Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/144

 the young husband had the long-anticipated delight of initiating his second self to this new and freer life, and introducing her to the homage of the friends of his wander-jahre. If she took special delight in travelling, their return might be delayed as long as a year; but usually her domestic instincts would render her glad to return by the end of the second month.

There was, besides, the required residence of six months at the university before they could settle down to entire domesticity. They were at liberty to select a foreign university; but, for many reasons, that nearest their native place was usually preferred. The advanced study of certain subjects, medicine for example, could not be entered upon till after marriage, a great majority of physicians being women. The latter, to whom certain branches of the medical profession were exclusively confined, studied in their own halls, under professors of their own sex.

Those, of course, that intended to make medicine a specialty, went through a more extended course. But, whatever else might be studied during the six-months' residence, every woman was expected to go through a prescribed course, adapted to render her, on ordinary occasions, the physician of her own household. This was the more feasible, because, while medicine had really become a science, the simple, regular course of life led by all had long banished the complicated ailments that now tax the skill of the physician. In like manner every man was required to go through such a course of law as rendered him capable of holding the official positions that all, in rotation, were obliged to accept. For, strange to say,