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。