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interest, allows his daughters to work in a huge department store for beggarly pittances of two or three dollars a week, little realizes that he is spoiling good wives, or else driving out of their means of livelihood a like number of young men, to whom heretofore the round-bellied and unctuous proprietor of the store had been compelled to pay considerably larger weekly salaries. It is only when great numbers of such parents have it forced upon their darkened consciousness that in pursuing such a short-sighted and suicidal course they had not only ruined their daughters, but had literally cut off their own productive foothold or as deliberately destroyed their own and their sons and neighbors' sons' chances in the industrial field, that they rue the evil days upon which they have fallen, and curse God for the consequences of their own handiwork and foolishness.

It is the crowning evil of modern times, and of social and industrial innovations, that immediate self-interest, or pronounced and criminal selfishness, should exercise such a dominant and pervertive influence over the wills and intelligence of our people. It is an abominable and perverting species of evil genius. It is, moreover, as common as it is malevolent and provocative of general and particular mischiefs and misfortunes. It is as degrading, too, as it is pernicious and portentous. There can be no greater public evil. Under the promptings of immediate self-interest, parents will sacrifice their children on the altar of a brutal Moloch; politicians will sell their constituents' interests to the highest bidder without the slightest compunction; public officials will betray their trusts and damn their own souls like common bandits; State and Federal officers and executive heads will make common barter and traffic of their most sacred trusts and obligations, and wax fat at the public crib; while the whole nation groans under its burdens and afflictions. How, then, can we find it in our hearts to rail at and contemn the poor workingman, or the limited (but overtaxed) property-owner, whose small savings are in imminent peril, or whose home is threatened with foreclosure, who, in his moment of misfortune and hard pressure is so sorely tempted to let his daughters swell the already overflowing labor market by their employment in factory or shops? In doing so he is, to be sure, but adding to the common mischief and misery, as well as to the disturbance of the labor market; and he is neither better nor worse than his neighbor in thus giving way to the promptings of immediate self-interest or avarice. But only in proportion to his lights, difficulties, and temptations is he to be censured, commiserated, or held to strict account for such deviations and wrongdoing.

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all claim upon man's homage, which of old time he was wont to pay gentlewomanhood. The chances are that she has repudiated something she never commanded. For it seems

impossible that any man worth a grain of salt could ever so much as tolerate, much less pay homage of any sort to, one of these modern male-rigged spinsters too commonly typical of "new womanhood" and emancipated women's-righters. A wagon-load of such baggage is but an eyesore and a weariness to the flesh of the normal-minded; while the riches of India could not buy or compensate for the loss of a single type of true womanhood. More precious than countless jewels or priceless gems are the virtues and worth of a lovely gentlewoman. It is, then, of profound consequence that we should seek practical means by which woman's best interests may be subserved and promoted. In order to arrive at such conclusions it will be necessary accurately to define the cause and nature of women's interferences with industrial, commercial, and professional conditions, which disturb and conflict with general interests in three distinct

ways:

1. Female competition has disturbed and deranged general industrial conditions, and has immediately conduced to the reduction of wages and to the enforced idleness of many thousands of workingmen.

2. Such competition has as directly deranged and disturbed social conditions.

3. Such inroads and inversions have proved disastrous to the home, calamitous to the nation, and utterly subversive of natural laws and human relations.

That such a wholesale arraignment is justified by general and actual experience, who shall dare gainsay? Ten years ago, and even less, the capable and willing bread-winner and head of the family circle, in whatever capacity, could find work in plenty and get paid for it accordingly; the competent bookkeeper and stenographer could command good living wages and could afford to live well and to provide freely for his family. Ten years ago, and less, industry and intelligence counted everywhere and every time. But where and to what extent to-day do industry and intelligence count and get remunerated? Tens of thousands of educated and competent newspaper-men, bookkeepers, stenographers, clerks, and useful, capable, and energetic men and heads of families are thrown out of all possible means of honorable and serviceable employment; are reduced to absolute impotence, or else driven to peddling and precarious resorts for a pitiful subsistence. And why? Because, mainly, all the legitimate and traditional vocations of such have become invaded by the competition of women, who, for the sake, too often, of earning a few paltry dollars per week for dress, or actuated by sheer restlessness and vanity, have usurped the places of vast numbers of

able and accomplished men and heads of families.

Nor is this all: not only have the commercial and professional departments of the public service been thus demoralized and invaded, but even the most humble industrial fields have become in like manner infected and afflicted by a like invasion by imported female laborers,- by Polish women, who, in place of the domestic service for which they are essentially qualified, or might be made so, seek work in factories or as field-laborers, thereby driving out the able-bodied workman and producer, and reducing him to idleness, crime, or pauperism.

