54 THE WORLD'S WORKERS. 



he called out, " What ! robins ! our household birds ! 

 I would as soon eat a child ! " 



One of the subjects in which Mrs. Somerville was 

 particularly interested was what is called the " Emanci- 

 pation of Women." She had herself in early life 

 known what it was to face the prejudice which was a 

 few years ago very common in Great Britain against 

 literary and scientific education for women, but she 

 lived to see a great change in public opinion on this 

 point. As she grew older she became quite zealous 

 in doing what she could to encourage women to 

 cultivate their minds. She rejoiced exceedingly when 

 Girton College was founded, and said that it was a 

 great step in the true direction. She was also very 

 wishful that women should take an interest in politics 

 and headed one petition, and frequently signed others, 

 to Parliament for Female Suffrage. She was also a 

 member of the London General Committee for Woman 

 Suffrage. Yet she by no means sympathised with the 

 fear that if women were to receive a solid education, 

 they would in consequence lose their feminine grace 

 and would leave their domestic duties unperformed. 

 Indeed, she was a bright example to the contrary. 

 It has been already told that she was a good cook, a 

 good needlewoman, a famous housewife, a good wife 

 and mother. And she had also an abundant store of 

 common sense. 



Miss Edgeworth said of her, "While her head is 

 among the stars, her feet are firm upon the earth." 



