been saved, by this wise forecast, from utter poverty and dependence.

Nearly connected with the rights of woman in property, and the justice of securing it from the imprudence or dishonesty of her husband, comes the claim she has to just compensation for her labor. There is no more melancholy fact in the whole history of civilization, than the lowness of woman's wages in those nations who boast themselves as the most refined. In this respect, extremes seem to meet; and in utter barbarism, and the highest perfection of the arts and sciences, woman is made a slave. She toils not for a just share of the avails of universal labor, but for a bare support; and even where Christianity has its fullest sway, woman gets for the most untiring industry, not a support, but commiseration.

There are many reasons for this, which do not lie on the surface, and which must always be taken into the account. Mankind are supported by the income of property and the wages of labor. Where there is a thin population in proportion to the soil, there wages will be high, because there is much to be done, and only a few people to do it. The products of the soil will be cheap, because

there will be great quantity raised, and few persons to consume it. But every step in the increase of population does so much to reverse this state of things, produces greater competition among laborers, and raises the price of those things which they consume. In this increased competition, woman, who is the weaker party, suffers the most, because she is the weaker, and in the scramble for something to do, is the last to be provided for. Her province of labor is invaded by the other sex, and thus the proper balance of employment is destroyed. Spinning and weaving, once the exclusive employment of women, have been taken out of their hands by the invention of machinery. One woman, with the aid of machinery, can manufacture as much cloth as fifty could without it. So far then as the manufacturing of cloth is concerned, forty-nine women are thrown out of employment, and great distress would be the consequence, were not the fabric produced for about one fourth of its former price, and thus the other three quarters may be laid out in something else that the industry of woman produces. As a compensation for this loss of employment in the production of the coarser arti

cles of clothing, which has taken place in consequence of the extensive employment of machinery, there follows a greater ability to consume articles of luxury, which are fortunately, for the most part, the production of female labor. In this way, the immense wealth accumulated by the income of capital is again diffused among the masses, carrying comfort and abundance, as well as honest occupation in its way.

There is an increase too of domestic service, which gives a home and protection to multitudes of females otherwise destitute. There is no higher test of principle and humanity in a woman of affluence and condition, than the light in which she regards, and the manner in which she treats her humbler sisters, often more deserving, though less fortunate than herself. She may make them comfortable and happy in their lot, by uniform forbearance and consideration, or she may pour a double portion of bitterness into their cup by harshness, coldness and hauteur. If woman has any rights at all, it is certainly the right to gentleness, compassion and kindness, from the powerful and wealthy of her own sex.

development of the human mind. It is the first expression of what is in man, of the thoughts, emotions, sentiments, feelings, passions which are excited by all that he beholds and experiences in this life. Poetry preceded prose, because it preceded writing, and was the only form in which words could be remembered before any external signs were invented to represent them. Poetry preceded prose because it is capable of being set to music, which was a still earlier invention, while prose is not. Poetry and music both had their origin in the propensity, or rather instinct there is in us to express our emotions in words and tones. On the occurrence of a joyful event we give vent to our feelings by shouts of gladness. We repeat to ourselves in words, the facts, and the feelings which they excite over and over, because they have made a deep impression on our minds. Our exclamations when we are glad, reveal to us the origin of poetry, and show to us the Lyric Muse in her cradle. Just so is it with the low wailings of bereavement and sorrow. They too form themselves into music and poetry, but take the longer, slower measure of the elegy or the dirge. Thus it was that the