Dear----: I wish I were able to add a few more words, with energy and clearness, to my former letters, respecting a subject of which my best strength--though in great part lately given to it, has not yet enforced the moment--the function, namely, of the arts of music and dancing as leaders and governors of the bodily, and instinctive mental, passions. No nation will ever bring up its youth to be at once refined and pure, till its masters have learned the _use_ of all the arts, and primarily of these; till they again recognize the gulf that separates the Doric and Lydian modes, and perceive the great ordinance of Nature, that the pleasures which, rightly ordered, exalt, discipline, and guide the hearts of men, if abandoned to a reckless and popular Dis-order, as surely degrade, scatter, and deceive alike the passions and intellect. I observe in the journals of yesterday, announcement that the masters of many of our chief schools are at last desirous of making the elements of Greek art one of the branches of their code of instruction: but that they imagine such elements may be learned from plaster casts of elegant limbs and delicate noses. They will find that Greek art can only be learned from Greek law, and from the religion which gives law of life to all the nations of the earth. Let our youth once more learn the meaning of the words "music," "chorus," and "hymn" practically; and with the understanding that all such practice, from lowest to highest, is, if rightly done, always in the presence and to the praise of God; and we shall have gone far to shield them in a noble peace and glorious safety from the darkest questions and the foulest sins that have perplexed and consumed the youth of past generations for the last four hundred years. Have you ever heard the charity children sing in St. Paul's? Suppose we sometimes allowed God the honor of seeing our _noble_ children collected in like manner to sing to Him, what think you might be the effect of such a festival--even if only held once a year--on the national manners and hearts? Ever faithfully and affectionately yours, J. RUSKIN. MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. V. WOMEN: THEIR WORK AND THEIR DRESS. WOMAN'S WORK. 1873. FEMALE FRANCHISE. 1870. PROVERBS ON RIGHT DRESS. 1862. SAD-COLORED COSTUMES. 1870. OAK SILKWORMS. 1862. V. WOMEN: THEIR WORK AND THEIR DRESS. [From "L'Espérance, Journel Mensuel, organe de l'Association des Femmes." Genève, le 8 Mai, 1873.] _WOMAN'S WORK._ _Lettre à la Présidente._[142] MA CHÈRE MADAME: Je vous remercie de votre lettre si intéressante, car je sympathise de tout mon cœur avec la plupart des sentiments et des souhaits que vous y exprimez. Mais arriver à rendre des femmes plus nobles et plus sages est une chose; les élever de façon à ce qu'elles entretiennient leurs maris est une autre!