AUTHOR. Do you not see that corruption is shutting us in, body and soul; and that if we do not create a vigorous reaction against it by the severity of the laws, the reform of education, and the awakening of the ideal, our society will be, ere long, only an immense brothel? READER. Alas! it is but too true. AUTHOR. Let us demand then, not only a rational reform of the national education, but also that the number of lyceums shall be doubled for girls. That all the institutions of higher instruction dependent on the state shall be open to them as to boys. That they shall be admitted to receive the same university degrees, and the same diplomas of capacity as men. That every field of occupation shall be opened to them as to men; So that, elevated in public opinion by equality, their activity shall no longer be nominally compensated; that they may live by their labor, and that want, discouragement and suicide may no longer terminate their life when they do not make choice of the sad part of elements of demoralization. I. APPEAL TO WOMEN. Progressive women, to you, I address my last words, Listen in the name of the general good, in the name of your sons and your daughters. You say: the manners of our time are corrupt; the laws concerning our sex need reform. It is true; but do you think that to verify the evil suffices to cure it? You say: so long as woman shall be a minor in the city, the state and marriage, she will be so in social labor; she will be forced to be supported by man; that is to debase him while humbling herself. It is true; but do you believe that to verify these things suffices to remedy our abasement? You say: the education that both sexes receive is deplorable in view of the destiny of humanity. It is true; but do you believe that to affirm this suffices to improve, to transform the method of education? Will words, complaints and protestations have power to change any of these things? It is not to lament over them that is needed; it is to act. It is not merely to demand justice and reform that is needed; it is to labor ourselves for reform; it is to prove _by our works_ that we are worthy to obtain justice; it is to take possession resolutely of the contested place; it is, in a word, to have intellect, courage and activity. Upon whom then will you have a right to count, if you abandon yourselves? Upon men? Your carelessness and silence have in part discouraged those who maintained your right; it is much if they defend you against those who, to oppress you, call to their aid every species of ignorance, every species of despotism, every selfish passion, all the paradoxes which they despise when their own sex is in question. You are insulted, you are outraged, you are denied or you are blamed in order that you may be reduced to subjection, and it is much if your indignation is roused thereby! When will you be ashamed of the part to which you are condemned?