distinction, and represents women during some periods in a better position than had previously been known.  But the female sex was never accorded among the Romans the general respect for its peculiar virtues, and the consideration for its weakness which forms one of the brightest pages of modern civilization.  With the spread of Christianity, there was for centuries no improvement.  The low standard by which the Jews had judged the sex exerted a strong and an evil influence.  The spirit of asceticism, rapidly gaining ground in the Roman Church, pointed out absolute chastity in both sexes as the only praiseworthy condition of life, made marriage only an excusable sin, and recognized in that relationship, merely its use for the propagation of the species.  Views so absurd and unnatural could not fail in producing the most evil results.  Woman came to be regarded by the church as the origin of all sin, the favorite medium of the temptations of the Devil, the sanctity and happiness of marriage were interfered with, and the priesthood, debarred from that condition, showed themselves not insensible to the charms they so fiercely denounced, and presented to their flocks demoralizing examples of profligacy.  The Northern invaders brought with them their own ideas concerning women, rough and crude, but containing the germ of much good.  Being met by Christianity, they embraced it in large numbers, unreflectingly, at the command of their leaders.  But in embracing it they changed it to suit themselves.  Their minds were unfit for the reception of the dogmas of the church, or for the realization and worship of an invisible being.  They seized on the ideas of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints, and worshipped in a great degree their old gods under the new names.  But of the new objects of worship, Mary most struck their imaginations and won their affection.  The meek and forgiving Christ was unsuited to their fierce and warlike dispositions.  But Mary, the beautiful, the tender, the merciful mother of God became the object of an enthusiastic adoration, and with the worship of Mary the position of the whole sex was elevated.  The brutish and unnatural teachings of the Fathers were overridden by the new and noble ideas which were springing up.  Doctrines such as that of the Immaculate Conception rapidly won ground, and Catholic Mariolatry, taking root in the fertile soil of Northern chivalry, worked benefits which have lasted down to our own time, and conferred great blessings upon it.

The purely military character of feudalism impressed itself on the habits of the time, and moulded domestic life, amusements and education in strict accordance with it.  The castles of the great lords and knights were “academies of honour” for the children of their dependents and less wealthy neighbors; the court yards became the scene of martial exercises, and the presence of noble women within the walls afforded an opportunity for the cultivation of gentle manners,