the Alcoran, or even worse? We are aware that almost all women doubt whether the ideas promulgated about them are correct; but they are chary of discussing the question even with each other; although, until women take a direct and rooted interest in the concerns of their sex, and in one another in every relation of life, as part of a combined whole, their position cannot be materially improved. It is not reasonable to expect that men are to do everything for women, and women nothing for themselves; that men are for ever to provide women with crutches, or keep tight hold of them lest they rush into the sea and get drowned, or into the fire and get burned.

If women, sinking all petty differences of opinion, would only unite for the purposes of general usefulness in every form, the good that thereby might be done is incalculable. What one woman may fear or fail to do, may be undertaken by numbers; what is weak or inefficient in isolation becomes strong and experienced in association; for as flint and steel by friction bring forth fire, so one earnest mind brought into contact with other earnest minds receives an impetus, and the whole acting in concert must produce results not to be obtained by single individuals, however earnest in purpose.

When men wish to put right what seems to be wrong in any system of practical importance, they consult together as to the most judicious manner of remedying the apparent defect; they write, they speak, they seek to interest others in their plan of amendment, and they persevere until the reform is accomplished. There exists no law prohibiting women from following their example in matters relative to the well-being of their own sex, and men would be the gainers, were women so educated and trained as to enable them to perform various duties and services now devolving upon the sterner and stronger half of society.

No thoughtful woman can shut her eyes to the fact that her sex may be improved, that indeed much improvement is demanded. Women may agree to differ; but as at present severed, isolated as are the great majority, indeed all, with rare exceptions, they can make no lasting impression upon the public, can do no abiding good to themselves. Much work as well as charity, (to say nothing of instruction,) is at this moment given nearly in vain, for want of mutual understanding and co-operation. But in the meantime, in order to give women reliance on themselves and on each other, and to prove that they may be depended upon for courage and perseverance as well as for sympathy, they ought as a duty, and that duty is of paramount importance, to associate for that purpose, and thus strengthen one another. Until something like esprit de corps be infused into the mass, and women feel a pride and pleasure in supporting every plan for their benefit, very little progress can be looked for.

If women will not attend to their own concerns, even when men are ready and willing to help them, the patience of the latter must in time wear out, and ignorance and indolence, thoughtlessness and

childishness, will continue to keep the ascendancy, and reign as heretofore.

That society suffers from the incapacity of its women none can deny or dispute; for weak foolish mothers make silly sons, as surely as ailing" sickly ones make "moaning children.'

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There are now women able and ready to teach other women, and many more will arise and come forward whenever pupils are to be found to receive their lessons. Let women learn from men those things which women may not yet be able to teach, but let them likewise learn from their own sex all that their own sex are competent to impart. Men have certainly enough to do without women hanging so heavily upon them. To be lukewarm or indifferent as to the support of schemes calculated to produce more activeminded and active-handed members of society is a grievous error, an error, the effects of which recoil on women themselves, as well as on those "rrounding them; therefore it is clearly their business to take heed to ese matters and give them all the aid they can. It is generally speaking a true proverb, that "where there is a will there is a way," and were all women inspired with the same strong will, turned in one direction, results would be arrived at and work done that would almost surprise themselves. Were an association formed on a large scale among women of education and of ample means, its organization would readily shape itself to suit the requirements of the times, and the fittest women would soon be discovered for the fittest places.

We do not desire this movement to become merely a fashionable one, for with whatever success such might at first be attended, fashion, and fashion only, we need scarcely say, would in a short space of time annihilate it, since the very word fashion is synonymous with change. No subject can be of more importance than that which includes the proper training of girls in the first instance, and of finding outlets for their labor when thus trained; and for the furtherance of this object we would ask every woman of every rank to exert herself to the uttermost, as not simply the material or physical existence of thousands depends upon its advancement, but the moral and spiritual perceptions of as many more thousands of both sexes. The glaring fact stands undisputed that where numbers of women are ignorant and idle, rendered of no use to society by usages and customs, as well as from other causes, degradation must follow as a natural sequence. Whatever evils exist at this moment, or whatever is illarranged in the condition of men is still worse by many degrees in that of women, and the latter ought not falsely to think that there is merit in thus enduring misery. Many women are aware of the extent of wretchedness which numbers of their sex endure in silent despair, but however anxious to find means and ways of lessening the amount of evil thus endured, they experience great difficulty in the want of combination, and from being unaccustomed to lead or

Women

take the initiative in any movement of social importance. have hitherto waited to be led, waited to receive instructions as to how they ought to act in emergencies. Now that they are invited to express their opinions as to the wisest and most judicious methods of carrying forward measures for their own advantage, as well as for the benefit of the community at large, we cannot expect that all at once they should appear, like Minerva of old, armed and filled with every possible or rather impossible species of wisdom; since hitherto no thinking of any kind has been asked from them, but on the contrary, they have been advised to trust entirely to their feelings-feelings which might be one way to-day and another tomorrow, just as the wind chanced to blow from the south or from the north.

It is now found that feelings are not of much value in the matter of hard work, and hard work we fear many women will be compelled to perform before they can sit down at es

indulge in sentimental reveries which, in nine cases out of ten, are mistaken for feelings. As good works and a pure life are the fruits of a genuine faith, so, in like manner, rightly-directed exertions and plans for a mitigation of the evils entailed on women in consequence of want of occupation, either remunerative or otherwise, should as certainly spring from enlightened sympathy and knowledge. Feeling, standing by itself, produces nothing, and is as often a hindrance as a help.

