forbidden them by law, and they are found in all departments of work. Since 1887 the working day for women and children 1s limited to ten hours.
Education: The educational advantages accorded to women are equal to those of men. Bates College, Colby College and the State University, including the Agricultural Department, were opened to them before 1884. Bowdoin College alone does not admit women.
There are in the public schools 1,020 men and 5,427 women teachers. The average monthly salary of the men is $35; of the women, $27.20.
During the past ten years the literary club movement has done an immense amount of educational work, and Maine was the first State to federate. In 1899 the federation instituted a system of traveling libraries, which has become a great power for good in the rural districts, and several clubs circulate libraries of their own. It also has secured minor bills on educational matters.
In 1893 two important institutions were established—the Home for Friendless Girls, in Belfast, and the Home for Friendless Boys, in Portland. There are also other homes for children.
In 1894 the Invalids' Home (now the Mary Brown Home, in honor of its founder) was incorporated. Any woman in Portland of good character may be admitted to it for $3 a week.
All of the above were organized by women, and are managed by them.
This in brief is the history of woman's progress in the Pine Tree State since 1884.
