So a free world would order things. But in our present
barbaric state of industrial slavery, capitalism, monopoly,--in
other words under the organized rule of selfishness,--such a course
was impossible. Perhaps, as an intermediate condition, it might
happen in time that the women of certain classes would for the most
part be made independent at maturity each by her own father; which
would produce for them in the end pretty much the same general
effect of freedom. She saw as a first step the endowment of the
daughter. But meanwhile there was nothing for it save that as many
women as could should aim for themselves at economic liberty, in
other words at self-support. That was an evil in itself, because
obviously the prospective mothers of a community should be relieved
as far as possible front the stress and strain of earning a
livelihood; should be set free to build up their nervous systems to
the highest attainable level against the calls of maternity. But
above all things we must be practical; and in the practical world
here and now around us, no other way existed for women to be free
save the wasteful way of each earning her own livelihood.
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