SIR. —Mrs. Robert Henrey's viewpoint is admirable and true. Women have
too often been chasing a Pia morgana, and in the effort to assume the position of men are imperilling their own future happiness. With great public devotion they have allowed themselves to be manoeuvred into positions in the Forces, in factories and other tasks for which they are not primarily qualified, and made to sacrifice their natural duties as wives and mothers. Many of these tasks they do well, but not so well as men ; for instinctively they are different, and with a diverse outlook on life. To discharge male duties they must surrender their home lifeond their children to hired workers who often discharge Ill tasks inadequately. This sacrifice often calls for the denial of motherhood (their richest heritage) and the giving up of the priceless refinements that may make life so rich for them. Meanwhile, men_are expected to waste valuable time in household chores, which they do badly, while other more important masculine work is neglected. It is a delusion to believe that women will find happiness in this way. Finally they are frustrated, and feel that life has cheated them.
In their own field—which is different from a man's—they are far more capable than he is, but the home, with all the lovely things that should surround it, is a woman's natural place, and she will never find ,full satisfaction in any other field. She should refuse to surrender her true liberty for the demands of the so-called Welfare State. It is, of course, true that a minority of women never have the chance of building a home, but few of them have not the opportunity of sharing in the pleasures of one, and doing useful work there. The wider fields now open to them give an illusion of liberty, which often becomes a bondage and frequently a disappointment.
Wise statecraft will encourage women to become home-builders, which is their primal function. Signs are not wanting to show the dangers of the present trend. Home life is being disrupted ; juvenile delinquency increasing ; sound education for the children neglected ; and divorce a commonplace. There was much that was unsatisfactory in the Victorian outlook, but the love of home was one of our nation's sheet anchors.-
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