Eastern Pilgrims The Travels of Three Ladies - Agnes Smith Lewis

"When two friends and myself resolved, in the summer of 1868, to absent ourselves for a year from home, for the purpose of visiting [the Holy Land] great was the consternation expressed by our friends at the idea of three ladies venturing on so lengthened a pilgrimage alone.... But for what reason? The means of communication are now so much improved, the art of providing for a traveller's comfort is carried to such perfection, that any woman of ordinary prudence (without belonging to the class called strong-minded) can find little difficulty in arranging matters for her own convenience. And if our education does not enable us to protect ourselves from the influence of such dangerous opinions as, it is said, we shall hear in the varied society with which it may be our lot to mingle, what is that education worth?" (And so they went. This is their story.) - Summary by Agnes Smith Lewis