第6章

Thechildtoohasnocompunctionincorrectingaparentevenbeforestrangers，andwhatisstrangerstilltheparentacceptsthecorrectioningoodpart，andsometimesevenwiththanks。Aparentisofteninterruptedinthecourseofanarrative，ordiscussion，byasmallpipingvoice，settingright，orwhatitbelievestoberight，somedate，place，orfact，andtheparent，afterawordofencouragementorthanks，proceeds。

Howdifferentisourrulethatachildisnottospeakuntilspokento!

InChineseofficiallifeundertheoldregimeitwasnotetiquetteforoneofficialtocontradictanother，especiallywhentheywereunequalinrank。Whenahighofficialexpressedviewswhichhissubordinatesdidnotendorse，theycouldnotcandidlygivetheiropinion，buthadtoremainsilent。IrememberthatsomeyearsagosomeofmycolleaguesandIhadanaudiencewithaveryhighofficial，andwhenIexpressedmydissentfromsomeoftheviewsofthathighfunctionary，herebukedmeseverely。

Afterwardhecalledmetohimprivately，andspoketomesomewhatasfollows:

"Whatyousaidjustnowwasquitecorrect。Iwaswrong，andIwilladoptyourviews，butyoumustnotcontradictmeinthepresenceofotherpeople。Donotdoitagain。"

Thereisofcoursemuchtobesaidforandagainsteachsystem，andperhapsablendofthetwowouldgivegoodresults。

Anyhow，wecantraceinAmericancustomsthatspiritofequalitywhichpervadesthewholeofAmericansociety，andobservethegermsofself-relianceandindependencesocharacteristicofAmericans，whethermen，women，orchildren。

EventhedomesticservantdoesnotlosethispreciousAmericanheritageofequality。Ihavenothingtosayagainstthatworthyindividual，theAmericanservant(ifonecanbefound)；onthecontrary，noneismorefaithfulormoreefficient。Butinsomerespectsheisuniqueamongtheservantsoftheworld。Hedoesnotseethatthereisanyinequalitybetweenhimandhismaster。Hismaster，orshouldIsay，hisemployer，payshimcertainwagestodocertainwork，andhedoesit，butoutsidetheboundsofthiscontract，theyarestillmanandman，citizenandcitizen。Itisallbeautifully，delightfullylegal。

Thewasherwomanisthe"wash-lady"，andisjustasmuchaladyashermistress。Theword"servant"isnotappliedtodomestics，"help"isusedinstead，verymuchinthesamewaythatCanadaandAustraliaarenolongerEnglish"colonies"，but"self-governingdominions"。

Weoftheoldworldareaccustomedtoregarddomesticserviceasaprofessioninwhichthemembersworkforadvancement，withoutmuchthoughtofeverchangingtheirposition。

Afewcleverpersonsmayultimatelyadoptanotherprofession，and，accordingtoourantiquatedconservativewaysofthinking，risehigherinthesocialscale，but，forthelargemajority，thedignityofabutler，orahousekeeperistheheightofambition，thecrowningpointintheircareer。NotsotheAmericanservant。

StrictlyspeakingtherearenoservantsinAmerica。Theman，orthewomanasthecasemaybe，whohappensforthemomenttobeyourservant，isonlyservantforthetimebeing。Hehasnointentionofmakingdomesticservicehisprofession，ofbeingaservantforthewholeofhislife。Tohavetobesubjecttothewillofothers，eventothesmallextenttowhichAmericanservantsaresubordinate，isoffensivetoanAmerican"sprideofcitizenship，itiscontrarytohisconceptionofAmericanequality。Heisaservantonlyforthetime，anduntilhefindssomethingbettertodo。Heacceptsamenialpositiononlyasasteppingstonetosomemoreindependentemployment。

IsittobewonderedatthatAmericanservantshavedifferentmannersfromtheirbrethreninothercountries？WhenforeignersfindthatAmericanservantsarenotlikeservantsintheirowncountry，theyshouldnotresenttheirbehavior:itdoesnotdenotedisrespect，itisonlytheoutcropoftheirnaturalindependenceandaspirations。

