But here I am stopped with the inquiry, What will you do with those women who are unfortunate, who have no bright homes to adorn, no means of support, no children to instruct, no husbands to rule:  women cast out of the sphere where they would like to live, and driven to hard and uncongenial labors, forced to run races with men, or starve?  To such my remarks do not apply; they are exceptions, and not the rule.  To them I would say, Do cheerfully what Providence seems to point out for you; do the best you can, even in the sphere into which you are forced.  If you are at any time thrown upon your own resources, and compelled to adopt callings which task your physical strength, accept such lot with resignation, but without any surrender of your essentially feminine and womanly qualities; do not try to be like men, for men are lower than you in their ordinary tastes and occupations.  And I would urge all women, rich and poor, to pursue some one art,—­like music, or painting, or decoration,—­not only for amusement, but with the purpose to carry it so far that in case of misfortune they can fall back upon it and get a living; for proficiency in these arts belongs as much to the sphere of women as of men, since it refines and cultivates them.

But again some may say,—­not those who are unfortunate, and seemingly driven from the glories and beatitudes of woman’s sphere, but those who are peculiarly intellectual and aspiring, and in some respects very interesting,—­Why should not we embark in some of those callings which heretofore have been assigned to or usurped by man, and become physicians, and professors in colleges, and lawyers, and merchants, not because we are driven to get a living, but because we prefer them; and hence, in order to fit ourselves for these departments, why should we not pursue the highest studies which task the intellect of man?  To such I would reply, Do so, if you please; there is no valid reason why you should not try.  Nor will you fail unless your frailer bodies fail, as fail they will, in a long race,—­for do what you will to strengthen and develop your physical forces for a million of years, you will still be women, and physically weaker than men; that is, your nervous system cannot stand the strain of that long-continued and intense application which all professional men are compelled to exert in order to gain success.  But if you have in any individual case the physical strength of a man, do what you please, so long as you preserve the delicacy and purity of womanhood,—­practise medicine or law, keep school, translate books, keep boarders, go behind a counter; yea, keep a shop, set types, keep accounts, give music and French lessons, sing in concerts and churches,—­do whatever you can do as well as men.  You have that right; nobody will molest you or slander you.  If you must, or if you choose to, labor so, God help you!