VirginiaWoolf
[1]Whenyoursecretaryinvitedmetocomehere, ; itistrueIamemployed; butwhatprofessionalexperienceshaveIhad? ; andinthatprofessiontherearefewerexperiencesforwomenthaninanyother, withtheexceptionofthestage—fewer, Imean, —byFannyBurney, byAphraBehn, byHarrietMartineau, byJaneAusten, byGeorgeEliot—manyfamouswomen, andmanymoreunknownandforgotten, havebeenbeforeme, makingthepathsmooth, , whenIcametowrite, —, Paris, Vienna, andBerlin, mastersandmistresses, , ofcourse, thereasonwhywomenhavesucceededaswritersbeforetheyhavesucceededintheotherprofessions.
[2]Buttotellyoumystory——fromteno’—toslipafewofthosepagesintoanenvelope, fixapennystampinthecorner, ; andmyeffortwasrewardedonthefirstdayofthefollowingmonth—averygloriousdayitwasforme—, howlittleIknowofthestrugglesanddifficultiesofsuchlives, Ihavetoadmitthatinsteadofspendingthatsumuponbreadandbutter, rent, shoesandstockings, orbutcher’sbills, Iwentoutandboughtacat—abeautifulcat, aPersiancat, whichverysooninvolvedmeinbitterdisputeswithmyneighbours.