AlltitlesofnobilityarebytheConstitutionexpresslyforbidden。

Eventitlesofhonororcourtesyarebutrarelyused。"Honorable"isusedtodesignatemembersofCongress；andforafewAmericans，suchasthePresidentandtheAmbassadors，thetitle"Excellency"ispermitted。Yet，whetheritisbecausethepersonsentitledtobesoaddresseddonotthinkthateventhesemildtitlesareconsistentwithAmericandemocracy，orbecausetheAmericanpublicfeelsawkwardinemployingsuchstiltedtermsofaddress，theyarenotoftenused。IrememberthatononeoccasionamuchrespectedChiefExecutive，onmyproposing，inaccordancewithdiplomaticusageandprecedent，toaddresshimas"YourExcellency"，beggedmetosubstituteinstead"Mr。President"。Theplaindemocratic"Mr。"

suitsthedemocraticAmericantastemuchbetterthananyothertitle，andisappliedequallytothePresidentoftheRepublicandtohiscoachman。

IndeedtheplainnameJohnSmith，withouteven"Mr。"，notonlygivesnooffense，wheresomehighertitlemightbeemployed，butfitsjustaswell，andisinfactoftenused。Evenprominentanddistinguishedmendonotresentnicknames；forexample，thecelebratedpersonwhosenameissointimatelyconnectedwiththatdelightofAmericanchildrenandgrown-ups——the"TeddyBear"。

Thischaracteristic，likesomanyotherAmericancharacteristics，isduenotonlytotheloveofequalityandindependence，butalsotothedislikeofanywasteoftime。

Incountrieswherethereareelaboraterulesofetiquetteconcerningtitlesandformsofaddress，nonebutaMasterofCeremoniescanhopetobethoroughlyfamiliarwiththem，ortobeabletoaddressthedistinguishedpeoplewithoutwithholdingfromthemtheirdueshareofhigh-soundingtitlesandepithets；

and，beitwhispered，thesesamedistinguishedpeople，howeverbroad-mindedandmagnanimoustheymaybeinotherrespects，aresometimesextremelysensitiveinthisrespect。

Andevenafteronehasmasteredalltherulesandforms，andcanappreciateanddistinguishthevariousniceshadeswhichexistbetween"HisSereneHighness"，"HisHighness"，"HisRoyalHighness"，and"HisImperialHighness"，orbetween"Rt。Rev。"and"MostRev。"，onehasyettolearnwhattitlesaparticularpersonhas，andwithwhatparticularformofaddressheshouldbeapproached，animpossibletaskevenforaMasterofCeremonies，unlesshealwayshasinhispocketaBurke"sPeeragetotellhimwho"swho。

Whatawasteoftime，whataninconvenience，andwhatanunnecessaryamountofirritationandannoyanceallthiscauses。HowmuchbettertobeabletoaddressanypersonyoumeetsimplyasMr。So-and-So，withoutunwittinglytreadingonsomebody"ssensitivecorns!

Americanshaveshowntheircommonsenseindoingawaywithtitlesaltogether，anexamplewhichthesisterRepublicofChinaisfollowing。

Anillustriousnamelosesnothingforhavingtostandbyitselfwithoutprefixesandsuffixes，handlesandtails。Mr。GladstonewasnolesshimselffornotprefixinghisnamewithEarl，andtheothertitlestowhichitwouldhaveentitledhim，ashecouldhavedonehadhenotdeclinedtheso-calledhonor。

Indeed，likethe"GreatCommoner"，he，ifthatwerepossible，endearedhimselfthemoretohiscountrymenbecauseofhisrefusal。Aname，whichisgreatwithoutresortingtotheborrowedlightoftitlesandhonors，isgreaterthananypossiblesuffixoraffixwhichcouldbeappendedtoit。

Inconclusion，AmericanmannersarebutaninstanceorresultofthetwopredominantAmericancharacteristicstowhichIhavealreadyreferred，andwhichreappearinsomanyotherthingsAmerican。