But while it must be admitted that not all this misery is to be attributed alone to female competition, a great deal of it is actually thus to be attributed. Unnatural commercial laws and restrictions upon trade and commerce, artificial tariffs, combinations of capital, corrupt legislation, improved machinery, and new productive economic methods and policy, divided and clashing labor interests, and gross and too commonly prevailing self-interest and materialism,—all combine to provoke and to aggravate social and industrial ills and mischiefs. Nevertheless the incontestable fact remains that the chief and most direct cause of present industrial and social evils is undue and importunate female competition. How much of it is due to the necessities of modern civilization, or to the caprices, ignorance, infirmities, and perverted minds and hearts of the human ingredient, is an infinite question.

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It is always easy to criticise; but by no means so easy to fashion anew or to provide remedies for abuses complained of. The questions then arise, What are we to do with our daughters? How are we to direct their energies and abilities aright, in their newly acquired and insisted-on capacities as bread-winners and industrial competitors? How can we best advance the common interests as well as woman's peculiar interests? Thus one question involves or entails a series of others. Yet, surely, if, as would seem certain, social conditions and industrial relations are be permanently revolutionized, and woman's sphere and mission is to be one of perpetual industrial and commercial competition, special heed should be paid and particular efforts exerted in order to provide natural and legitimate channels and facilities both for the employment of her energies and talents and the promotion of her own best interests, as well as for the advancement and safe-guarding of public interests and the common good. That there are many and plenty of natural and advantageous channels for the just exercise of women's intelligence and ability apart from the purely social and domestic duties which have heretofore been considered the main spheres of women's usefulness, must be manifest to every thoughtful mind. Yet unfortunately our girls have not indicated any

clear or pronounced ideas in this connection, but have rather rushed blindly in pursuit of any and every occupation that first presented itself, regardless of fitness, seemliness, or capacity. Let us consider, then, but a few of the many legitimate and seemly occupations which most readily occur to us.

First, there is the educational resort, already sufficiently crowded. But that is not to say that all the educational sources have been cultivated by our women, by any means. How rarely it happens, for instance, that out of the great multitude of aspiring school-teachers any of them seek to fit themselves, by a diligent and intelligent course of preparatory studies, for the higher and more permanent positions of principals or private teachers? Yet the time is fast approaching when higher standards and more rigid examinations will be required of our public teachers, as well as when there will be a considerable demand for cultivated and accomplished private teachers in families of opulence and culture.

Second, there is the realm of music, in which, of a truth, woman's natural endowments, tastes, and peculiar talents should place her at considerable advantage, and, in proportion to the success and cultivation of her gifts and attainments, should assure her a handsome competence and an honorable social position.

Third, the medical profession, in which there are already a goodly number of female practitioners. Nevertheless it is an open

and an honorable vocation for certain female minds and capacities, and a profession which stands greatly in need of proficient practitioners, women of skill and honor, who will faithfully devote their talents in such direction, and whose ultimate proficiency would be amply and assuredly rewarded, while their services to their own sex, and the common advantages arising therefrom, would be of such a nature as to cause them to be honored and esteemed by a grateful community.

Fourth, the nurse's calling,-a most natural, fitting, and worthy one for all competent womanhood. It is a vocation, moreover, which, properly cultivated, affords and assures, not only an independent and honorable means of livelihood for all who thus engage in it, but fits them, besides, for social and domestic duties and responsibilities to a remarkable degree. It is a vocation of which there is little fear that it may be overcrowded.

Fifth, literature and authorship. A fascinating occupation, to be sure, in the mad and blind pursuit of which multitudes fall by the way and are ruined for life. Yet it is indeed a high and noble calling. And women have not only a distinct "right" to compete with men in this glorious field of productive labor, but, in many ways, are more gifted and favored, and therefore more likely to succeed and to excel in literary pursuits than, in like numbers, their male competitors,- in the lighter and

more purely imaginative branches of literature,

at all events.

Sixth, the fine arts. Here, too, a broad and liberal sphere of usefulness is opened to aspiring womanhood, wherein also the sex may be reasonably expected to excel. Sculpture, painting, drawing, designing, tapestry, and what not, of all things beautiful, does not the broad term, "fine arts," comprehend and embrace?

Seventh, horticulture. This may seem a startling innovation. Nevertheless it is a legitimate and an appropriate vocation for women, which will prove a most profitable industrial pursuit for women in the near future. Who so qualified as woman for the culture of flowers and the beautifying of gardens and public grounds? Her fine instincts and exquisite tastes peculiarly fit her for such work and studies. Already, in England, horticultural schools have been established, and there is even now a great call for profi 'ent women gardeners as teachers.

