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，theAmericanservantifonecanbefound；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。