Aloveofindependenceandofequality，earlyinculcated，andakeenabhorrenceofwasteoftime，engenderedbytheconditionsandcircumstancesofanewcountry，servetoexplainpracticallyallthemannersandmannerismsofAmericans。Eventhefamiliarspectacleofmenwalkingwiththeirhandsdeepintheirtrousers"pockets，orsittingwiththeirlegscrossedneedsnootherexplanation，andtosuggestthat，becauseAmericanshavesomehabitswhicharepeculiarlytheirown，theyareeitherinferiororunmanly，wouldbetodothemagraveinjustice。

Fewpeoplearemorewarm-hearted，genial，andsociablethantheAmericans。

Idonotdwellonthis，becauseitisquiteunnecessary。Thefactisperfectlyfamiliartoallwhohavetheslightestknowledgeofthem。

Theirkindnessandwarmthtostrangersareparticularlypleasant，andaremuchappreciatedbytheirvisitors。Insomeothercountries，thepeople，thoughnotunsociable，surroundthemselveswithsomuchreservethatstrangersareatfirstchilledandrepulsed，althoughtherearenopleasanterormorehospitablepersonsanywheretobefoundwhenonceyouhavebrokentheice，andlearnedtoknowthem；

butitisthestrangerwhomustmakethefirstadvances，fortheythemselveswillmakenoefforttobecomeacquainted，andtheirmannerissuchastodiscourageanyeffortsonthepartofthevisitor。Youmaytravelwiththemforhoursinthesamecar，sitoppositetothem，andallthewhiletheywillshelterthemselvesbehindanewspaper，thebroadsheetsofwhicheffectivelyprohibitanyattemptsatcloseracquaintance。Thefollowinginstance，culledfromapersonalexperience，isanillustration。IwasalawstudentatLincoln"sInn，London，wherethereisasplendidlawlibraryfortheuseofthestudentsandmembersoftheInn。Iusedtogotherealmosteverydaytopursuemylegalstudies，andgenerallysatinthesamequietcorner。

Theseatontheoppositesideofthetablewasusuallyoccupiedbyanotherlawstudent。Formonthswesatoppositeeachotherwithoutexchangingaword。IthoughtIwastooformalandreserved，soIendeavoredtoimprovemattersbyoccasionallylookingupathimasifabouttoaddresshim，buteverytimeIdidsohelookeddownasthoughhedidnotwishtoseeme。FinallyIgaveuptheattempt。

ThisisthegeneralhabitwithEnglishgentlemen。Theywillnotspeaktoastrangerwithoutaproperintroduction；butinthecaseIhavementionedsurelytherulewouldhavebeenmorehonoredbyabreachthanbytheobservance。Seeingthatwewerefellowstudents，itmighthavebeenpresumedthatweweregentlemenandonanequalfooting。

HowdifferentarethemannersoftheAmerican!Youcanhardlytakeawalk，orgoforanydistanceinatrain，withoutbeingaddressedbyastranger，andnotinfrequentlymakingafriend。Insomecountriesthefactthatyouareaforeigneronlythickenstheice，inAmericaitthawsit。ThisdelightfultraitintheAmericancharacterisalsotraceabletothesamecauseasthatwhichhashelpedustoexplaintheotherpeculiaritieswhichhavebeenmentioned。TogoodAmericans，notonlyarethecitizensofAmericabornequal，butthecitizensoftheworldarealsobornequal。

Chapter9。AmericanWomenItisratherboldonmyparttotakeupthissubject。Itisapathwhere"foolsrushinwhereangelsfeartotread"。NomatterwhatIsayitissuretoprovokecriticism，buthavingfrequentlybeenaskedbymyladyfriendstogivemyopinionofAmericanwomen，andhavinggivenmysolemnpromisethatifIevershouldwritemyimpressionsofAmericaIwoulddoso，itwouldbeaserious"breachofpromise"ifIshouldnowbreakmyword。

Ingeneraltherearethreeclassesofwomen:first，thosewhowishtobepraised；secondly，thosewhowishtobeadverselycriticizedandcondemned；andthirdly，thosewhoaresimplycurioustohearwhatothersthinkofthem。Americanwomendonotasarulebelongtoeitherthefirstorthesecondclass，butalargemajorityofthemmayberangedunderclassthree。Theywishtoknowwhatotherpeoplehonestlythinkofthemandtoheartheircandidviews。

