The times., 1900-12-21


could be done by the forcible Introduction
of feminine element into all spheres of
human activity, and that people who med
died in politics, science, theology. or art
without thorough fitness were to be d.s
couraged, TO whichever sex they might
happen TO belong He did not show any
of the mistaken chivalry which excuses a
charlatan for all mistakes on the ground
of her being a woman; and perhaps this
false consideration has. on the whole,
done earnest and able women more harm
than too much opposition. In a word he
did not approve OF women pushing
themselves into fields unfamiliar TO them
merely to prove that they could.
The so-ralled "woman's movement is
due mainly to the change in civilization
which has come about in the last hum
dred years. The feminine employments
which occupied the time of maidens
and matrons during the last century have
been taken out of their hands, and the
work is now done by factories, with great
saving OF time, expense, and labor
There is not enough in ordinary home
life TO employ the energies of an unus-
ualIy active human being, unless she has
a bent for philanthrophy, and sainthood
is not an attribute of human nature in
general. Moreover. harm can be done in
philanthropy as in any other business, by
the meddling of persons untitled for its
duties. The logical result of this, and of
the Increased expense of a more compli-
Gated system OF living, has been that in
telligent. thoughtful, and earnest women
nave gone Unto business or studied pro-
fessions. Such action as this Huxley
would have been the first to encourage
and he did encourage it, even when 1t
was not very popular to do SO. But, like
other impetuous and outspoken reform
ers, he had contempt for people who
merely play with serious things, for the
women who gather in conventions, mount
platforms, and form clubs, for much the
same reason that they played with dolls
when children-because they have seen
others do so and wish to take upon them
selves an imagined dignity. Huxley was
too much in earnest himself to SYM
worker. 1t did not matter so much what
the work might be-whether architec
ture, music. novel-writing, cooking or
baby -tending-tEe important thing was
to do well whatever happened to need
doing at the minute.
This principle is good one to follow
now. If woman has a particular gift, let
her cultivate it; there is no use in spoil
ing good pianist in order to make an
indifferent housekeeper, any more than in
the opposite course. In fact, it is, per-
haps, even more unwise to set a woman at
housekeeping when she has no talent for
it than to make her study the piano when
she has no ear for music. II is better for
the ear to be tormented by discords now
and then than for Whole household to
suffer from the incompetency Of its mis-
tress. If. however, girl has no partlcu-
lar talent, let her look at the matter
squarely, and see what 1t is best for her
TO do in the world, and then let her go at
it with determination and pluck. II all
the women who can keep house easily and
well are doing that work, there will be
Npo1Ne ioi 'hOSe WI" oie NStteA nN'Su ~
something else to develop their talents
and add something to tse pleasure of the
world. But if a girl insists on being edu-
Gated as an artist, wnen she has little
talent for art, she msy be cheating some
other girl out Of her share OF training. or
spelling home which, by attention to the
work that is properly hers, she n.sy make
delightful A moderate amount of artistic
talent can be invested in home with the
best possible results, and no woman has
any business to occupy herself with mere
display. charlatanry, and show, when there
is work in the world for her TO do. even
II that work is nothing but dishwashing.