It seems to me that in discussing this subject philanthropists fail to take hold of the right end of the argument.  Money returns from work are very good, and work itself is good, as bringing such returns and occupying both body and mind; but the world’s work is very hard, and workmen are too often overdriven.  The question seems to me to be this—­of all this work have the men got on their own backs too heavy a share for them to bear, and should they seek relief by throwing more of it upon women?  It is the rights of man that we are in fact debating.  These watches are weary to make, and this type is troublesome to set, We have battles to fight and speeches to make, and our hands altogether are too full.  The women are idle—­many of them.  They shall make the watches for us and set the type; and when they have done that, why should they not make nails as they do sometimes in Worcestershire, or clean horses, or drive the cabs?  They have had an easy time of it for these years past, but we’ll change that.  And then it would come to pass that with ropes round their necks the women would be drawing harrows across the fields.

I don’t think this will come to pass.  The women generally do know when they are well off, and are not particularly anxious to accept the philanthropy proffered to them—­as Mrs. Dall says, they do not wish to bind themselves as apprentices to independent money-making.  This cry has been louder in America than with us, but even in America it has not been efficacious for much.  There is in the States, no doubt, a sort of hankering after increased influence, a desire for that prominence of position which men attain by loud voices and brazen foreheads, a desire in the female heart to be up and doing something, if the female heart only knew what; but even in the States it has hardly advanced beyond a few feminine lectures.  In many branches of work women are less employed than in England.  They are not so frequent behind counters in the shops, and are rarely seen as servants in hotels.  The fires in such houses are lighted and the rooms swept by men.  But the American girls may say they do not desire to light fires and sweep rooms.  They are ambitious of the higher classes of work.  But those higher branches of work require study, apprenticeship, a devotion of youth; and that they will not give.  It is very well for a young man to bind himself for four years, and to think of marrying four years after that apprenticeship be over.  But such a prospectus will not do for a girl.  While the sun shines the hay must be made, and her sun shines earlier in the day than that of him who is to be her husband.  Let him go through the apprenticeship and the work, and she will have sufficient on her hands if she looks well after his household.  Under nature’s teaching she is aware of this, and will not bind herself to any other apprenticeship, let Mrs. Dall preach as she may.