John Stuart Mill, the great economist who two generations ago looked into the future and saw a vision of the woman movement that would be, said: “Little advance can be expected in morality until the production of large families is regarded in the same light as drunkenness or any other physical excess.” And he added: “Among the probable consequences of the industrial and social independence of women, I predict a great diminution of the evil of overpopulation.” John Stuart Mill meant Mrs. Webber and Mrs. Smith. Two children to be enjoyed instead of ten to be endured, is an ideal of family policy possible of attainment even in the east ends and the east sides of the world. For to Mrs. Webber or to Mrs. Smith, handling her own wage envelope, no one any more may say, “I shall not give you money for shoes to-morrow unless—” Volitional motherhood is the final truth that shall make women free. No one can compel the new woman to be anything that she does not wish to be, not even to be a mother until she chooses the time. After that curse pronounced upon Eve, there was a promise: “The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head!” “We can do it, dear.” That’s what the new woman will say triumphantly to the man who comes back to her from the Great War. Together they will take up the task of making, not only a new earth, but a new race! And I think he will be glad for what she tells him. The wonder is, not so much that women in the past were willing to endure the “subjection of women,” but that men consented to it. A bird in a cage can of course be made to eat out of the hand of the owner who feeds it. But see the bird that is free and will come at your call! The women in industry and commerce and the professions and in government, whom we are seeing in these years of war passing all barriers, will at last make their final stand for what? It is for happiness. Look! Even now, who has the vision to discern, may discover the gates of Eden swinging wide. And when the man in khaki, with the age-old yearning in his heart, “Woman wanted, my woman,” comes back to clasp her in his arms once more, these two everywhere shall enter in. For the ultimate programme toward which the modern woman movement to-day is moving is no less than paradise regained! It may even, I think, have been worth this war to be there. THE END Transcriber’s Notes Page 27—changed l’Opera to l’Opéra Page 27, Page 49—changed de identitie to de identité Page 50—changed Medaille to Médaille Page 64—changed Endel Street, London to Endell Street, London Page 95—changed Blessés Militairs to Blessés Militaires Page 106—changed leggins to leggings Page 112, Page 127—changed attache to attaché Page 145—changed commune of Exoudon to commune of Exoudun Page 208—changed grey and while to grey and white Page 145, Page 210—changed President Poincare to President Poincaré Page 247—changed perservered to preserved