At intervals the rigor of masculine costume is a little relaxed; velvets
resume their picturesque sway: and, instead of the customary suit of solemn
black, gentlemen even appear in blue and gold editions at evening parties.
Let us hope that good sense and taste may yet meet each other, for both
sexes; that men may borrow for their dress some womanly taste, women some
masculine sense; and society may again witness a graceful and appropriate
costume, without being too much absorbed in "featherses."




VI

STUDY AND WORK

"Movet me ingens scientiarum admiratio, seu legis communis aequitas,
ut in nostro sexu, rarum non esse feram, id quod omnium votis
dignissimum est. Nam cum sapientia tantum generis humani ornamentum
sit, ut ad omnes et singulos (quoad quidem per sortem cujusque
liceat) extendi jure debeat, non vidi, cur virgini, in qua excolendi
sese ornandique sedulitatem admittimus, non conveniat mundus hic
omnium longè pulcherrimus."--ANNAE MARIAE À SCHURMAN EPISTOLAE.
(1638.)

"A great reverence for knowledge and the natural sense of justice
urge me to encourage in my own sex that which is most worthy the
aspirations of all. For, since wisdom is so great an ornament of the
human race that it should of right be extended (so far as
practicable) to each and every one, I have not perceived why this