arles has told us. I think higher education
for women should develop purity of heart, self-forgetfulness, and
enlarged and enriched minds."

"Well spoken, daughter," said Colonel Harris. "Now, dear, what have you
to say?"

Mrs. Harris had listened well, as she had been a slave in the interests
of her children, especially of her daughters. She thought that the last
twenty-five years had proved that women in physical and intellectual
capacity were able to receive and profit by a college education. Often
she had longed for the same training of mind that men of her acquaintance
enjoyed. The subject was thus discussed with profit, till the Turkish
coffee was served. Closing the discussion, Searles thought that America
led England in offering better education to woman, but that England had
given her more freedom in politics; the English woman voted for nearly
all the elective officers, except members of Parliament. He believed that
the principle of education of woman belonged to her as a part of
humanity; that it gave to her a self-centered poise, that it made her a
competent head of the home, where the family is trained as a unit of
civilization.

He felt that woman possessed the finest and highest qualities, and that
it was her mission to project and incorporate these elevating qualities
into society. He thought man had nothing to fear or lose, but much to
gain; that to multiply woman's colleges everywhere, was to furnish the
twentieth century, or "Woman's Century" as Victor Hugo called it, with
a dynamic force, that would beget more blessings for humanity than all
previous centuries.

Gertrude thanked Mr. Searles for what he had said, and the party withdrew
to the Winter Garden Cafe, pretty with palms, where Lucille, Leo, and
Alfonso talked of society matters, of art and music.

Gertrude read to her mother, while Hugh Searles and Colonel Harris
stepped outside into the gentlemen's cafe for a smoke, as both were fond
of a cigar. There the conversation naturally drifted upon the tariff
question.

Mr. Searles asserted that he favored free trade, and that he was sorry
America was not as far advanced and willing as Great Britain to recognize
the universal and fundamental principle of the brotherhood of mankind,
and the inborn right of everybody to trade as he liked in the world's
cheapest markets. He added that he sometimes felt that Americans were
too selfish, too much in love with the vulgar dollar.

Colonel Harris,