ABSTRACT
The dependence of woman on marriage, as the only means of obtaining a comfortable settlement in life, must necessarily exercise a very prejudicial influence on her early years, and on the formation of her character. The want of power on the part of woman to earn her own livelihood places her also in a false social relation, from the baneful influences of which it is next to impossible for her entirely to escape. A woman in the middle ranks, when cast on her own exertions, has two courses before her. Either she may endeavour to gain the means of subsistence in a way in some measure fitting her previous station in life; or, unable to do this, she may leave that status to join the ranks below. For rich women, there is no profession left except marriage. After school time, woman has nothing to do till she is married.
