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Mrs. Partington is much prejudiced against the
magnetic telegraph, and takes an entirely new ground in
her opposition to it.

“You may send your letters on it,” said she to the
philosopher, “if you 're a mind to; but I shan't trust
one of mine on it while people can cut it off before it gets
there, and let the whole world into family secrets. And
how presumptuous it is, too, for men to draw heaven's
blessed lightning down and set it a dancing on a tight wire,
like a very circuit-rider! It 's absolute blasphemy, and
outrage on the highway, and agin all natur and scriptur.”

And she turned to the books to find an appropriate
text, but changed the subject by commencing a discussion
with her niece on the relative merits of ball yarn
and skein, and, taking her sides, she went on like a
jolly old wheelbarrow.

Let none be vain of imagined superiority over their
brother men; for whatever advantage may be fancied in
one respect, in another there may be a deficiency. The
man who has law and divinity at his fingers' ends, in the
lore of horse-flesh may be instructed by his stable-boy;
and she who speaks Italian and embroiders, can, perhaps,
take lessons in yarn-stockings from Mrs. Partington.
Franklin, who could draw the lightning from heaven,
made a poor hand at tending a baby.

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p677-392

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