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THE CONGRESS OF WOMEN.

“ Well, I readily own up to little experimental knowledge in housekeeping, but I am only suggesting that housekeeping should be conducted on the same principle on which we men conduct business. And first, to specialize, you should tell your serv­ants that employing them at stipulated wages to do certain work their time belongs to you. Tell them distinctly that if you prefer to keep your stores under lock and key it is not because you suspect their integrity, but that you consider it your business as a housekeeper to know what is the cost of living. And secondly, although the plan of keeping a book of family accounts only belongs incidentally to the main subject under discussion, it is so important that I can not refrain from a special mention of it. It is the simplest thing in the world, not taking on an average more than ten minutes a day. For reference in case of a disputed bill it is invaluable, while its influence in keeping down expenses is wonderfully wholesome. It would be just as safe for the merchant to neglect his cash book as for his domestic partner, who undertakes to do her business properly, to neglect her cash book. I believe, Kate, that no higher com­pliment can a husband pay to his wife than to say, ‘ She is an excellent manager of my home, finely as she has been educated; she knows everything, and how to direct what should be done, from the private family dinner to a sumptuous entertainment.”

“You may add, if you please, Petruchio, that woman has done nearly everything that has been done in the peaceful arts from the dawn of history up to the present era, as you will have to acknowledge, if you have examined at all intelligently the Woman’s Building at this wonderful fair of this wonderful nation. In all the earlier ages woman established the home, built the house, reared the family, provided food, tilled the ground, garnered the crops, provided materials for raiment, spun thread and wove cloth, designed and manufactured clothing, cared for the sick and educated the chil­dren. Modern civilization, developing commerce and manufactures and improving agriculture, has diverted the attention of men from fighting and hunting, and given into their hands the task of providing food and raiment and luxuries for the family. Indeed, the history of civilization maybe regarded as a history of the transfer of these tasks from the hands of women in the household to the hands of men in the factory, the mill and the shop. And may not the single monotonous occupation to which women are now confined account for that which seems to militate against domestic peace? ”

“ Why, Kate, the science of domestic economy is one of the noblest arts, the hand­maid of domestic and, therefore, national health, riches and welfare, and worthy the highest powers of the most gifted of our women. You re-read the story of Ruth Pinch as given in ‘ Martin Chuzzlewdt.’ It is enough to make one in love with cook­ing and keeping house. The pretty girl does everything wflth such grace and alert­ness, her whole soul is so bent on infusing comfort into everything, she is so unself­ish, so wise, so unconscious of her w'isdom, so good, and knows so little about her goodness, that she is one of the sweetest of Dickens’ many lovely, thoroughly human, women. It is a pitiful truth that we may become homeless wdthout being actually houseless, for it does look as though the family or homekeeping w 7 as fast becoming a matter of temporary arrangement. Home, once a woman’s temple, is now her prison. The sw'eet, quiet virtues which were once her greatest charm are now the badge of her slavery. Strong to do, she is weak to bear, and w'hile she can nerve herself to perform the most revolting offices of a hospital nurse, and take an active part in the most ghastly operations, she can not live under the comparative monotony of her home life. Duty is not in her vocabulary now. She writes work over where it stood. And, Kate, I fear work means simply excitement and publicity. Is there not danger that not a grace, not a gift wall be kept in the maturing shade, that not a violet hides behind its leaves? All the treasure which once used to be kept in sacred shrines are now 7 laid in the shop window for everyone to stare at, and all buy who w'ill. A pretty piping voice, that can sing passably well a drawing-room ballad, hires herself for public display. You hear girls say they are hoping to become anotherCamilla Urso because they can strike a true note on the violin. Many a girl vvho can draw 7