10 



the cook-stove, to carry off the excessive vapors and fumes which 

 saturate the air, cloy the appetite, and prevent the healthy invisible 

 perspiration, which may be even fatally arrested while one seems to 

 be in profuse perspiration. 



Why is it that our women are often overtasked and broken down 

 in health ? Is it not in part through ignorance, such as that now 

 indicated, and, above all, through lack of real interest and spirit in 

 work — the degrading and disj)iriting nature of aU labor that is pur- 

 sued mechanically, with no hvely participation of intellect and soul, 

 especially if it be confined in-door toil, and with no end in view but 

 the finishing of a day's task. There must be fresh air, and either 

 an intellectual or a money interest, to keep up one's vigor and spirit. 

 All this woman lacks for the most part, as things are. She has 

 nothing but affectional motives, and these are often chilled and dis- 

 appointed. 



In the good time coming, we shall have a thousand professors of 

 home science, and hundreds of thousands of lady-graduates from 

 our scientific schools. And it shall be said of the vii'tuous woman, 

 "she openeth her mouth with wisd^n." She maketh no fire in 

 summer, but boiletli her water in ten minutes by agitation in a ves- 

 sel tui-ned by a wind-mill, after the manner of Prof. Tyndall, in his 

 hand experiment. She buyeth condensed extract of meat and milk, 

 and never seeth steak or milk-pan. She sendeth ber Hnen to the 

 steam wash-house. She scoureth her wood-work -svith her own 

 patent revolving spring-brush. She useth enameled paper plates 

 and cups, like paper collars, and throweth them away after every 

 meal. She analysdth sugar-candy, and findeth deadly coloring mat- ■ 

 ters, as red oxide of lead and yeUow sulphide of arsenic ; and she 

 bringeth the confectioner before the lady-justice of the peace. She 

 discardeth all but loose dress, and sweepeth not the streets. Her 

 bonnet is visible and protecteth from the Sun. She inventeth a 

 steam-cook and an electric chamber-maid, hke unto the steam-man 

 that draweth a chariot. 



But who can anticipate the future ? Certain it is that science, 

 which is but a more thorough knowh^dge, wiU be carried into every- 

 thing, and will not be shut out from our homes nor denied to any 

 human beinsr. 