Theyareprogressivepeoplewhodesiretoimprovetheirdefectswhenevertheyarepointedouttothem。ThatbeingthecaseImustnotswervefrommydutyofsittinginahighcourtofjusticetopassjudgmentonthem。

Tobeginwith，theAmericanwomenareinsomerespectsdissimilartothewomenofothernations。Ifindthemsprightly，talkativeandwellinformed。

Theycanconverseonanysubjectwitheaseandresource，showingthattheyhaveagoodall-roundeducation。OftenhaveIderivedconsiderableinformationfromthem。Thepersistencewithwhichtheysticktotheiropinionsisremarkable。Once，whenIhadaladyvisitoratmyLegationinWashington，afterseveralmattershadbeendiscussedwecommencedtalkingaboutwomen"srights。Iwasinfavorofgivingwomenmorerightsthantheyareenjoying，butonsomepointsIdidnotgosofarasmyladyfriend；afterarguingwithmeforseveralhours，she，seeingthatIdidnotcoincidewithallherviews，threatenedthatshewouldnotleavemyhouseuntilIhadfullydigestedallherpoints，andhadbecomeconvertedtoherviews。

IhaveobservedthatmanyAmericanwomenmarryforeigners，butthatanAmericanrarelyhasaforeignwife。ItmaybesaidthatforeignersmarryAmericangirlsfortheirmoney，whileAmericanwomenmarrydistinguishedforeignersfortheirtitles。Thismayhavebeentrueinsomecases，butothercausesthansuchsordidmotivesmustbelookedfor。

ItistheattractivenessandthebeautyoftheAmericangirlswhichenablethemtocapturesomanyforeignhusbands。

Theirpleasantmannersandwinsomenaturepredisposeapersonintheirfavor，andwiththeirwell-groundededucationandreadyfundofknowledge，theyeasilywinanygentlemanwithmaritalpropensities。

HadIbeensinglewhenIfirstvisitedAmericaItoomighthavebeenavictim——nowonderthenthatAmericanmenpreferAmericanwives。

OnceIwasaninvoluntarymatch-maker。Someyearsago，duringmyfirstmissioninWashington，IwasinvitedtoattendtheweddingofthedaughteroftheChiefJusticeoftheSupremeCourt。

WhenIenteredthebreakfastroom，Isawthebridesmaidsandanumberofyoungmen。GoinguptooneofthebridesmaidswhomIhadpreviouslymet，andwhowasthedaughterofaSenator，Iaskedherwhenitwouldbeherturntobecomeabride。

Shemodestlysaidthatshedidnotknow，asshehadnotyethadanoffer。

Turningtothegroupofyoungmenwhowereintheroom，Ijocularlyremarkedtooneofthem，"Thisisabeautifullady，wouldyounotliketomarryher？"Hereplied，"Ishallbemostdelightedto。"

ThenIsaidtotheyounglady，"Willyouaccepthisoffer？"

Sheseemedslightlyembarrassedandsaidsomethingtotheeffectthatasshedidnotknowthegentlemanshecouldnotgiveadefiniteanswer。

AfterafewdaysImettheyoungladyatan"AtHome"partywhenshescoldedmeforbeingsobluntwithherbeforetheyoungmen。

ItoldherIwasactuatedbythebestofmotives，andafewmonthslaterIreceivedaninvitationfromtheyounglady"sparentsinvitingmetobepresentattheirdaughter"smarriage。

IthoughtIwouldgoandfindoutwhetherthebridegroomwastheyoungmanwhomIhadintroducedtotheyounglady，andassoonasIenteredthehouse，themotherofthebride，tomyagreeablesurprise，informedmethatitwasIwhohadfirstbroughttheyoungcoupletogether，andboththebrideandbridegroomheartilythankedmeformygoodoffices。

OneveryconspicuousfeatureinthecharacterofAmericanwomenistheirself-controlandindependence。Assoonasagirlgrowsupsheisallowedtodowhatshepleases，withoutthecontrolofherparents。

