“THE HEROIC IN WOMANHOOD.”

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 8347, 28 March 1888, Page 5

“THE HEROIC IN WOMANHOOD.”

Major Dmio delivered tbo second of 1m lectures in this city at the Theatre Royal last night, the subject being " The Heroic in Womanhood. ’ Owing to the wretched weather the attendance was sot ns largo as it doubtless would have been after the very favorable impiession created by the lecturer on bis opening night. Among the audience were a large number of pupils of the Girls’ High School. The lecture was of a moat interesting character, audit was thoroughly appreciated by those who were present. In his opening remarks he denounced the idea that woman was inferior to man, Mon, from early ages until the present time, had held that idea, which, ho said, was not true, and never had been. To prove that woman wss equal to man the lecturer gave an eloquent d-. soriptir n of the throe periods of American settlemesct —the colonising, the revolutionary, and the pioneering, in nil of which woman had home her trials with the greatest of fortitude, while man had not. He spoke of the bravery of the women in the early stages of American settlement, when they faced the innumerable dangers to make a homo in the wilds of the new world. Often had tins men wished to tarn back, but the women sai l ‘‘No ; let us go on," audit was they who were the real founders of America. lie eloquently describe 1 the heroism of the women during tha revolutionary epoch; how the women had gallantly assisted, and it was they who bad first incited the Americans to throw oil’ the Knglisli yoke and struggle for their independence, The lecturer related how lie had witnessed as a soldier during the civil war

the heroism of women in the midst of great battles, and he paid a high tribute to E<Vme Sisters of Mercy whom he had met in one of the great Southern battles. He described the work carried oat by Florence Nightingale (the mention of whose name roused the audience to enthusiasm) in the hospital at Scutari, and Miss Annie Crisp (at present Matron at the Auckland Hospital), i who had been through the war in Z lulaad and Egypt. And after all this bravery, devotion, and heroism, people still said that woman was weak. Weak they might be, but never cowardly. Had they heard of a woman turning ber back upon her loved ones in the hour of danger? No ; but he had seen a man do it. Let them study the history* of Poland, of Russia, of England, and then they would, see if woman was weak. He alluded with touching pathos to the life of Mrs Garfield, who had raised bar fatherless sons of tender years to manhood, and he pictured her son’s assumption of the presidental chair, and how, before the assembled multitudes, and in the presence of the representatives of the powers of the world, his first a d was to place his aged mother in the late president's chair and embrace her, owning that all his greatness was duo to her. He spoke of the great men who owed their greatness to their mothers. He proceeded to show how women had advanced both in civil, religious, political, and bnsiness circles. Women, of course, could not be business men, but they could be good business women, and ho quoted the case of a poor orphan English girl, who had put herself to saddlery work when sho was 16 years of age, and when she was 25 sho had a factory, and employed hundreds of workmen, Ihe lecturer said that when speaking to the lady at her magnificent mansion in New York he had asked her why she had not married, to which she replied that she preferred “to make harness for more tractable animals.” He went on to say that woman was the soul of honesty, and if sho was dishonest, she had been made so. It men placed more confidence in their wives, there would be fewer of them in the Bankruptcy Court. When men said that women were not strong and brave they were defaming their mothers, outraging their wives, and disgracing their sisters. The lecturer concluded amidst enthusiastic applause. To-night, Major Dane will deliver his famous feature, The Groat Naval Battles of the Rebellion.'' The lecture is said to be one of the best efforts of the eminent lecturer. The lecture is interspersed with humorous anecdotes.

A leading citizen has suggested that Major Dane should be asked to repeat his admirable lecture on “The Heroic in Womanhood” before he finally leaves Wellington, The lecture was a most brilliant one, and full of the highest interest to every woman in Wellington, It is believed that if the fair sex in this city knew what a high tribute the lecturer pays to their good qualities, not a seat would be vacant in the Theatre if M*jor Dane could be induced to repeat it.