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 sex and  the  consequent  dependence  of  the  weaker. Man, too,  half  animal,  half  spirit  as  he  is,  verifies  in himself  this  universal  law. His body  mirrors  Nature as faithfully  as  his  soul  reflects  the  image  of  God. But besides her  bodily  inaptitude,  there  is  in  woman's character  a  certain  lack  of  force — a  certain  narrowness of  mind  and  natural  timidity — which,  though  in her  legitimate  sphere  they  be  her  fairest  ornaments, must still  ever  render  her  unfit  for  the  sterner  duties of life. The demon  tempter  of  our  first  parents  by his  artful  methods  betrayed  his  keen  insight  into woman's instability,  for  not  directly  but  through woman's weakness  was  he  enabled  to  accomplish  the fall of  man. Even the  Creator  Himself  gives  testimony of  this  truth. Having told  in  the  first  chapter of Genesis  of  man's  creation  as  lord  of  the  earth,  He in  the  second  chapter,  and  as  it  were,  by  an  afterthought adds:  "  It  is  not  good  for  man  to  be  alone. Let  us  make  for  him  a  companion  and  helpmeet."

Nevertheless there  is  no  rule  without  its  exceptions. Not to  mention  the  living  examples  in  modern society, we  find  in  the  pages  of  history  conspicuous instances of  women,  eminent  in  every  branch  of human  activity — in  literature,  in  the  arts  and  sciences, in the  council-chamber,  on  the  throne,  and  even  on  the battlefield. The lives  of  such  women  as  St.  Catherine of Alexandria,  of  Queen  Isabella  of  Spain,  of  Queen Catherine the  Great  of  Russia,  and  of  the  immortal Maid of  Orleans,  all  go  to  prove,  if  proof  were  necessary, how  true  it  is  that  God  frequently  chooses  the weak things  of  this  world  to  conquer  the  strong.