Itisacommonoccurrencetoseeayoungladytravellingalonewithouteitheracompanionorachaperon。TravellingononeoccasionfromSanFranciscotoWashingtonImetayoungladyonthetrainwhowasstillinherteens。ShetoldmethatshewasgoingtoNewYorktoembarkonasteamerforGermany，withtheintentionofenteringaGermancollege。Shewasundertakingthislongjourneyalone。

SuchanincidentwouldbeimpossibleinChina；eveninEngland，orindeedinanyEuropeancountry，Ihardlybelievethatarespectableyounggirlwouldbeallowedtotakesuchajourneywithoutsometrustyfriendtolookafterher。ButinAmericathisisacommonoccurrence，anditisacredittotheadministration，andspeaksvolumesforthegoodgovernmentofthecountry，thatforsensiblewide-awakeAmericangirlssuchundertakingsareperfectlysafe。

Thisnotionofindependenceandfreedomhasmodifiedtherelationofchildrentotheirparents。Insteadofchildrenbeingrequiredtoshowrespectandfilialobedience，theobligationofmutualloveandesteemiscultivated。Parentswouldnotthinkoforderingagirloraboytodoanything，howeverreasonable；inallmatterstheytreatthemastheirequalsandfriends；norwouldagirlsubmittoanarbitraryorderfromhermother，forshedoesnotregardherasasuperior，butasherfriendandcompanion。IfinditisacommonpracticeamongAmericangirlstoengagethemselvesinmarriagewithoutconsultingtheirparents。OnceIhadaserioustalkonthissubjectwithayoungcouplewhowerebetrothed。Iaskedthemiftheyhadtheconsentoftheirparents。Theybothansweredemphaticallythatitwasnotnecessary，andthatitwastheirbusinessandnottheirparents"。

Itoldthemthatalthoughitwastheirbusiness，theymighthaveshownsomerespecttotheirparentsbyconsultingthembeforecommittingthemselvestothisimportanttransaction。Theyansweredthattheydidnotagreewithme，andasitconcernedtheirownhappinessalone，theyhadaperfectrighttodecidethematterforthemselves。ThisshowstheextremelimittowhichtheAmericanscarrytheirtheoryofindependence。UnlessIamgreatlymistaken，Ifearthisisatypicalandnotanisolatedcase。

Ibelievethatinmanycases，aftertheyhadmadeuptheirmindstomarry，theyoungpeoplewouldinformtheirrespectiveparentsoftheirengagement，butIquestioniftheywouldsubordinatetheirownwishestothewilloftheirparents，orasktheirconsenttotheirengagement。

NowletusseehowallthisismanagedinChina。Herethepartiesmostinterestedhavenovoiceinthematter。Theparents，throughtheirfriends，orsometimesthroughtheprofessionalmatch-makers，arrangethemarriage，butonlyafterthemoststrictanddiligentinquiriesastothecharacter，position，andsuitabilityoftemperanddispositionofthepersonsforwhomthemarriagecontractisbeingprepared。

Thisissometimesdonewiththeknowledgeoftheinterestedparties，butveryoftentheyarenotconsulted。Afteranengagementisthusmadeitcannotbebrokenoff，notevenbytheyoungpeoplethemselves，eventhoughheorshemaypleadthatthearrangementwasmadewithouthisorherknowledgeorconsent。Theengagementisconsideredbyallpartiesasasolemncompact。Ontheweddingday，inninecasesoutoften，thebrideandbridegroommeeteachotherforthefirsttime，andyettheylivecontentedly，andquiteoftenevenhappilytogether。

DivorcesinChinaareexceedinglyrare。Thisisaccountedforbythefactthatthroughthewisecontroloftheirparentsthechildrenareproperlymated。InsayingthisIdonotwishtobesupposedtobeadvocatingtheintroductionoftheChinesesystemintoAmerica。

Iwould，however，pointoutthattheindependentandthoughtlesswayinwhichtheAmericanyoungpeopletakeonthemselvesthemarriagevowdoesnotasaruleresultinsuitablecompanionships。

