ago, one of the wisest and truest men of this country, a
philanthropist and reformer--Matthew Carey, of
Philadelphia--labored to impress upon the people the fact, that
what was wanted for the elevation of woman was to open to her new
avenues of business. A very sad book was written a few months
ago, "Dr. Sanger's work on Prostitution." It is a very dreadful
book; not calculated, I think, to excite any prurient feeling in
any one. In that book he says:

First, that the majority of the prostitutes of this country are
mere children, between the ages of fifteen and twenty. That the
lives of these poor, wretched, degraded creatures, last on an
average about four years. Now, when we hear of slaves used up in
six years on a sugar plantation, we think it horrible; but here
are these poor girls killed in a more dreadful way, in a shorter
time. And he adds that the principal cause of their prostitution
is that they have no occupation by which they can support
themselves. Without support, without resources, they struggle for
a while and then are thrown under the feet of the trampling city.
Give them occupation and they will take care of themselves: they
will rise out of the mire of pollution, out of this filth; for
it is not in the nature of woman to remain there. Give them at
least a chance; open wide every door; and whenever they are able
to get a living by their head or their hands in an honest way,
let them do it. This is the first claim; and it seems to me that
no one can reasonably object to it.

2d. Education. You say that public schools are open to girls as
well as boys. I know that, but what is it that educates? The
school has but little to do with it. When the boy goes there you
say, "Go there, work with a will, and fit yourself for an
occupation whereby you may earn your bread." But you say to the
girls, "Go to school, get your education, and then come home, sit
still, and do nothing." We must give them every chance to fit
themselves for new spheres of duty. If a woman wants to study
medicine, let her study it; if she wants to study divinity, let
her study it; if she wants to study anything, let her have the
opportunity. If she finds faculties within her, let them have a
chance to expand. That is the second demand--the whole of it.