PUBLISHERS' PREFACE.

N these book-making days, a new volume of biography needs, perhaps, a word of introduction to the kindly households wherein it seeks a welcome.

Probably no aspect of our time is more significant of progress than the ever-growing discussion of the place and duties of women in

the social state. Causes both economical and moral have tended to break up old habits of life and thought, and make new demands upon their capacity and conscience, which experience has not yet taught them to satisfy. All over the land, women are conscious of a ferment and disturbance of thought which is the prophecy of better things. Everywhere they are asking, "What can I do to hasten the New Day?"

It seemed, therefore, to the Publishers of this volume that the time had come when the simple story of what a few women have done would prove an inspiration and incentive to the many women who long to do. The book contains thirty sketches of lives, which, in various ways, have made the world richer for their presence. Excepting six, the subjects

of the sketches are living and working. With the natural modesty of worth, these ladies shrank from needless publicity, and at first hesitated to allow the use of their names. But when assured by the Publishers that the aim of the book was not to gratify a vulgar curiosity, but to kindle new hopes and ambitions in unknown hearts, and that it was the story of their labors, discouragements, and successes which was desired, rather than of their private joys and sorrows, they generously said that if the knowledge of anything which they had done could be of use to other women, struggling for bread, or the right to labor, or an honorable fame, they should hold it churlish to refuse. In no case has the name of a living person been used without its owner's consent. In almost every instance the writer of the sketch is the personal friend of its subject, - a relation which has insured an exceptional faithfulness and sympathy in treatment. arrangement of the papers is, of course, purely arbitrary, an alphabetical order having been held the most convenient.

The

The Publishers believe that they may fairly call their book representative. For while there are necessarily omitted names perhaps as well-known and well-beloved as those which appear, these thirty cover as wide a range of endeavor and achievement as the limits of the volume permit. That the subjects of the memoirs are all American, either by birth or adoption, gives the book a title to be considered not less national than representative.

The twenty women who have contributed these sketches need no commendation. Their names are a sufficient guarantee of the volume's worth. But the Publishers desire to express their sense of personal indebtedness to these coworkers for the accuracy, ability, and hearty good-will which have made the book better than their hopes.

In the mechanical execution of the work, the Publishers take an honest pride. They have spared neither money nor trouble to make it worthy of the subject-matter. Its portraits represent the best work of the best workers, and the likenesses are as faithful as the execution is artistic.

Finally, the Publishers venture to hope that they have not misconceived the temper of the time, and that to every one of the thousands of homes which the book may enter, it will bring something of the courage, patience, steadfastness of purpose, cheerfulness, and lofty aspiration which fill the lives whose history it records.