Whenagirlfallsinlovewithayoungmansheisunabletoperceivehisshortcomingsandvices，andwhen，afterlivingtogetherforafewmonths，shebeginstofindthemout，itisalastoolate。If，previoustoherengagement，shehadtakenhermotherintoherconfidence，andaskedhertousehergoodofficestofindoutthecharacteroftheyoungmanwhomshefavored，afatalandunhappymistakemighthavebeenavoided。Withoutinterfering，intheleast，withthelibertyorfreechoice，IshouldthinkitwouldbeagoodpolicyifallyoungAmericans，beforedefinitelycommittingthemselvestoapromiseofmarriage，wouldatleastconsulttheirmothers，andaskthemtomakeprivateandconfidentialinquiriesastothedisposition，aswellastothemoralandphysicalfitnessoftheyoungmanorladywhomtheycontemplatemarrying。Mothersarenaturallyconcernedaboutthewelfareandhappinessoftheiroffspring，andcouldbetrustedinmostcasestomakecareful，impartialandconscientiousinquiriesastowhetherthegirlormanwasreallyaworthyandsuitablelifepartnerfortheirchildren。Ifthisstepweregenerallytakenmanyanunfortunateunionwouldbeavoided。ItwasafterthisfashionthatIreasonedwiththeyoungpeoplementionedabove，buttheydidnotagreewithme，andIhadtoconcludethatloveisblind。

BeforeleavingthissubjectIwouldaddthatthesystemofmarriagewhichhasbeeninvogueinChinaforsomanycenturieshasbeensomewhatchangedwithinthelastfewyears。Thisisduetothenewspiritwhichhasbeengraduallygrowing。Youngpeoplebegintoexerttheirrights，andwillnotallowparentstochoosetheirlifepartnerswithouttheirconsent。Instancesofgirlschoosingtheirownhusbandshavecometomyknowledge，andtheydidnotoccurduringleap-year。

ButIsincerelyhopethatourChineseyouthwillnotgotothesamelengthsastheyoungpeopleofAmerica。

ThemannerinwhichasontreatshisparentsintheUnitedStatesisdiametricallyopposedtoourChinesedoctrine，handeddowntousfromtimeimmemorial。"Honorthyfatherandthymother"

isaninjunctionofMoseswhichallChristiansprofesstoobserve，butwhich，orsoitappearstoaConfucianist，allequallyforget。

TheConfuciancreedlaysitdownastheessentialdutyofchildrenthattheyshallnotonlyhonorandobeytheirfathersandtheirmothers，butthattheyareindutyboundtosupportthem。Thereasonisthatastheirparentsbroughtthemintotheworld，rearedandeducatedthem，thechildrenshouldmakethemsomereturnfortheirtroubleandcare。

TheviewofthisquestionwhichistakeninAmericaseemstobeverystrangetome。OnceIheardayoungAmericanargueinthisway。

Hesaid，gravelyandseriously，thatashewasbroughtintothisworldbyhisparentswithouthisconsent，itwastheirdutytorearhiminaproperway，butthatitwasnopartofhisdutytosupportthem。

Iwasverymuchastoundedatthisstatement。InChinasuchasonwouldbedespised，andifheneglectedtomaintainhisparentshewouldbepunished。IdonotbelievethattheextremeviewsofthisyoungmanareuniversallyacceptedinAmerica，butIaminclinedtothinkthatthedutiesofchildrentowardtheirparentsaresomewhatill-defined。

Americanparentsdonotapparentlyexpecttheirchildrentosupportthem，because，asaruletheyare，ifnotrich，atleastincomfortablecircumstances；andeveniftheyarenot，theywouldratherworkfortheirlivelihoodthanburdentheirchildrenandhindertheirsuccessbyrelyingonthemforpecuniaryaid。Itmayhaveescapedmyobservation，but，sofarasIknow，itisnotthecustomforyoungpeopletoprovidefortheirparents。Therewas，however，oneexceptionalcasewhichcametomyknowledge。SomeyearsagoayoungSenatorinWashington，whowasfamousforhiseloquence，hadhisfatherlivingwithhim。

