Page:Heroines of freethought (IA cu31924031228699).pdf/177

Rh are women in England who agree with me in this; I know there are women in America who agree with me in this. The plea of acquiescence is invalidated by us.”

The following few strong words, on page 231 of the second volume, places in its true light one of the most common and commonplace objections to woman's becoming interested in her own affairs: "The incessant outcry about the retiring modesty of the sex proves the opinion of the censors to be that fidelity to conscience is inconsistent with retiring modesty. If it be so, Jet the modesty succumb. It can only be a false modesty which can thus be endangered.”

That life must be well worth living which is permitted to see its most advanced and cherished convictions realized. Such a life is likely to be Harriet Martineau's, and, when her “summons comes to join the innumerable caravan,” she will not need to cry in anguish, “all is vanity and vexation of spirit”! for she has lived to see negro