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hat which they do； they are more anxious to do thoroughly and quickly。 They desire that every turn taken shall be a great turnor at any rate that it shall be as great as possible。 They go ahead either for bad or good with all the energy they have。 In the institutions at Lowell I think we may allow that the good has very much prevailed。 I went over two of the mills； those of the Merrimack corporation and of the Massachusetts。 At the former the printing establishment only was at work； the cotton mills were closed。 I hardly know whether it will interest any one to learn that something under half a million yards of calico are here printed annually。 At the Lowell Bleachery fifteen million yards are dyed annually。 The Merrimack Cotton Mills were stopped； and so had the other mills at Lowell been stopped； till some short time before my visit。 Trade had been bad； and there had of course been a lack of cotton。 I was assured that no severe suffering had been created by this stoppage。 The greater number of hands had returned into the countryto the farms from whence they had come； and though a discontinuance of work and wages had of course produced hardship； there had been no actual privationno hunger and want。 Those of the work…people who had no homes out of Lowell to which to betake themselves； and no means at Lowell of living； had received relief before real suffering had begun。 I was assured； with something of a smile of contempt at the question； that there had been nothing like hunger。 But； as I said before； visitors always see a great deal of rose color； and should endeavor to allay the brilliancy of the tint with the proper amount of human shading。 But do not let any visitor mix in the browns with too heavy a hand！ At the Massachusetts Cotton Mills they were working with about two… thirds of their full number of hands； and this； I was told； was about the average of the number now employed throughout Lowell。 Working at this rate they had now on hand a supply of cotton to last them for six months。 Their stocks had been increased lately； and on asking from whence； I was informed that that last received had come to them from Liverpool。 There is； I believe； no doubt but that a considerable quantity of cotton has been shipped back from England to the States since the civil war began。 I asked the gentleman； to whose care at Lowell I was consigned； whether he expected to get cotton from the Southfor at that time Beaufort； in South Carolina； had just been taken by the naval expedition。 He had； he said； a political expectation of a supply of cotton； but not a commercial expectation。 That at least was the gist of his reply； and I found it to be both intelligent and intelligible。 The Massachusetts Mills； when at full work； employ 1300 females and 400 males； and turn out 540；000 yards of calico per week。 On my return from Lowell in the smoking car； an old man came and squeezed in next to me。 The place was terribly crowded； and as the old man was thin and clean and quiet； I willingly made room for him； so as to avoid the contiguity of a neighbor who might be neither thin； nor clean； nor quiet。 He began talking to me in whispers about the war； and I was suspicious that he was a Southerner and a secessionist。 Under such circumstances his company might not be agreeable； unless he could be induced to hold his tongue。 At last he said； 〃I come from Canada； you know； and youyou're an Englishman； and therefore I can speak to you openly；〃 and he gave me an affectionate grip on the knee with his old skinny hand。 I suppose I do look more like an Englishman than an American； but I was surprised at his knowing me with such certainty。 〃There is no mistaking you；〃 he said； 〃with your round face and your red cheeks。 They don't look like that here；〃 and he gave me another grip。 I felt quite fond of the old man； and offered him a cigar。
CHAPTER XVIII。 THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN。
We all know that the subject which appears above as the title of this chapter is a very favorite subject in America。 It is； I hope； a very favorite subject here also； and I am inclined to think has been so for many years past。 The rights of women； as contradistinguished from the wrongs of women； has perhaps been the most precious of the legacies left to us by the feudal ages。 How； amid the rough darkness of old Teuton rule； women began to receive that respect which is now their dearest right； is one of the most interesting studies of history。 It came； I take it； chiefly from their own conduct。 The women of the old classic races seem to have enjoyed but a small amount of respect or of rights； and to have deserved as little。 It may have been very well for one Caesar to have said that his wife should be above suspicion； but his wife was put away； and therefore either did not have her rights； or else had justly forfeited them。 The daughter of the next Caesar lived in Rome the life of a Messalina； and did not on that account seem to have lost her 〃position in society；〃 till she absolutely declined to throw any vail whatever over her propensities。 But as the Roman empire fell； chivalry began。 For a time even chivalry afforded but a dull time to the women。 During the musical period of the Troubadours； ladies； I fancy； had but little to amuse them save the music。 But that was the beginning； and from that time downward the rights of women have progressed very favorably。 It may be that they have not yet all that should belong to them。 If that be the case； let the men lose no time in making up the difference。 But it seems to me that the women who are now making their claims may perhaps hardly know when they are well off。 It will be an ill movement if they insist on throwing away any of the advantages they have won。 As for the women in America especially； I must confess that I think they have a 〃good time。〃 I make them my compliments on their sagacity； intelligence； and attractions； but I utterly refuse to them any sympathy for supposed wrongs。 O fortunatas； sua si bona norint！ Whether or no； were I an American married man and father of a family； I should not go in for the rights of manthat is altogether another question。 This question of the rights of women divides itself into two heads one of which is very important； worthy of much consideration； capable perhaps of much philanthropic action； and at any rate affording matter for grave discussion。 This is the question of women's work： How far the work of the world； which is now borne chiefly by men； should be thrown open to women further than is now done？ The other seems to me to be worthy of no consideration； to be capable of no action； to admit of no grave discussion。 This refers to the political rights of women： How far the political working of the world； which is now entirely in the hands of men； should be divided between them and women？ The first question is being debated on our side of the Atlantic as keenly perhaps as on the American side。 As to that other question； I do not know that much has ever been said about it in Europe。 〃You are doing nothing in England toward the employment of females；〃 a lady said to me in one of the States soon after my arrival in America。 〃Pardon me；〃 I answered； 〃I t