As in other countries below the grade of civilization, the industrial employments of the Philippines are largely for the women. To them is the task of spinning and weaving the exceptionally delicate fabric of the archipelago into the finest cloth. They also are the food purveyors, assisting in gathering food material, pounding it in their simple mills and serving it. In their cuisine are such vegetables as sweet potatoes, beans, plantains, guavas, pineapples, and oranges. The women rear fowls and domestic animals, and take upon themselves the entire care of the family and household. While the women of all countries have always been the natural and most persistent conservers of ancient ideals and racial customs, yet it may be predicted that the throwing of the Filipino tribes into contact with New World politics, trade, and customs will, at length, bring about marked social changes. These must eventually give to the women of the Filipinos a wider outlook upon life and a new power to carry its burdens. CONTENTS PREFACE I WOMEN OF THE DAWN II ISRAEL'S HEROIC AGE III THE DAYS OF THE KINGS IV THE ERA OF POLITICAL DECLINE V THE BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN WOMEN VI THE LAND OF THE LOTUS VII THE WOMEN OF THE HINDOOS VIII BESIDE THE PERSIAN GULF IX THE WOMEN OF ARABIA X THE TURKISH WOMEN XI THE MOORISH WOMEN XII WOMEN OF CHINA AND COREA XIII UNDER THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS--THE WOMEN OF JAPAN XIV WOMEN OF THE BACKWARD RACES OF THE EAST LIST OF ILLUSTRATION SUBJECT ARTIST Rebekah and Isaac's agent, Eliezer _A. Cabanel_ _Ghawazi C. L. Muller_ Interior court of a zenana _From an Indo-Persian painting_ An Oriental woman's pastime _Frederick A. Bridgman_ The mutes _P. L. Bouchard_ Woman's taste in Japan _Charles E. Fripp_