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ways。 As yet； fortunately； few men among us have so little
self…respect as to idle about our streets and drawing…rooms because
their fathers are rich enough to support them。 We are not without
our unemployed poor； but roving tramps and idle clubmen are after
all not of large consequence。 Our serious； non…producing classes
are chiefly women。 It is the regular ambition of the chivalrous
American to make all the women who depend on him so comfortable
that they need do nothing for themselves。 Machinery has taken
nearly all the former occupations of women out of the home into
the shop and factory。 Widespread wealth and comfort； and the
inherited theory that it is not well for the woman to earn money
so long as father or brothers can support her； have brought about
a condition of things in which there is social danger； unless with
the larger leisure are given high and enduring interests。 To health
especially there is great danger； for nothing breaks down a woman's
health like idleness and its resulting ennui。 More people； I am
sure； are broken down nervously because they are bored； than
because they are overworked； and more still go to pieces through
fussiness； unwholesome living； worry over petty details； and the
daily disappointments which result from small and superficial
training。 And then； besides the danger to health； there is the
danger to character。 I need not dwell on the undermining influence
which men also feel when occupation is taken away and no absorbing
private interest fills the vacancy。 The vices of luxurious city
life are perhaps hardly more destructive to character than is the
slow deterioration of barren country life。 Though the conditions
in the two cases are exactly opposite； the trouble is often the
same；absence of noble interests。 In the city restless idleness
organizes amusement； in the country deadly dulness succeeds
daily toil。
But there is a second reason why a girl should acquire for herself
strong and worthy interests。 The regular occupations of women
in their homes are generally disconnected and of little educational
value； at least as those homes are at present conducted。 Given
the best will in the world； the daily doing of household details
becomes a wearisome monotony if the mere performance of them
is all。 To make drudgery divine a woman must have a brain to plan
and eyes to see how to 〃sweep a room as to God's laws。〃 Imagination
and knowledge should be the hourly companions of her who would
make a fine art of each detail in kitchen and nursery。 Too long
has the pin been the appropriate symbol of the average woman's
lifethe pin； which only temporarily holds together things which
may or may not have any organic connection with one another。 While
undoubtedly most women must spend the larger part of life in this
modest pin…work； holding together the little things of home and
school and society and church； it is also true； that cohesive work
itself cannot be done well； even in humble circumstances； except
by the refined； the trained； the growing woman。 The smallest
village； the plainest home； give ample space for the resources
of the trained college woman。 And the reason why such homes and
such villages are so often barren of grace and variety is just
because these fine qualities have not ruled them。 The higher
graces of civilization halt among us； dainty and finished ways of
living give place to common ways； while vulgar tastes； slatternly
habits； clouds and despondency reign in the house。 Little children
under five years of age die in needless thousands because of the
dull； unimaginative women on whom they depend。 Such women have
been satisfied with just getting along； instead of packing everything
they do with brains； instead of studying the best possible way of
doing everything small or large； for there is always a best way；
whether of setting a table； of trimming a hat； or teaching a child
to read。 And this taste for perfection can be cultivated； indeed；
it must be cultivated； if our standards of living are to be raised。
There is now scientific knowledge enough； there is money enough；
to prevent the vast majority of the evils which afflict our social
organism； if mere knowledge or wealth could avail； but the greater
difficulty is to make intelligence； character； good taste；
unselfishness prevail。
What； then； are the interests which powerfully appeal to mind
and heart； and so are fitted to become the strengthening companions
of a woman's life？ I shall mention only three； all of them such
as are elaborately fostered by college life。 The first is the love
of great literature。 I do not mean that use of books by which a
man may get what is called a good education and so be better
qualified for the battle of life； nor do I mention books in their
character as reservoirs of knowledge； books which we need for
special purposes； and which are no longer of consequence when
our purpose with them is served。 I have in mind the great books；
especially the great poets； books to be adopted as a resource and
a solace。 The chief reason why so many people do not know how
to make comrades of such books is because they have come to them
too late。 We have in this country enormous numbers of readers；
probably a larger number who read； and who read many hours in the
week； than has ever been known elsewhere in the world。 But what
do these millions read besides the newspapers？ Possibly a
denominational religious weekly and another journal of fashion
or business。 Then come the thousands who read the best magazines；
and whatever else is for the moment popular in novels and poetry
the last dialect story； the fashionable poem； the questionable but
talked…of novel。 Let a violent attack be made on the decency
of a new story and instantly； if only it is clever； its author
becomes famous。
But the fashions in reading of a restless racethe women too idle；
the men too heavily workedI will not discuss here。 Let light
literature be devourered by our populace as his drug is taken
by the opium…eater； and with a similar narcotic effect。 We can
only seek out the children； and hope by giving them from babyhood
bits of the noblest literature； to prepare them for the great
opportunities of mature life。 I urge； therefore； reading as a
mental stimulus； as a solace in trouble； a perpetual source of
delight； and I would point out that we must not delay to make
the great friendships that await us on the library shelves until
sickness shuts the door on the outer world； or death enters the
home and silences the voices that once helped to make these
friendships sweet。 If Homer and Shakespeare and Wordsworth and
Browning are to have meaning for us when we need them most； it
will be because they come to us as old familiar friends whose
influences have permeated the glad and busy days before。 The
last time I heard James Russell Lowell talk to college girls； he
said；for he was too ill to say many words〃I have only this one
message to leave with you。 In all your work in college never
lose sight of the reason why you have come here。 It is not that
you may get something by which to earn your bread； but that every
mouthful of bread may be the sweeter to your taste。〃
And this is the power possessed by the mighty dead；men of every
time and nation； whose voices death cannot silence； who are waiting
even at the poor man's elbow； whose illuminating words may be
had for the price of a day's work in the kitchen or the street；
for lack of love of whom many a luxurious home is a dull and
solitary spot； breeding misery and vice。 Now the modern college
is especially equipped to introduce its students to such literature。
The library is at last understood to be the heart of the college。
The modern librarian is not the keeper of books； as was his
predecessor； but the distributer of them； and the guide to their
resources； proud when he increases the use of his treasures。 Every
language； ancient or modern； which contains a literature is now
taught in college。 Its history is examined； its philology； its
masterpieces； and more than ever is English literature studied
and loved。 There is now every opportunity for the college student
to become an expert in the use of his own tongue and pen。 What
other men painfully strive for he can enjoy to the full with
comparatively little effort。
But there is a second invigorating interest to which college
training introduces its student。 I mean the study of nature；
intimacy with the strange and beautiful world in which we live。
〃Nature never did betray the heart that loved her；〃 sang her
poet high priest。 When the world has been too much with us；
nothing else is so refreshing to tired eyes and mind as woods
and water； and an intelligent knowledge of the life within them。
For a generation past there has been a well…nigh universal turning
of the population toward the cities。 In 1840 only nine per cent
of our people lived in cities of 8；000 inhabitants or more。 Now
more than a third of us are found in cities。 But the electric…car；
the telephone； the bicycle； still keep avenues to the country open。
Certain it is that city people feel a growing hunger for t