as in the family and in the school? You will find in
hundreds of schools, governed a few years ago by men, only women
for teachers to-day. I remember that in a building which
contained some three hundred pupils, the last man employed as a
teacher was an assistant teacher under the supervision of a woman
as principal; a woman who has vindicated her right to the place
by her admirable administration, and her admirable adaptation to
the business of teaching, so that she has become, as it were, a
fixture in that schoolhouse. And that is only one case among
many. And if woman excels in government in those spheres in which
she has had an opportunity to prove her ability, it is at least
safe to try the experiment further.

We have just seen one folly, one absurdity refuted by the simple
process of trying an experiment. The time was when it was deemed
altogether unwomanly, and repugnant to female delicacy and
refinement, for a woman to ink the ends of her fingers in
handling a pen; for a woman to be what was derisively called a
"blue-stocking," or a literary woman. It was thought that nothing
but pedantry, nothing but slatternly habits and neglected
housekeeping, could come of it. But who would be willing to
banish from the literary world to-day such names as Browning,
Hemans, Stowe, and Gage? And if I were to fill out the catalogue
of names, I might close my speech at the end of it, having tired
you all with the length of the recital. So it was said that women
should not appear on the public platform. But who now would
banish the women who have delighted such vast congregations, and
who have drawn such applause from all classes and conditions of
men? Who, to-day, considers it improper for Lucy Stone, Anna
Dickinson, Mrs. Stanton, Mrs. Gage, to appear upon a public
platform? Who is willing to shut the pulpit against Mrs. Mott,
when she has filled it with such acceptance, in so many places,
and on so many occasions? Step by step, woman has advanced toward
her right position. Step by step, as she advanced, she has proved
her right, to the satisfaction of caviling skepticism itself....

She would now go a step further. She demands the rights, not of
womanhood, but of humanity. And I feel just as confident that
what she demands will be conceded, in refer