326 Missouri State Horticultural Society 



Woman was made to beautify and grace the home. To there 

 perform that invisible work which, although less attractive, is 

 inevitable both to life and happiness. The home is, in the majority 

 of cases, her field of action; and "the home" says an eminent 

 writer, "is the center of joy." 



We have spoken of woman in her general work, but I hope to 

 show that it is highly proper and, indeed, necessary to a happy 

 life, that a woman have some particular work, in which she excels. 



When a young man arrives at the age of twenty-one or there- 

 abouts he feels called upon to choose his life-work, and why should 

 not n young lady select the occupation to which she is best adapted 

 and develop her talents with a view to excel in that particular 

 branch ? Then if she should be thrown upon her own resources, 

 she would not be utterly dependent, as so many young ladies are, 

 when placed in such circumstances. 



But let us see what employments are open to women. The 

 profession of literature has been from an early date. In fact, the 

 first modern novel was written by a woman and met with high 

 commendation. George Eliot has acquired universal fame through 

 her literary productions. Others, whose names are pre-eminent, are 

 Mrs. Hemans, Mrs. Browning, Adelaide Proctor, and Jean Ingelow. 

 She also holds her place in the production of journals. A modern 

 writer says : "In English literature there is hardly a department 

 which woman does not adorn." But we must pass on. 



There are about thirty practicing women lawyers in the United 

 States. Of these, Mrs. Lockwood is one of the most successful. 

 Although I am an advocate of "Woman's Rights." in a limited 

 degree, yet I would never vote for Belva Lockwood, as President 

 of the United States, if I could. I think a lady has her proper 

 sphere in life. 



Woman is gaining an in^.jiortant standing in the profession of 

 medicine. Of one hundred and ninety-eight students in the Bos- 

 ton University of Medicine, in 1870 or thereabouts, seventy-nine 

 were ladies. Tliere are now over fifty practicing lady physicians in 

 the city of Chicago. We are often confronted with some amusing 

 incident connected with this subject, which shows tliat the female 

 doctor is not yet universally adopted. 



A farmer living near a western city went hurriedly to town for 

 a doctor. Noticing a sign, he went in at the first place. He asked 

 of the neat little lady who met him: "Where's the doctor?" 

 She replied : "I am the doctor." He turned red, whistled, and 

 finally said : " Whew ! I hadn't calculated on a woman doctor, 



