female
doctors, female engravers, for more female artists, more authoresses?
One can see where the evil lies, but who can point out the remedy?
When a woman has a little family to rear and educate and a household
to conduct, her hands are full, her vocation is evident; when her
destiny isolates her, I suppose she must do what she can, live as she
can, complain as little, bear as much, work as well as possible.
This is not high theory, but I believe it is sound practice, good to
put into execution while philosophers and legislators ponder over the
better ordering of the social system. At the same time, I conceive
that when patience has done its utmost and industry its best, whether
in the case of women or operatives, and when both are baffled, and
pain and want triumph, the sufferer is free, is entitled, at last to
send up to Heaven any piercing cry for relief, if by that cry he can
hope to obtain succour.'

TO W. S. WILLIAMS

'_June_ 2, 1848.

'MY DEAR SIR,--I snatch a moment to write a hasty line to you, for it
makes me uneasy to think that your last kind letter should have
remained so long unanswered. A succession of little engagements,
much more importunate than important, have quite engrossed my time
lately, to the exclusion of more momentous and interesting
occupations. Interruption is a sad bore, and I believe there is
hardly a spot on earth, certainly not in England, quite secure from
its intrusion. The fact is, you cannot live in this world entirely
for one aim; you must take along with some single serious purpose a
hundred little minor duties, cares, distractions; in short, you must
take life as it is, and make the best of it. Summer is decidedly a
bad season for application, especially in the country; for the
sunshine seems to set all your acquaintances astir, and, once bent on
amusement, they will come to the ends of the earth in search thereof.
I was obliged to you for your suggestion about writing a letter to
the _Morning Chronicle_, but I did not follow it up. I think I would
rather not venture on such a step at present. Opinions I would not
hesitate to express to you--because you are indulgent--are not mature
or cool enough for the public; Currer Bell is not Carlyle, and must