THE RADCLIFFE TRADITION 363 



. . . the multiplying of their chances in life, whether 

 for purely moral and intellectual ends or for practical 

 uses. In short, I came away more than ever wonder- 

 ing at the stimulating influences poured in upon 

 women through the doors and windows so recently 

 thrown wide open to them. . . . , 



Such are some of the gifts of the nineteenth cen- 

 tury to women. The further development of these 

 gifts and their noblest use as they open out in the 

 twentieth century into new occupations and interests 

 must largely be determined by women themselves. 

 The field is wide and the opinions are various; and 

 I share too much perhaps in the predilections and 

 traditions of the century which is ending to be a good 

 judge of the questions under discussion, as, for in- 

 stance, regarding professional or political work for 

 women. I am confident of one thing, however, which 

 is that the largest liberty of instruction cannot in it- 

 self impair true womanhood. If understood and used 

 aright, it can only be a help and not a hindrance in 

 the life-work natural to women. It can never impair, 

 but rather will enlarge and ennoble, the life of the 

 home. I remember the saying of a very sweet, a very 

 wise, and a truly learned woman who was by force 

 of circumstances obliged to undertake the work of the 

 house with her own hands. When compassionated for 

 this by a friend, she answered, in the spirit of old 

 Herbert's poem, "No one can prevent me^from talk- 

 ing with the angels while I sweep the room." 



Be sure that the love of books, love of nature, love 

 of everything beautiful or interesting in art or litera- 



