Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/181

 It would be useless to enumerate the long list of female names that, in the ninety-sixth century, had become famous in the higher walks of literature. Yet the works on which rested their title to fame are not more unknown than are really those of Newton and Shakspeare to the great majority of those who now unhesitatingly admit their surpassing superiority.

As scientific investigators, women had shown a special predilection for chemistry and biology, as was readily seen on referring to any of the standard works on those subjects. As inventors they had, since education gave them a grasp of the principles of mechanics, enriched the world with many notable inventions.

Of these I will mention only two, both in photography, or, rather, in the extensive field of applied science of which photography is merely the humble beginning.

These remarkable inventions, called respectively the varzeo and the lizeo, were, indeed, characteristically feminine in their purpose and application, as were the great majority of woman's inventions. By means of the one she was enabled, as in a magic mirror, and almost as well as if there present, to behold those distant scenes to which she had less free access than man,—before marriage, at least. By means of the other was presented to her eyes, endowed with the movement of life, the loved form separated by distance or death.

I have already mentioned that Ialma made photography her specialty. One day, by special invitation, I was admitted to her studio. She engaged me in an animated discussion on some topic—what, I do not remember—while she appeared to be busied in making some adjust-