To this sympathy in women we appeal for women, in the hope that, united in purpose and for one great end, efforts will be made to continue on a larger scale what is now begun for the aid and encouragement of all women who are anxious to help themselves. Surely whenever woman's ignorance or inertia interferes with her own happiness, no valid reason can be given in the most civilized land more than in the most savage why one or both should not have an end.

At this moment every work of any consequence, no matter whether mental or physical, is done by means of association; association is the order of the day, and women should follow so good an example; they ought to learn to work in bodies, to have faith in each other, and this, combined with self-reliance and self-respect, will enable them to attain a stability and force of action which it has not yet been their good fortune to possess.

It is said that women do not work well together, that each has her peculiar idea, and that the influence of one woman over another is almost nil; consequently that they either obstruct each other, or are indifferent. This allegation, like many others of the same kind, is half true and half false, and, like all half-truths, has done its due amount of injury. Women in this country, (except in sisterhoods of charity-such as exist in the Catholic Church,) have never been called upon to act in bodies; and from the want of that organization which we are now desirious to promote, they must, even

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with the best intentions, make many mistakes, and have less method and precision, in working than those who have long been accustomed to obey laws, and maintain the observance of stringent rules. As to the assertion that women are impervious to the influence of their own sex, little is necessary to be said beyond its denial. Were it not believed in as a truth, that women do influence women, and that in no small degree, why does it frequently happen that men are jealous of their wive's female friends? The fact is not an isolated one of these women friends having been forbidden to visit each other. Moreover, the influence exerted even unconsciously by women of culture and refinement over young girls is immense, and it is only to be regretted that women do not use this power to the extent they might, and use it in a wise direction.

The depreciation of women by women shows a lamentable want of self-respect, a poor estimate of their own nature, and we have never met with a proneness to this mode of speech except in the lower types of womanhood. To regret the disadvantages under which the majority of the sex labor, with their lack of education and training, is far different from a wholesale depreciation of them as women; for unless viewed as beings capable of higher attainments and pursuits, regret would be mere waste of feeling, and all plans to promote their improvement a series of absurd attempts to perform impossibilities.

We are not attempting to perform anything beyond the reach of ordinary appliances, and we simply use the means that others use when objects of importance are sought to be attained. We write and speak to explain our views, and we act where action is permitted or possible. In order that the field for working may be enlarged, we recommend women to unite for objects so worthy of attainment. We believe that a certain number of women in all ranks of society are perfectly aware that a better system of education is needed for their sex at large, and many thoughtful minds are now at work how best to accomplish this; but, until greater numbers are roused to take a part in the movement and lend their aid, either by their influence, their work, or their money, according as their position or means may be, no rapid amendment of the present distressing circumstances in which hundreds of dependent gentlewomen stand can be effected.

Numbers of our middle-class women are now in as painful a position as were the inmates of convents and monasteries in past times, when driven into the streets, without provision, knowing not where or how to obtain shelter. For the poorer classes we have established workhouses as temporary asylums for the destitute, but may the day never come when English gentlewomen, refined and educated, shall be compelled to accept alms instead of appropriate work, so long as health and strength are theirs to use.

We have now, as our readers know, "a Society for the Employ

ment of Women," which is working its way slowly but perseveringly, and we throw out this suggestion of an association on a wider basis in the belief that by proper organization thinkers and workers would be enabled to aid each other more easily and effectually. The prominent purposes for which such an association ought to be formed, are education and training. Education to fit women to be educators, and training to fit them for the general duties of life, which duties are often ill understood, and if performed are rather done by fits and starts, as impulse or inclination prompts than calmly and steadily adhered to from principle, or a strong sense of right.

When such marvellous changes and reformations are taking place around us, when our young men full of enthusiasm submit to many privations in order to learn the art of war, wherefore should our young women lag behind when called upon to aid in the spread of the arts of peace, and consequently of civilization; our young men may never be called upon to unsheath their swords or face an enemy; whereas, our women have already innumerable foes to war against, in the varied forms of poverty, ignorance, disease and crime. To mitigate these evils is assuredly work for woman, as well as the work by which she is to obtain a livelihood; and we think no better means can in the first instance be tried than the plan of carrying out, by association on a wider scale, what is now being done partially. As a rough outline, it may be suggested that all existing societies for the furtherance of such objects as have been mentioned should unite in having a common centre or reference, to which the helpers and those to be helped may apply, thus obviating difficulties constantly encountered by persons in search of aid, or by those desirous of rendering assistance.

Should it be objected to that differences of opinion are still too wide apart to be thus united, there might be substituted an association for the general interests of women, more especially devoted to their improvement in knowledge, and in habits of activity and industry.

A. R. L.

LL-FRUITS IN THEIR SEASON.

IV. NUTS TO CRACK.-(Concluded.)

THE walnut traces its noble genealogy back to classic times, but the almond claims far higher antiquity, for its ancestors were well known as far back as in the days of the patriarchs. This fruit formed part of the offering with which his brethren sought to propitiate the unrecognised Joseph, when their father bade them 'carry down the man a present:" it afforded a model for one of the earliest works of art, for the bowls of the golden candlestick in

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