nce of mind again. By the time the chairman could make himself
heard with, 'Now, men, it's one of our British characteristics that
we're always ready to give the people we differ from a hearing,' Miss
Levering, making the slightest of gestures, waved him aside with a low--

'It's all right.'

'These questions are quite proper,' she said, raising her voice. 'They
are often asked elsewhere; and I would like to ask in return: Since when
was human society held to exist for its handful of geniuses? How many
Platos are there here in this crowd?'

'Divil a wan!' And a roar of laughter followed that free confession.

'Not one,' she repeated. 'Yet that doesn't keep you men off the
register. How many Shakespeares are there in all England to-day? Not
one. Yet the State doesn't tumble to pieces. Railroads and ships are
built, homes are kept going, and babies are born. The world goes
on'--she bent over the crowd with lit eyes--'the world goes on _by
virtue of its common people_.'

There was a subdued 'Hear! hear!'

'I am not concerned that you should think we women could paint great
pictures, or compose immortal music, or write good books. I am
content'--and it was strange to see the pride with which she said it, a
pride that might have humbled Vere de Vere--'I am content that we should
be classed with the common people, who keep the world going. But'--her
face grew softer, there was even a kind of camaraderie where before
there had been shrinking--'I'd like the world to go a great deal better.
We were talking about justice. I have been inquiring into the kind of
lodging the poorest class of homeless women can get in this town of
London. I find that only the men of that class are provided for. Some
measure to establish Rowton Houses for Women has been before the London
County Council. They looked into the question very carefully--so their
apologists say. And what did they decide? They decided that they could
do nothing.

'Why could that great, all-powerful body do nothing? Because, they said,
if these cheap and decent houses were opened, the homeless women in the
streets would make use of them. You'll think I'm not in earnest, but
that was actually the decision, and the reason given for it. Women that
the bitter struggle for existence had forced into a life of horror might
take advantage of the shelter these decent, cheap places offered. But
the _men_, I said! Are the men who avail themselves of Lord Rowton's
hostels, are _t