Hisfatherwaseightyyearsofage，andthoughinrobusthealthwasacripple，andsohadtodependonhimforsupport。Iwasinformedthatheandhiswifewereverykindtohim。Manyyoungmentreattheirparentskindlyandaffectionately，buttheydoitmoreasafavorthanasaduty；

infact，asbetweenequals。

InconnectionwiththissubjectImaymentionthatassoonasasonmarries，howeveryoungandinexperiencedhemaybe，heleaveshisparents"roof。

Heandhisbridewillsetupaseparateestablishmentsothattheycandoastheypleasewithoutthesupervisionoftheirparents。

Thelatterdonotobject，asitgivestheyoungfolkanopportunitytogainexperienceinkeepinghouse。Youngwiveshaveahorrorofhavingtheirmothers-in-lawresidewiththem；ifitbenecessarytohaveanelderlyladyasacompaniontheyalwaysendeavortogettheirownmothers。

Americanwomenareambitiousandversatile，andcanreadilyapplythemselvestoanytaskwithease。Theyarenotonlyemployedinstoresandmercantilehousesbutareengagedindifferentprofessions。

ThereisscarcelyanystoreinAmericawheretherearenotsomewomenemployedastypists，clerks，oraccountants。Iamtoldthattheyaremoresteadythanmen。Eveninthelearnedprofessionstheysuccessfullycompetewiththemen。SomeyearsagotheAttorney-Generalshipofoneofthestatesbecamevacant。Twocandidatesappeared；

onewasagentlemanandtheotherayoungladylawyer。

Theybothsoughtelection；thegentlemansecuredasmallmajority，butintheendtheladylawyerconquered，forshesoonbecamethewifeoftheAttorney-General，herformeropponentduringtheelectioncampaign，andafterhermarriageshepracticallycarriedontheworkofherhusband。

Someyearslaterherhusbandretiredfrompracticeinordertofarm，andshecontinuedtocarryonthelawpractice。DoesnotthisindicatethattheintellectoftheAmericanwomanisequal，ifnotsuperior，tothatofthemen？Americanwomenaregoodconversationalists，andmanyofthemareeloquentandendowedwith"thegiftofthegab"。

OneofthecleverestandwittiestspeechesIhaveeverheardwasfromawomanwhospokeatapublicmeetingonapublicquestion。

Theyarealsogoodwriters。SuchwomenasMrs。EllaWheelerWilcox，Mrs。MaryN。FooteHenderson，Mrs。ElizabethTowneandmanyothers，areagreatcredittotheirsex。Thewritingsofsuchwomenshowtheirprofoundinsightandwideculture。Naturallysuchwomencannotbeexpectedtoplaysecondfiddle。Theyexercisegreatinfluence，andwhenmarried"theyruletheroost"。Itshouldbementionedthattheirhusbandssubmitwillinglytotheirtactfulrule，andgladlyobeytheircommandswithoutfeelingthattheyareservants。

IwouldadviseanymarriedwomanwhocomplainsofherhusbandbeingunrulyandunpleasanttotakealessonfromtheladiesofAmerica。

Theyarevivacious，bright，loquaciousandlessreservedthanEuropeanladies。

Insocialfunctionstheycanbeeasilyrecognized。If，however，anAmericanladymarriesaforeignerandlivesabroad，shesoonloseshernationalcharacteristics。OnceonboardasteamerIhadanAmericanladyasafellowpassenger；fromherreservedmannerImistookherforanEnglishlady，anditwasonlyaftersomedaysthatIdiscoveredshewasborninAmerica，butthatshehadbeenlivinginEnglandformanyyearswithherEnglishhusband。

ThereisonefaultIfindwithAmericanwomen，ifitcanbesocalled，andthatistheirinquisitiveness；Iknowthatthisisacommonfaultwithallwomen，butitismostconspicuousintheAmericans。

Theyhavetheknackoffindingoutthingswithoutyourbeingawareofit，andiftheyshouldwanttoknowyourhistorytheywilllearnallaboutitafterafewminutes"conversation。Theyaregooddetectives，andIthinktheyshouldbeemployedinthatlinemorethantheyare。

