the custom for young people to provide
for their parents. There was, however, one exceptional case which came
to my knowledge. Some years ago a young Senator in Washington, who was
famous for his eloquence, had his father living with him. His father
was eighty years of age, and though in robust health was a cripple, and
so had to depend on him for support. I was informed that he and his
wife were very kind to him. Many young men treat their parents kindly
and affectionately, but they do it more as a favor than as a duty; in
fact, as between equals.

In connection with this subject I may mention that as soon as a son
marries, however young and inexperienced he may be, he leaves his
parents' roof. He and his bride will set up a separate establishment
so that they can do as they please without the supervision of their
parents. The latter do not object, as it gives the young folk an
opportunity to gain experience in keeping house. Young wives have a
horror of having their mothers-in-law reside with them; if it be
necessary to have an elderly lady as a companion they always endeavor
to get their own mothers.

American women are ambitious and versatile, and can readily apply
themselves to any task with ease. They are not only employed in stores
and mercantile houses but are engaged in different professions. There
is scarcely any store in America where there are not some women
employed as typists, clerks, or accountants. I am told that they are
more steady than men. Even in the learned professions they
successfully compete with the men. Some years ago the
Attorney-Generalship of one of the states became vacant. Two
candidates appeared; one was a gentleman and the other a young lady
lawyer. They both sought election; the gentleman secured a small
majority, but in the end the lady lawyer conquered, for she soon became
the wife of the Attorney-General, her former opponent during the
election campaign, and after her marriage she practically carried on
the work of her husband. Some years later her husband retired from
practice in order to farm, and she continued to carry on the law
practice. Does not this indicate that the intellect of the American
woman is equal, if not superior, to that of the men? American women
are good conversationalists, and many of them are eloquent and endowed
with "the gift of the gab". One of the cleverest and wittiest speeches
I have ever heard was from a woman who spoke at a public