Je ne puis trouver des termes assez forts pour exprimer la haine et le mépris que je ressens pour l'idée moderne qu'une femme doit cesser d'être mère, fille, ou femme pour qu'elle puisse devenir commis ou ingénieur. Vous êtes toutes entièrement sottes dans cette matière. Le devoir d'un homme est d'entretenir sa femme et ses enfants, celui d'une femme est de le rendre heureux chez lui, et d'élever ses enfants sagement. Aucune femme n'est capable de faire plus que cela. Aucune femme ne doit faire moins, et un homme qui ne peut pas nourrir sa femme, et désire qu'elle travaille pour lui, mérite d'être pendu au-dessus de sa porte. Je suis, Madame, fidèlement à vous, J. RUSKIN. FOOTNOTES: [142] I have been unable to get access to the paper from which this letter is taken, and must therefore have without explanation the fortunately unimportant references in its first paragraph. [Date and place of publication unknown.] _FEMALE FRANCHISE._ VENICE, _29th May_, 1870. SIR: I am obliged by your note. I have no time for private correspondence at present, but you are quite right in your supposition as to my views respecting female franchise. So far from wishing to give votes to women, I would fain take them away from most men.[143] Very sincerely yours, J. RUSKIN. FOOTNOTES: [143] So also in writing an excuse for absence from a lecture upon "Woman's Work and Woman's Sphere," given on behalf of the French female refugees by Miss Emily Faithfull in February, 1871, Mr. Ruskin said: "I most heartily sympathize with you in your purpose of defining woman's work and sphere. It is as refreshing as the dew's, and as defined as the moon's, but it is not the rain's nor the sun's." (_Daily Telegraph_, Feb. 21, 1871.) [From "The Monthly Packet," November, 1863, p. 556.] _PROVERBS ON RIGHT DRESS._[144] GENEVA, _October 20th_, 1862. MY DEAR SIR: I am much obliged by your letter: pardon me if for brevity's sake I answer with appearance of dogmatism. You will see the subject treated as fully as I am able in the course of the papers on political economy, of which the two first have already appeared in Fraser's Magazine.[145] The man and woman are meant by God to be perfectly noble and beautiful in each other's eyes. The dress is right which makes them so. The best dress is that which is beautiful in the eyes of noble and wise persons. Right dress is therefore that which is fit for the station in life, and the work to be done in it; and which is otherwise graceful--becoming--lasting--healthful--and easy; on occasion, splendid; _always_ as beautiful as possible. Right dress is therefore strong--simple--radiantly clean--carefully put on--carefully kept.