use was broached,
and begin to talk about the worm turning when it is trampled upon.

The devotion of Englishwomen to their families, and particularly to
their children, cannot be surpassed. I believe that they are the best,
the most self-sacrificing daughters, wives, and mothers in the world,
except the good daughters and wives and mothers in "America"; and even
them I believe they generally surpass in submissiveness and thoughtful
consideration. But this is the result of the general subordination which
in all things pervades English society.

It is generally believed in England, I cannot tell why, that women in
"America" take part in public affairs and are much more in the eye of
the world than Englishwomen are. Of this belief I met with an amusing
instance. One day at dinner in a "great house" I had on one side of me a
gentleman who had come in alone for lack of ladies enough to "go round";
it was a small family party. He was the brother of my hostess, a fine,
intelligent fellow about twenty-five years old, who had just taken his
bachelor's degree at Oxford. As I turned from his sister to him, in a
pause of conversation, he asked me with great earnestness, almost with
solemnity, "Is--it--true--that--in--America--the--women-- sit--on--juries?"
I answered instantly, and with perfect gravity, "Yes; all of them who
are not on duty as sergeants of dragoons." For one appreciable
delightful moment doubt and bewilderment flashed through his bright,
handsome eyes, and then he, as well as others within earshot,
appreciated the situation, and there was a hearty laugh and an
ingenuous blush mantled his cheeks--for young men can blush in England.
When I explained that in no part of that strange country "America" with
which I was acquainted did women sit on juries, or take any part in
public affairs, or even vote or go to public meetings, and that nine in
ten of the women that I knew would be puzzled to tell who represented
in Congress the districts in which they lived, who were the Senators
from their States, and possibly who were their Governors, I was
listened to with profound attention; and the surprise of my hearers was
very manifest, and was strongly expressed. It could hardly have been
otherwise; for nothing that I could have said would have brought into
clearer light the fact that women in America are very much less
informed upon public affairs and take very much less interest in them
than is the case with almost all Engl