for a wife to earn money as it is for her husband; let them, moreover, resolve that time and skill is what they will pay for, and not sex, and the age will soon see what efforts women can make after excellence when there is hope of a just reward for it. Then alone shall we begin to walk in self-respect, and the poor, wronged work-woman throughout the world will raise her drooping head.
Article III.—Admission.
Any housekeeper may be received as a member, and all members shall be in equal relation to the society.
Reasons for Article III.
Women being at present essentially aristocrats, many may demur to this article as tending to introduce into their companionship those who are not "of their own set." But, in the first place, co-operative housekeeping, being intended largely to supplant the retail trade, must succeed, if it succeed at all, on sound business principles; and, in business, social distinctions are not recognized. Money is money, whether it come from the poor or the rich; and if a mechanic's wife wishes to be a co-operative housekeeper, though she may buy less and simpler food and clothing than a broker's or a lawyer's wife, yet, if she pay as punctually for it, she has as good a business standing in the association as they. In the second place, co-operative housekeepers, even if rich and cultivated ladies, will find themselves largely in need of the practical assistance of the middle and lower classes of women,—of the former for matrons, dressmakers, confectioners, etc., and of the latter for servants. Now it is often and justly urged in apology for the low wages given to women, that they do not, as a rule, know their trades and occupations well, and will not take pains to master them, simply because none of them expect to "work for a living" longer than the time between girlhood and marriage. To get skilful servants and work-women then, it is necessary to make them feel that their
