THE REVOLUTIONS" ARY MOVEMENT AMONG WOMEN. 167 



for the dumb, in tlie cause of all such as are appointed to destruc- 

 tion." 



I am not unaware of the speculative nature of the theory that 

 measures the decay of woman's interest in home by that of man's 

 estimate of business, but I appeal to both to say whether as the 

 world enlarges to the one the home is not belittled to the other. 

 The house increases in dimensions, for there must be room for the 

 conveniences of art and a retinue for the service of means. But 

 the home atmosphere is dying out. In the language of one whose 

 celestial philosophy often touches practical life, "it is not known 

 any more what it is, or even that it is." What is therein the well- 

 furnished modern home? Everything to make it comfortable but 

 comfort, Man, with his energy and skill, brings everything there 

 but an appreciation of what woman does to convert material into 

 beauty and use. Ignoring that the home contains in microcosm 

 every element Of power with which he wrested from the world the 

 right to call it his own, with additional force of finesse and spirit- 

 uality of which he has little conception, he seats himself so in the 

 midst as to leave her pretty much out. How to organize the forces, 

 that there may be ordered without restraint; to harmonize the rest- 

 lessness of the child with the rest of the adult; to adjust the duties 

 and privileges of servants, the entertainment of friends, the courte- 

 sies of societ}^ the calls of religion and charity, maintaining 

 through all her own individuality, and things, if possible, more 

 precious, — the saving from themselves of dearer ones by the con- 

 servation of all the power's through which the thoughtful woman 

 knows how to build with stones that need no smiting, — she knows 

 through Avhat an incarnation of eoul and sense these have come. 

 He does not. So far from this, he really thinks they have cost him 

 so much money. Are not these the .receipts? 



There is nothing more common than for the wife to discover that 

 her husband wonders what has become of her time. The mascu- 

 line judgment that mone}^ and hired service are sufficient to the 

 results a woman knows have commanded, not her time and fresh- 

 ness only, but as high an order of talent as was ever employed in 

 money-making or in State administration, is driving the wife of 

 price beyond rubies out of the home and out of the world. 



There is no mistaking either the ftict or the effect of this. In 

 regard to the highest of these home duties, the care and training of 



