ABSTRACT
Ancient and modern history is strewn with them. Shining like bright stars of courageous faith amid feeble lamps of ordinary cautious mortals—or with the sheen of fool’s gold (according to one’s viewpoint)—women have certainly illumined the path of human history. In some cases it has required the lapse of a few centuries for men to decide that the light they shed was the true brilliance of worth and not the glitter of folly. But that is better than the sort of meteor-like career which is dazzling to-day, then gone out forever. Now and then, of course, “when she was bad.” she has been “horrid” ; but, when good, she has been “very, very good.” And her goodness has had the leap of faith in it, the thrilling, dauntless abandon that puts to shame much of the nicely reckoned, safe and sane virtue of mankind.
Under a novel title Mr. Cole has studied from a new angle the dominant traits in women whose deeds were truly great. He shows that what is deemed “foolish” may be wisdom in its highest degree.
