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- 
