Politicians  are  glad  to  have  the  assistance  of
women  in  influencing  the  electors,  and  doing  the
hard  work  of  canvassing  and  platform  speaking ;
but  a  large  number,  at  any  rate  (we  must  be  gener-
ous to  those  who  regard  us  as  fellow  human  beings),
will  not  listen  to  suggestions  to  give  women  the  po-
litical vote.  In  municipal  life  men  are  anxious  to


OUR  AMERICAN  SISTERS  77

secure  women's  voluntary  assistance  in  a  hundred
capacities,  but  offer  them  no  share  in  the  rewards
and,  at  best,  but  niggardly  thanks.  Women  may
serve  them  by  unselfish  work  on  committees,  and
in  other  capacities,  but  must  ask  for  no  power,
and  expect  but  little  voice  in  the  direction  of  pub-
lic affairs.  This  state  of  things  is  bound  to  go.
Women  are  coming  forward  and  preparing  them-
selves for  public  work.  I  hope  the  day  will  come
when  women  will  not  only  sit  upon  all  public  com-
missions, but  on  juries,  and  among  Counsel  at  the
Bar.  Women  may  take  a  law  degree  in  England,
but  practice  is  closed  to  them,  although  they  may
plead  their  own  case  ;  the  States  are  ahead  of  us  in
this ;  but  we  have  a  woman  magistrate  for  lunacy
matters :

"  Miss  Emily  Duncan,  chairman  of  the  West  Ham
Board  of  Guardians,  has  been  specially  permitted
by  the  Lord  Chancellor  to  act  as  a  Justice  of
the  Peace  in  lunacy  matters  at  the  workhouse
infirmary.  Miss  Duncan,  it  is  stated,  is  the  first
woman  who  has  been  allowed  to  officiate  in  this
capacity.
