cases excels that of men. And in the case of heavier work, women are of practically the same value as men, within certain limits (when machinery is introduced to supplement their muscular limitations)." Italy also presents its evidence. The Bolettino dell' officio del Lavoro, Journal of the Italian Labour Department, under date of October 16, 1916, had this to say: "It is necessary to remove the obstacles to the larger employment of women. As soon as manufacturers show plenty of initiative and adaptiveness for this new class of labour, and cease to cherish preconceived opinions as to the inferiority of woman's work and as to the low wages it merits, the labour of women will respond splendidly to the utmost variety of demands."
Apparently one controversy is now at rest: Woman knows enough for all of these things that she has been permitted to do. Thus far, it is true, it is the unskilled and the semi-skilled processes at which she is employed in the largest numbers. It was, one might say, the basement of industry to which she was first admitted. In every land that skilled workman summoned to receive the government order, "You must let the women in," about to take his departure, turned at the door with cap in hand to make a stipulation. It was the last clause of the ancient "gentleman's agreement."
"All right," the Government replied, "not any farther up than we have to."