Anation"sreputationdependsuponthegeneralcharacterofitswomen，fortheyformatleasthalf，ifnotmore，ofthepopulation。

InthisrespectAmericastandshigh，fortheAmericanwomanislively，open-heartedandingenuous；sheisalsofearless，independent，andisalmostwithoutrestraint。Sheiseasilyaccessibletohighandlow，andfriendlytoall，butwoetothemanwhoshouldmisunderstandthepureandhighcharacterofanAmericangirl，andattempttotakelibertieswithher。Toastranger，andespeciallytoanOriental，sheisapuzzle。

SomeyearsagoIhadtodisabuseafalsenotionofacountrymanofminerespectingalady"sbehaviortowardhim。ThekeenobserverwillfindthattheAmericangirl，havingbeeneducatedinschoolsandcollegeswithboys，naturallyactsmorefreelythanhersistersinothercountries，wheregreatrestraintisimposeduponthem。Heractionsmaybeconsideredasperilouslyneartotheborderofmasculinity，yetsheisasfarfromeithercoarsenessorlowthoughtsasistheNorthfromtheSouthPole。

TheChineseladyisaspureasherAmericansister，butsheisbroughtupinadifferentway；herexclusionkeepsherindoors，andshehaspracticallynoopportunityofassociatingwithmalefriends。

Abirdwhichhasbeenconfinedinacageforalongtime，will，whenthedoorisopened，flyfarawayandperhapsneverreturn，butifithasbeentamedandallowedtogoinandoutofitscageasitpleasesitwillnotgofar，butwillalwayscomebackintheevening。

Whenmycountrywomenareallowedmorefreedomtheywillnotabuseit，butitwilltakesomelittletimetoeducatethemuptotheAmericanstandards。

Chapter10。AmericanCostumesFashionistheworkofthedevil。Whenhemadeuphismindtoenslavemankindhefoundinfashionhismosteffectiveweapon。Fashionenthrallsman，itdepriveshimofhisfreedom；itisthemostautocraticdictator，itsmandatebeingobeyedbyallclasses，highandlow，withoutexception。

Everyseasonitissuesnewdecrees，andnomatterhowludicroustheyare，everyonesubmitsforthwith。Thefashionsofthisseasonarechangedinthenext。Look，forexample，atwomen"shats；someyearsagothe"merrywidow"whichwasabouttwoorthreefeetindiameter，wasalltherage，andthelargeritbecamethemorefashionableitwas。

Sometimesthewearercouldhardlygothroughadoorway。

Thencamethehatcrownedwithbirds"feathers，someladiesevenplacingthecompletebirdontheirhats——amostridiculousexhibitionofbadtaste。

TheSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimalsshouldtakeupthequestionofthedestructionofbirdsfortheirplumage，andagitateuntilthelawmakesitillegaltowearabirdonahat。

Somemaysaythatifpeoplekillanimalsandbirdsforfoodtheymightjustaswellwearadeadbirdontheirhats，iftheywishtobesosilly，althoughthelargemajorityofAmerica"spopulation，Iamsorrytofind，sincerelybelievemeattobeanecessaryarticleofdiet；

yetwhowillclaimthatadeadbirdonahatisanindispensablearticleofwearingapparel？Whydowedressatall？First，Isuppose，forprotectionagainstcoldandheat；secondly，forcomfort；thirdly，fordecency；and，fourthly，forornament。NowdoesthedressofAmericansmeettheserequirements？

First，asregardstheweather，doeswoman"sdressprotectherfromthecold？

Thefactthatalargenumberofpersonsdailysufferfromcoldsarousesthesuspicionthattheirdressisatfault。Thebodyisneitherequallynorevenlycovered，theupperportionbeingasarulenearlybare，orverythinlyclad，sothattheslightestexposuretoadraught，orasuddenchangeoftemperature，subjectsthewearertotheunpleasantexperienceofcatchingcold，unlesssheissophysicallyrobustandhealthythatshecanresistallthedangerstowhichherclothing，orratherherlackofclothing，subjectsher。