race。 Every branch of study which may be carried on thoroughly and
successfully； without impairing womanly modesty of mind and
manner； should be so far opened to the sex as to allow those
individuals to whom Providence has given the ability for deep
research to carry them to the farthest point needed。 But as regards
those studies which are intended to open the way to professions
essentially bold and masculine in character； we do not see how it is
within the bounds of possibility for young women to move onward in
that direction without losing some of their most precious womanly
prerogativeswithout； in short； unsexing themselves。
The really critical point with regard to the present position of women
in America is the question of work and wages。 Here the pocket of
man is touched。 And the pocket is the most sensitive point with
many men； not only in America； but all the world over。 There can be
no doubt whatever that women are now driven away from certain
occupations； to which they are well adapted； by the selfishness of
some men。 And in many departments where they are day…laborers for
commercial firms they are inadequately paid； and compelled to
provide food； lodging； fuel； and light out of scanty wages。 Yes； we
have here one of the few real grievances of which American women
have a just right to complain。 But even hereeven where the pocket
is directly touched； we still believe that women may obtain full
justice in the end； by pursuing the right course。 Only let the reality
of the grievance be clearly proved； and redress will follow； ere long。
Providence has the power of bringing good out of evil； and therefore
we believe that the movement now going on will here； at least； show
some lasting results for good。 The 〃Song of the Shirt〃 shall； we trust；
ere long become an obsolete lay in our country。 Our women； twenty
years hence； shall be better paid in some of their old fields of labor；
and new openings； appropriate to their abilities； mental and
physical； shall also be made for them。 And here they are much more
likely to succeed without the suffrage than with it。 It is not by
general law…making that they can better themselves in these
particulars。 Individual fitness for this or that branch of work is what
is required for success。 And if； by thorough preparation； women can
discharge this or that task； not essentially masculine in its
requirements； as well as men； they may rest assured that in the end
their wages will be the same as those of their fathers and brothers
in the same field of work。
And how is it with our homeshow fares it with American women in
the family circle？ To all right…minded women the duties connected
with home are most imperative； most precious； most blessed of all；
partaking as they do of the spirit of religious duty。 To women this
class of duties is by choice； and by necessity； much more absorbing
than it is to men。 It is the especial field of activity to which
Providence has called them； for which their Maker has qualified them
by peculiar adaptation of body and mind。 To the great majority of
American women these duties are especially absorbing； owing to the
difficulty of procuring paid subordinates； well qualified for the tasks
they undertake。 The task of positive labor； and the task of close
supervision； are both particularly burdensome to American wives and
mothers。 Thus far； or at least until very recently； those duties of wife
and mother have been generally performed conscientiously。 The
heart of every worthy American woman is in her home。 That home；
with its manifold interests； is especially under her government。 The
good order； the convenience； the comfort； the pleasantness； the
whole economy of the house； in short； depend in a very great
measure on her。 The food of the family is prepared by her； either
directly or by close supervision。 The clothing of the family passes
through her hands or under her eye。 The health of the family is
included within the same tender； watchful； loving oversight。 The
education of the children is chiefly directed by herin many families
almost exclusively so。 Whether for evil or for good； by careless
neglect or by patient； thoughtful； prayerful guidance； she marks out
their future course。 This is even too much the case。 American fathers
love their children fondly； no fathers more affectionate than they
are； they pet their children； they toil ceaselessly for them； but their
education they leave almost entirely to the mother。 It may be said；
with perfect truth； that in the great majority of American families the
educational influences come chiefly from the mother； they are tacitly
made over to her as a matter of course。 The father has too often
very little to do with them。 His work lies abroad； in the world of
business or politics； where all his time and attention are fully
absorbed。 In this way the American mother rules the very heart of
her family。 If at all worthy she has great influence with her husband；
she has great influence over her daughters； and as regards her sons；
there are too many cases in which hers is the only influence for good
to which they yield。 Is there so little of true elevation and dignity in
this position that American women should be in such hot haste to
abandon it for a position as yet wholly untried； entirely theoretical
and visionary？
It will be said that all women are not married； that all wives are not
mothers； that there are childless widows and many single women in
the country。 Quite true； but in a rapid sketch one looks at the chief
features only； and home life； with its varied duties； is； of course； the
principal point in every Christian country。 The picture is essentially
correct； without touching on lesser details。 We pause here to
observe also that almost every single woman has a home
somewhere。 She makes a home for herself； or she is ingrafted on the
home of others； and wherever she may beeven in that wretched
kind of existence； boarding…house lifeshe may； if she choose； carry
something of the home spirit with her。 In fact； every true woman
instinctively does so； whatever be the roof that covers her head。 She
thinks for others； she plans for others； she serves others； she loves
and cherishes others； she unconsciously throws something of the
web of home feeling and home action over those near her； and over
the dwelling she inhabits。 She carries the spirit of home and its
duties into the niche allotted to hera niche with which she is
generally far more contented than the world at large believesa
niche which is never so narrow but that it provides abundant material
for varied workoften very pleasant work too。 Let it be understood；
once for all； that the champions of widows and single women are
very much given to talking and writing absurdly on this point。 Their
premises are often wholly false。 They often fancy discontent and
disappointment and inaction where those elements have no
existence。 Certainly it is not in the least worth while to risk a
tremendous social revolution in behalf of this minority of the sex。
Every widow and single woman can； if she choose； already find
abundance of the most noble occupation for heart； mind； body； and
soul。 Carry the vote into her niche； she certainly will be none the
happier or more truly respectable for that bit of paper。 It is also an
error to suppose that among the claimants for suffrage single women
are the most numerous or the most clamorous。 The great majority of
the leaders in this movement appear to be married women。
A word more on the subject of home life； as one in which the
interests of the whole sex are most closely involved。 It is clear that
those interests are manifold； highly important to the welfare of the
race； unceasing in their recurrence； urgent and imperative in their
nature； requiring for their successful development such devotion of
time； labor； strength； thought； feeling； that they must necessarily
leave but little leisure to the person who faithfully discharges them。
The comfort； health； peace； temper； recreation； general welfare；
intellectual； moral； and religious training of a family make up；
indeed； a charge of the very highest dignity； and one which must tax
to the utmost every faculty of the individual to whom it is intrusted。
The commander of a regiment at the head of his men； the member of
Congress in his seat； the judge on his bench； scarcely holds a
position so important； so truly honorable； as that of the intelligent；
devoted； faithful American wife and mother； wisely governing her
household。 And what are the interests of the merchant； the
manufacturer； the banker； the broker； the speculator； the selfish
politician； when compared with those confided to the Christian wife
and mother？ They are too often simply contemptiblea wretched；
feverish； maddening struggle to pile up lucre； which is any thing but
clean。 Where is the superior merit of such a life； that we should
hanker after it； when placed beside that of the loving； unselfish；
Christian wife and motherthe wife； standing at her husband's side；
to cheer； to aid； to strengthen； to console； to counsel； amidst the
trials of life； the mother； patiently； painfully； and prayerfully
cultivati