ior quality。 We are likely to overlook the fact that this quality taken in itself； is the right one for the nature and the tasks of woman； whereas we ought with the modern naturalist assume that every animal has developed correctly for its own purposes。 If this were not the case with woman she would be the first exception to the laws of natural evolution。 Hence； our task is not to seek out peculiarities and rarities in woman； but to study her status and function as given her by nature。 Then we shall see that what we would otherwise have called extraordinary appears as natural necessity。 Of course many of the feminine qualities will not bring us back to the position which has required them。 Then we may or may not be able to infer it according to the laws of general co…existence； but whether we establish anything directly or indirectly must be for the time； indifferent； we do know the fact before us。 If we find only the pelvis of a human skeleton we should be able to infer from its broad form that it belonged to a woman and should be able to ground this inference on the business of reproduction which is woman's。 But we shall also be able； although we have only the pelvis before us； to make reliable statements concerning the position of the bones of the lower extremities of _*this_ individual。 And we shall be able to say just what the form of the thorax and the curve of the vertebral column were。 This； also； we shall have in our power； more or less； to ground on the child…bearing function of woman。 But we might go still further and say that this individual； who； according to its pelvic cavity； was a woman； must have had a comparatively smaller skull； and although we can not correlate the present mark with the child… bearing function or any other special characteristic of woman； we may yet infer it safely； because we know that this smaller skull capacity stands in regular relation to the broad pelvis； etc。 In a like manner it will be possible to bring together collectively various psychical differences of woman； to define a number of them as directly necessary； and to deduce another number from their regular co…existence。 The certainty here will be the same as in the former case； and once it is attained we shall be able satisfactorily to interpret the conduct； etc。； of woman。
Before turning to feminine psychology I should like briefly to touch upon the use of the literature in our question and indicate that the poets' results are not good for us so long as we are trying to satisfy our particular legal needs。 We might； of course； refer to the poet for information concerning the feminine heart；woman's most important property；but the historically famous knowers of the woman's heart leave us in the lurch and even lead us into decided errors。 We are not here concerned with the history of literature； nor with the solution of the ‘‘dear riddle of woman；'' we are dry…soured lawyers who seek to avoid mistakes at the expense of the honor and liberty of others； and if we do not want to believe the poets it is only because of many costly mistakes。 Once we were all young and had ideals。 What the poets told us we supposed to be the wisdom of lifenobody else ever offers anyand we wanted compulsorily to solve the most urgent of human problems with our poetical views。 Illusions； mistakes； and guiltless remorse； were the consequence of this topsy…turvy work。
Of course I do not mean to drag our poets to court and accuse them of seducing our youth with false godsI am convinced that if the poets were asked they would tell us that their poetry was intended for all save for physicians and criminalists。 But it is conceivable that they have introduced points of view that do not imply real life。 Poetical forms do not grow up naturally； and then suddenly come。 together in a self…originated idea。 The poet creates the idea first； and in order that this may be so the individual form must evolve according to sense。 The more natural and inevitable this process becomes the better the poem； but it does not follow that since we do not doubt it because it seems so natural； it mirrors the process of life。 Not one of us criminalists has ever seen a form as described in a poemleast of all a woman。 Obviously； in our serious and dry work； we may be able to interpret many an observation and assertion of the poet as a golden truth； but only when we have tested its correctness for the daily life。 But it must be understood that I am not saying here； that we ourselves might have been able to make the observation； or to abstract a truth from the flux of appearances； or at least to set it in beautiful； terse； and I might say convincing； form。 I merely assert； that we must be permitted to examine whether what has been beautifully said may be generalized； and whether we then have found the same； or a similar thing； in the daily life。 Paradoxical as it sounds； we must never forget that there is a kind of evidentiality in the form of beauty itself。 One of Blopstock's remarkable psalms begins： ‘‘Moons wander round the earth； earths round suns； the whole host of suns wander round a greater sun； Our Father； that art thou。'' In this inexpressibly lofty verse there is essentially； and only in an extremely intensified fashion； evidence of the existence of God； and if the convinced atheist should read this verse he would； at least for the moment； believe in his existence。 At the same time； a real development of evidence is neither presented nor intended。 There are magnificent images； unassailable true propositions： the moon goes round about the earth； the earth about the sun； the whole system around a central sunand now without anything else； the fourth proposition concerning the identity of the central sun with our heavenly Father is added as true。 And the reader is captivated for at least a minute！ What I have tried here to show by means of a drastic example occurs many times in poems； and is especially evident where woman is the subject； so that we may unite in believing that the poet can not teach us that subject； that he may only lead us into errors。
To learn about the nature of woman and its difference from that of man we must drop everything poetical。 Most conscientiously we must drop all cynicism and seek to find illumination only in serious disciplines。 These disciplines may be universal history and the history of culture； but certainly not memoirs； which always represent subjective experience and one…sided views。 Anatomy； physiology； anthropology； and serious special literature； presupposed； may give us an unprejudiced outlook； and then with much effort we may observe； compare； and renew our tests of what has been established； sine ire et studio； sine odio et gratia。
I subjoin a list of sources and of especial literature which also contains additional references。＇1＇
＇1＇ E。 Reich： Das Leben des Menschens als Individuum。 Berlin 1881。
L。 von Stern： Die Frau auf dem Gebiete etc。 Stuttgart 1876。
A。 Corre： La Mre et l'Enfant dans les Races Humaines。 Paris 1882。
A。 v。 Schweiger…Lerchenfeld： Das Frauenleben auf der Erde。 Vienna 1881
J。 Michelet。 La Femme。
Rykre： Das weibliches Verbrechertum。 Brussels 1898。
C。 Renooz： Psychologie Compar