Eighth, music and the dramatic art also afford special and peculiar facilities for the successful employment of woman's gifts and talents. Whether as a means of livelihood or as a purely voluntary disposition of the mind toward the cultivation of her higher faculties, music and the drama afford woman, in a far higher degree than man, an assured means of subsistence in case of need, and honor and distinction beyond measure; while to those whose cultivated natural acquirements are of an exceptional order and quality the universal tribute of mankind is their meed and consolation.

Ninth, cookery. From music, literature, and the fine arts to cookery as a plain art may seem, perhaps, a singular descent. In reality, however, it is not so odd; nor are we certain that the accomplished cook is not an actual connoisseur of the fine arts,- that the ideal cook is not, in effect, a highly refined person. Great is the art of the skilful and efficient cook, because of its wonderful material influences and advantages to the human race. would be well for us all were this important "art" more commonly and diligently pursued and perfected by large numbers of bright and clever girls and women. It "pays" to become an accomplished cook. Honor, preferment, and an assured independence attend her beneficent sway.

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Tenth, guides and chaperones. For this suggestion we are indebted to a bright newspaper woman - Mrs. Sallie Joy White. Gladly would we interest parents and young women in the perusal of her book, "Business Openings for Girls," in which that lady graphically defines and most thoughtfully considers and suggests a number of suitable and remunerative occupations for capable and serious-minded young women. As regards the scope of the guide and chaperone business we can do little better than to refer those interested in the suggestion to the pages of that lady's interesting book. In New

York there are "bureaus» of information and intermediary organizations already established under female auspices; and there can be no question of the conveniences and social advantages which must accrue from such an extension of woman's capacities.

Eleventh, missionary work. By "missionary work" we intend to convey a somewhat different meaning to that commonly attached to the term, to expand what are considered the limits of woman's missionary province, and to restrict the phrase. A woman may be specially and peculiarly fitted for practical missionary work, and yet not be a strictly religious woman. That is to say, she may be an excellent pioneer — a clear-headed, practical, tactful, and energetic worker, whose ready and resourceful nature and characteristics eminently qualify her for missionary work; and, while in perfect harmony with the cause, she may not be actually and supremely animated by the religious zeal and promptings which are commonly deemed the dominating and animating motives of the ideal missionary. Yet such "preparers of the way" and such practical exponents and promoters are essential to the propagation and success of both cause and work. Moreover, the missionary work which we have in view is strictly restricted to home missions among the toiling, unfortunate, and vice-afflicted classes and masses of our own people. Such work must of course be purely voluntary, in so far as the presiding and animating features of the work, and of those under whose auspices it is mainly conducted and directed, are concerned. But the very breadth and scope of such a beneficently designed cause necessitate the employment of great numbers of subordinates and co-workers, whose services must be paid for out of voluntary funds; and it is requisite that these should be trained for the work in which they are to be engaged. Hence there are a field and opportunities for intelligent young women, who need employment, and who are so qualified and disposed, and who, perhaps, are fitted for no other practical pursuit.

Twelfth, the conjugal province. Strange as it may seem to thus class the conjugal relations of life among "spheres of usefulness," or «vocations for women," whereby they may provide for themselves and attain practical independence, it does not necessarily follow that it is so. For we contend most emphatically that, rightly considered, rightly prepared for, and intelligently estimated, the conjugal province is essentially the "ideal state," the crown of true womanhood, and the only "sphere of usefulness" and "vocation of life" which to the normal-conditioned, healthful-minded, and properly-equipped woman affords adequate competence, happiness, unlimited influence, and unbounded resources for the free exercise and supreme cultivation of her highest and most blessed faculties and attributes. Last

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an insult it is, then, to Divine beneficence and purpose that the conjugal state, the "domestic province," the "home sphere," should be so flagrantly demeaned by the unholy material views and estimates, caprices and desires, of frivolous and giddy-headed girls who have no adequate notions of what such sacred ties and obligations involve. The marriage state is not given to every woman, but the opportunity is afforded every true woman to fit herself for it as well as to pursue some rational calling by means of which she may ensure her independence and promote her own best interests. Not only is woman in full possession of her "rights," but it is her bounden duty to promote and conserve her direct and positive interests. Of a truth, the young

woman who does thus fit herself, intelligently and adequately, for domestic duties and wifehood, no matter how humble or exalted her gifts, fits herself for every future emergency and may front with equanimity the most serious trials and obstacles. She may never be a wife and mother; she may never even be called upon to test and put in practice her acquired domestic accomplishments; but she will be happier, better, and more independent by virtue of her domestic training and efficiency. Rare indeed is now, and rarer still, it is to be feared, will be in the future, the domesticated and thoroughly feminine woman. It is therefore of the highest importance that parents should pay more attention to the cultivation of the domestic virtues and duties by their daughters. Equally important is it that more heed should be attached to the sacredness of the home and to a sedulous cultivation of the home virtues.

