I never give men credit for being so when they say this; but imagine it is merely to flatter, although they defend their opinion zealously, and appear in earnest.. Compliments and flattery are such common coin, and so well received in general, that they are dealt without any consideration for the pain they inflict upon sensitive minds, or those whose vanity is not sufficient to give them currency. A sense of deficiency, a consciousness of not deserving it,—often converts what is meant as a compliment into the bitterest reproach. Many a time I have writhed under one, and tried to simper and look pleased, merely not to disappoint the good-natured intention of the complimenter, while my heart has been secretly smiting me.

But to return to my friend and his opinions. However ingeniously they were put forward, I should have been very sorry had he shaken mine on the subject in question. His theory would have utterly destroyed all of the beautiful relationship between the sexes,—that dependence on one side and protection on the other,which seems to be the natural order of Providence. This is subverted by the attempt to equalise their powers, either mental or physical; for one

may as well think of doing so with respect to the latter as the former; both would be equally absurd. The pen of a De Staël, the pencil of an Angelica Kauffman, have been given to the world, 'tis true,—but, like all other exceptions, they only prove the rule from which they differ. It was no human voice that said, "The head of the woman is the man."

And it is well for her this should be so. A woman's heart and not her head is generally her guide. Yielding to her impulses as she so often does, apt to be led away by her feelings and affections,-influenced by a lively imagination and acute susceptibilities, what would become of her could she not stay her weakness, upon the sound and sterling qualities of the stronger sex? Women never aim so suicidal a blow against their own interests as when they try to do away with or revolt against this doctrine of their inferiority. They throw away their props, reject the guidance and guardianship with which the goodness of God has provided them, and absolve the lords of the creation from that protection which they are so willing to afford.

Thus the bond is broken,-one party at

least is a sore loser, and perhaps both. Woman is left helpless and isolated, and man is denied the generous gratification it must always yield the strong to support and sustain the weak.

CHAPTER XIII.

Hohenstein-Music at the Brunnens-Sketches of some of the Water-drinkers-German Bows-Reflections on Travelling-Old Christiani.

WE had not been very long at Schwalbach, when we went to view the beautiful ruins of Hohenstein in the neighbourhood. The day was extremely hot, so that the occasional plunges which the road made into the forest were very acceptable. When it emerged from the trees we had no shade from the sun, while we wound along the edge of precipices-up and down round and round the hills.

The beauty of the ruins, and their picturesque and romantic situation, surprised us, as they are not done justice to in any of the guide-books or itinéraires. We explored them, and found them in excellent preservation, after which we had coffee from a neighbouring Gasthaus, (inn,)

within the old walls, in an open space, where two or three German parties were, according to the fashion of their country, sitting round little tables, drinking wine or coffee, working, reading, sketching, or smoking. We then prepared to descend into the valley over which the castle towers almost perpendicularly, as of course from thence the best view was to be had of the ruins.

The descent into the valley is very precipitous-you wind round by the little narrow road, down the steep, upon which much of the village is built. This affords you some peculiar and very picturesque views; for while some of the houses are high above your head, you are as it were suspended in air over the others, and thus get many a peep down into interesting little interiors. Like the Diable Boiteux of Le Sage, you hover over the roofs, and the affaires du ménage, and simple scenes of cottage life, are all visible. Nothing was so pretty to look down into as the little open courts and farm-yards, the groups of busy people in them, hewing wood, washing, knitting, drawing water, &c., together with the cows, donkeys, and goats, diminished to fairy puppets.