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v, 2
THE POLITICAL INFLUENCE OF WOMEN.
Meaning of the word "politics"-Position and influence of the Saxon
queens-The three Norman queens-The Plantagenet queens
-The rule of the Hanoverians-Politicians of the last century
-Interest in politics confined to the upper classes—The
Duchess of Marlborough-Her opinion of women-Influence
of Dissenters in politics-The Countess of Suffolk-Lady
Hervey The Countess of Huntingdon storms the House of
Lords-The Westminster election-The Duchess of Devon- shire
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CHAPTER IV.
THE BAS-BLEU.
View of literature by the fashionable world-Influence of France
-Lady Mary Montagu on women's position—Women afraid
of the reputation of learning-The dread of work-Conception
of gentility-Mrs. Chapone on women's studies—The literary
coterie: Lady Mary Montagu, Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu,
Elizabeth Carter, Mrs. Vesey, Hannah More, Mrs. Chapone,
Miss Talbot-Origin of the term "Bas-bleu "-Miss Carter
on the follies of society
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CHAPTER V.
THE PHILANTHROPISTS.
The beginnings of organized philanthropy-Hannah More and
her sisters-Mary Carpenter-Mrs. Trimmer-Elizabeth Fry
-Harriet Martineau-Miss Florence Nightingale—Mrs.
Josephine Butler
59
CHAPTER VI.
SERMONS IN DRAWING-ROOMS.
-
Formalism and inertness of the Church - - Societies for the
advancement of religion confined to men-Movements out-
side the Church-The Countess of Huntingdon and Whit-
field-Great ladies' opinions of the Methodist preachers—
Attitude of the upper classes towards religious movements-
Condition of the Clergy ..
PERIOD IV.
WOMEN IN THE VICTORIAN ERA.
CHAPTER I.
CHANGE OF IDEAL.
Change in women's position in this century-Women's status in
the past determined by the Church-De Ségur on English-
women-Change of thought and customs-Women in the
middle classes-Enlargement of interests among the middle
classes-Single women as described by Jane Austen-Mar-
riage as a career for women-Change of opinion--The wives
of to-day-Social life-Independence of unmarried women
CHAPTER II.
THE MODERN GREAT LADY.
Fusion of classes-Social progress-Modification of women's
position in the higher ranks-Duties of the modern great
lady-Her new rôle
75
87
105
CHAPTER III.
WOMEN AS TRAVELLERS AND EXPLORERS.
English enterprise and love of travel-Travelling for pleasure a
modern taste-Ida Pfeiffer-Lady Hester Stanhope-Miss
Bird-Miss Annie Taylor-Lady Baker-Lady Euan Smith
-Lady Sale-Miss Kingsley
116
EDUCATIONAL ADVANCE.
Modern methods in women's education compared with the past
-A French author's opinion of education in England-Some
causes of progress-Character of the new education-The
days of Mary Somerville and Caroline Herschell-Their
election as members of the Astronomical Society-Mrs.
Somerville's education-Opening of Queen's College-Origin
of Girton-Foundation of Newnham-Character of modern
education
133
WOMEN IN LITERATURE.
The branches of literature in which women have been most dis-
tinguished-The first professional woman writer-Influence
of public sentiment-Position of literary women in the
eighteenth century-Anecdote by Lord Granville-Influence
of women in literature-The new school of fiction-Rapid
advance of women in all branches of literature
149
The stage as a
ART AS A PROFESSION.
profession for women-The progress of art-
Opening of the Royal Academy schools to female students-
Society of Lady Artists-Women as musicians—Composers
in the first half of the century-Queen Victoria's pianoforte
instructress-The musical amateur
162
CHAPTER VII.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IN TRADE.
The old idea of a gentlewoman-Change in public sentiment-
New openings for women-Women as telegraph clerks—
Women in the post-office-Indignation of the male clerks—
Dame Willatt and the Manchester post-office-Female clerks
in the Bank of England-The gentlewoman in trade-Greater
freedom enjoyed by women in choice of occupation..
CHAPTER VIII.
THE MODERN WOMAN OF BUSINESS.
Changes in the occupations of women-The number of women
employed in industries-Working wives-Trades recently
opened to women-Women as compositors and type-writers
-The modern shop-assistant-Trades now followed by
women-The change of opinion as to women's occupations
CHAPTER IX.
THE FACTORY HAND.
Importance of the industrial as compared with the agricultural
class-Women's position in the industrial market-Effects
of machinery and the factory system on women's work-
Break-up of family life-The factory question a woman's
question-Women's preference for outside work-Industrial
legislation-Attitude of women workers
CHAPTER X.
THE DOMESTIC SERVANT.
Position of the domestic servant-More men formerly employed
in domestic service-The demoiselles and chambrières of
former days-Servants in Elizabethan days—Interior of
Hengrave Hall in the seventeenth century-Duties of maid-
servants in 1677-Servants' dress regulated-Want of good
servants in the last century-Defoe's observations on servants
-A foreigner's opinion of English servants-Complaints of
servants' costume-Registry-offices of the last century—Ser-
vants' wages-Where our servants come from-Domestic
service at the present day
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187
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