Page:The Feminist Movement - Snowden - 1912.djvu/45

 married women in the country, whilst every woman is a potential wife. What definition of their sphere, their work in life, their special contribution to the general good would be satisfactory to them and leave them their self-respect?

The industrial revolution of the eighteenth century was hard upon the humbler classes of men. It was doubly hard upon women, and it was, in a sense, harder upon the women of the richer classes than upon the women of the poorer part of society.

The industrial revolution was responsible for robbing women of their work, at least of all that part of their work not directly concerned with the bearing of children. In the days preceding this economic change it was the custom of women of all ranks to work, and, in most cases, to work hard. In the earlier stages of human history women worked far harder than men, and the number of their duties was infinitely greater. When it became less important for a woman of means to work so hard, she nevertheless directed th∴e energies of the women of her household, and did not think it a sacrifice of dignity to engage in household duties herself. By her the household was fed and clothed. She baked the bread and cakes, made the jams and marmalades, brewed the beer, milked the cows, made the butter and cheese, prepared the