48 Instruction in Science for Women. [Jan., 



woods, for persons engaged as upholsterers and cabinet-makers — and 

 one lecture on oil. fats. soap. &c. 



Now, if we substitute the employments of women for those of 

 men, and consider what branches of science are the most serviceable 

 in those employments, we at once arrive at the solution of the 

 problem. First, there are certain subjects on which all women 

 should be tolerably well instructed, such as, for example, sanitary 

 science ; the broad principles to be borne in mind in coping with 

 disease, or for the maintenance of health ; and so much knowledge 

 of anatomy as will enable a woman to bind a wound, or palliate the 

 effects of an accident until medical aid arrives. Such knowledge 

 is obviously indispensable to all women, whether married or single, 

 and its diffusion would save many valuable lives in the lower ranks 

 of society. But now we come to trades and handicrafts. Of course, 

 each town has its special industries, and the professional men, or 

 employers of female labour in Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, 

 and other large towns need not be told whether classes in chemistry, 

 or metallurgy, or physics, would the best subserve educational pur- 

 poses amongst their workpeople. But what is more obvious than 

 that a number of girls employed in working the electric telegraph 

 would be the gainers by having a sound knowledge of electricity ; 

 or that young showwomen or saleswomen in any trade whatever 

 might with advantage be taught certain branches of physical 

 science ? A girl who is constantly asked by customers whether she 

 has goods of this or that colour or texture, would surely be the 

 better for knowing something of the laws of colour, or the history 

 of textile fabrics ; and it would certainly do her no harm if she 

 were acquainted with the chemical processes whereby the beautiful 

 dyes and pigments with which she is familiar are obtained, some- 

 times from waste products. 



What we suggest, then, is that the promoters of this excellent 

 movement should not content themselves with imparting science 

 instruction to young ladies, and such females as can afford to pay 

 two guineas for a course or half-a-crown for a single lecture, and 

 who can devote the forenoon to the acquisition of such knowledge. 

 They should open evening classes, in which instruction should be 

 given to women of the industrial classes (in which are included 

 shopwomen), and to female teachers in national and other schools. 

 To these the charge for admission should be nominal, whilst^ the 

 character of the instruction to be imparted should completely accord 

 with the trade or vocation of the recipients. 



