only scoundrels speak
ill of women。'
＇94＇ Hom。 II。
Seneca took the part of women； exclaiming： ‘By no means
believe that their souls are inferior to ours； or that they are
less endowed with the virtues。 As for honour； it is equally
great and energetic among them。'
A foreign lady was surprised at beholding the equality
established between the men and women at Sparta； whereupon the
wife of Leonidas； the King of Sparta； said to her：‘Do you not
know that it is we who bring forth the men？ It is not the
fathers； but the mothers； that effectually form the heart。'
Napoleon seems to have formed what may be called a professional
estimate of women。 When the demonstrative Madame de Stael
asked himevidently expecting him to pay her a compliment‘Whom
do you think the greatest woman dead or alive？' Napoleon
replied； ‘Her； Madame； _WHO HAS BORNE MOST SONS_。' Nettled by
this sarcastic reply； she returned to the charge； observing； ‘It
is said you are not friendly to the sex。' Napoleon was her match
again； ‘Madame；' he exclaimed； ‘I am passionately fond of my
wife；' and off he walked。 Assuredly it would not mend matters in
this world （or the next） if all men were Napoleons and all women
de Staels。
If we consider the question in other points of view； have
there been； proportionally； fewer celebrated women than
illustrious men？ fewer great queens than truly great kings？
Compare； on all sides； the means and the circumstances； count the
reigns； and decide。
The fact is that this question has been argued only by tyrannical
or very silly men； who found it difficult to get rid of the
absurd prejudices which retain the finest half of human nature in
slavery； and condemn it to obscurity under the pretext that it is
essentially corrupted。 Towards the end of the 15th century a
certain demented writer attempted to prove that women do not even
deserve the title of reasonable creatures； which in the original
sounds oddly enough； namely； _probare nititur mulieres non
homines esse_。 Another； a very learned Jesuit； endeavoured to
demonstrate that women have no souls！ Some say that women
surpass us in wickedness； others； that they are both worse and
better than men。
That morbid wretch； Alexander Pope； said； ‘Every woman is at
heart a rake；' and a recent writer in the _Times_ puts more venom
in the dictum by saying； ‘Every woman is （or likes） at heart a
rake。' Both these opinions may be set down as mere
claptrap； witty； but vile。
But a truce to such insults against those who beautify the earth；
_THEIR_ vices cannot excuse ours。 It is we who have depraved
them by associating them with excesses which are repugnant to
their delicacy。 The contagion； however； has not affected all of
them。 Among our ‘plebeians；' and even among nobility； many women
remind us of the modesty and courage of those ancient republican
matrons； who； so to speak； founded； the manners and morals of
their country； and among all classes of the community there are
thousands who inspire their husbands with generous impulses in
the battle of life； either by cheering words of comfort； or by
that mute eloquence of duties well fulfilled； which nothing can
resist if we are worthy of the name of men。 How many a gambler
has been reformed by the tender appeals of a good and devoted
wife。 ‘Venerable women！' one of them exclaims； ‘in whatever rank
Heaven has placed you； receive my homage。' The gentleness of
your souls smooths down the roughness of ours and checks its
violence。 Without your virtues what would we be？ Without
YOU； my dear wife； what would have become of me？ You
beheld the beginning and the end of the gaming fury in me； which
I now detest； and it is not to me； but to you alone； that the
victory must be ascribed。'＇95＇
＇95＇ Dusaulx； _De la Passion du Jeu_。
A very pretty anecdote is told of such a wife and a gaming
husband。
In order to simplify the signs of loss and gain； so as not to be
overburdened with the weight of gold and silver； the French
players used to carry the representation of their fortunes in
small boxes； more or less elegant。 A lady （who else could have
thought of such a device？）； trembling for the fate of her
husband； made him a present of one of these dread boxes。 This
little master…piece of conjugal and maternal affection
represented a wife in the attitude of supplication； and weeping
children； seeming to say to their father_THINK OF US！_ 。 。 。 。
It is； therefore； only with the view of avenging good and
honourable women； that I now proceed to speak of those who have
disgraced their sex。
I have already described a remarkable gamestressthe Persian
Queen Parysatis。＇96＇
＇96＇ Chapter III。
There were no gamestresses among the Greeks； and the Roman
women were always too much occupied with their domestic affairs
to find time for play。 What will our modern ladies think； when I
state that the Emperor Augustus scarcely wore a garment which had
not been woven by his wife； his sister； or grand…daughters。＇97＇
＇97＇ Veste non temere alia quam domestica usus est； ab
uxore et filia nepotibusque confecta。 Suet。 in Vita Augusti。
Although deeply corrupted under Nero and the sovereigns that
resembled him； the Roman women never gambled among themselves
except during the celebration of the festival of the Bona Dea。
This ceremonial； so often profaned with licentiousness； was not
attended by desperate gambling。 The most depraved women
abstained from it； even when that mania was at its height； not
only around the Capitol； but even in the remainder of the Empire。