46 



ALFRED T, SCHOFIELD, ESQ., M.D., ON 



" Now, no one has more respect for ' the cow ' than I have. Her 

 life is one of mart3rrdom, her time is chiefly spent in bringing progeny 

 into the world, she is patient to extinction, and for relaxation and 

 amusement chews the cud. Is not this a true picture of the Victorian 

 lady, substituting ' needlework ' for the last occupation ? I& 

 not her life practically on the same level as the cow ? But the great 

 difference between the two examples of the female species is that 

 woman has a mind, and therefore is undoubtedly destined, by the- 

 Father of all, for a higher purpose in life than a cow. Women 

 bring men into the world, and are closely associated with them for 

 ten or in some cases twenty years. In early life she watches them 

 day and night, and as their lives unfold, she thinks for them and 

 with them, enters into their joys and sorrows, plans for them, listens 

 to them, encourages them, restrains them, and silently weaves the 

 invisible web which moulds them for the future for weal or woe. 

 And for what object is all this ? To make ' men ' of them, self- 

 reliant, high minded, capable human beings, to go out into the 

 world and fight the battle of life, and then to make the supreme 

 sacrifice, if called upon to do so. A voice says, ' Surely that is a 

 sufficient avocation for woman.' I would answer ' Yes ' up to a 

 point ; but it stands to reason a woman who is a household drudge,, 

 whose whole time and thoughts are taken up with managing a 

 home, of more or less importance, who has to deal week in and 

 week out with domestics, and food, and bills, and indoor details^ 

 is not as suitable a person to bring up her children as she is to bring- 

 them into the world. 



" Can anyone dispute the fact that a well-educated woman, who 

 has interests and occupations in the outside world — one whose 

 thoughts are on a higher plane, one who mixes with life and knows- 

 its dangers and pitfalls, one who is capable of guiding and controlling 

 her sons when the father is absent in foreign countries, or perhaps- 

 dead — is more to be desired for the welfare of mankind, if not on her 

 own account ? And how is this to be accomplished unless woman 

 comes out of her shell, as she is now doing, and takes an active part 

 in all that pertains to the betterment of her mind, which in sequence 

 trains her to be friend, guide, counsellor and companion, as well 

 as mother, to her sons ? Women will undoubtedly make many 

 mistakes and go to many extremes before they settle down to being; 