EDWIN RIDLEY.

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THE LITERARY WORLD

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THREE RECENT HISTORICAL NOVELS

ISTORICAL novels have apparently come to stay. There is certainly no abatement in their production nor in their eager reception by the public. Though many of the modern purpose-novels may be interesting and to some extent fascinating, good historical novels are infinitely more wholesome, and, to pastime readers especially, more satisfactory. Of recent historical fiction that has come under our notice there are three books which have greatly pleased us and which, we imagine, will equally please others. One is "The Black Douglas," by S. R. Crockett; * the second, "A Gentleman Player," by Robert Neilson Stephens; † and the third, "The Angel of the Covenant," by J. Maclaren Cobban. The first mentioned is one of the best romances that Mr. Crockett has yet given us. The first half of the book only is devoted to the title-hero, who has been enticed into his enemies' camp and slain. Then the story moves from Scottish to French soil and deals with that fifteenth-century monster, Marshal Gilles de Retz, and the revengeful pursuit by Earl Douglas's retainers. Retz is the same hideous character that forms the subject of Alexandre Dumas' novel, "The Werwolf of Machecoul," but Crockett's story, though equally exciting and gruesome, seems to us far better than Dumas'. The story is excellently told, the plot is well handled, and the interest in it never flags for a moment. It is certainly one of the few books that will stand re-reading.

The second book, "A Gentleman Player," is of a much milder character, though by no means less interesting. It shows the same dash and spirit that mark all of this clever young writer's novels. There is a little more repose and perhaps not quite so much improbability in it, as, for instance, in his wildly rushing "Road to Paris," and it certainly shows more maturity in style and handling of the plot than his previous novels. "A Gentleman Player" is one of Shakespeare's own players- the great poet himself being introduced in the opening chapter and repeatedly appearing or being alluded to thereafter. Harry Marryott,—the hero,— finds himself after a drunken sleep, which had ended a revelry indulged in after the first performance of "Hamlet," in Queen Elizabeth's garden. From here he is sent by the Queen on an errand to save one of her former favorites from arrest. She warns him before departing:

*New York: Doubleday & McClure Co.

† Boston: L. C. Page & Co.

New York: R. F. Fenno & Co.

"Look for the unexpected!" And indeed the unexpected happens. And so much of it that the reader devours page after page, endeavoring to keep pace with the hero's mad ride through the country. It is a very lively bit of romance, with a good deal of fighting and lovemaking in it; the heroine being a high-spirited, daring young lady not unlike the "Lady of Quality." The clever introduction of Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth, and the characteristic picture of the life of that fascinating age, make an attractive background for the story and increase its historic interest.

The last mentioned book, "The Angel of the Covenant," is, as the title indicates, a story of the Scottish Covenant during the reign of Charles I. It is one of the best historical novels that has appeared in many a month. While it is of a solid quality, it is by no means the less captivating; it is in fact absorbingly interesting from beginning to end, not only by virtue of its genuine historical character, but also on account of the beauty of style and easy flow of narrative, notwithstanding the numerous characters, and the use of a good deal of old Scotch dialect, which, however, does not mar the pleasure of its reading in the least, but rather enhances its peculiar charm. The book gives a vivid picture of Scotland during the first half of the sixteenth century. It is all the more interesting as it treats the movement against the threatened Romanizing of the Scottish kirk by King Charles I and his counsellor, Archbishop Laud, from a Scotch standpoint, differing somewhat from the usual conception of this partly religious, partly feudal conflict. The hero is a young Scottish nobleman of the following of the Marquis of Montrose, who was some time in the service of the Scotch Guards in France, where he met the famous Monsieur d'Artagnan, and who, upon his return to Scotland in company with Montrose, became implicated in the Scotch covenant. The real thread of the story is a love-romance between the hero and the young Lady Balgownie, and closely connected therewith is the pathetic story of Montrose's sister Katherine, who had been abducted by her brother-in-law. The culmination of the novel is a trial for witchcraft, which claimed Maudlin Balgownie, the "Angel of the Covenant," for its victim (who, however, was saved by Lady Katherine sacrificing herself in Maudlin's place), the marvellous rescue of the hero from the scaffold, and his happy reunion with his love.

E. A.

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