Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-04-14

i DUTIES OF FEMALEs.-So much has
I been written and said on the duties of
wives, that it were sad pity indeed,
If the matrons of the present day had
not reaped profit from the schoolings
Of the censorious or the admonitions Of
the experienced. Women are domes-
tic creatures naturally-and there are
but few, comparatively speaking, who
feel pleasure abroad when there is the
least attraction at home. A fondness
for visiting appears to belong almost
exclusively to spinsters who have pass
ed the meridian of life, or young miss
es who think that the world will not
90 right when they are not lending a
hand to keep it in motion. But the fe-
male on whom has devolved all the
sacred duties Of wife and mother,
holds reverse opinion; she thinks
that nothing will go right at home un-
less she is there. To her there is mu-
sic in the clang of the kitchen furni-
ture, and what is enormously, Tin the
opinion of editors and poets) called
setting TO rights becomes duty from
the force Of habit and desire to be
considered nice. We think this same
setting to rights an unlicensed privi-
lege which house-keepers have taken
upon themselves: neatness and clean
illness are always admired, but we do
protest against the unceremonious a.
Indignation of our loose papers, the
misplacing of our books, and the scat
tering ofideas to the four winds of hea-
ven, by the unpoetical clatter of the
busting brush! Married ladies are ge-
nerally tenacious oftheirrightsa at home;
and SO they should be-within doors is
their empire, and good wife while
she gratifes laudable pride in show
ing off her household stock to her ad-
vantage, will always be worthy Of the
comfort of a lordly partner. At home
a wife should always strive by kind
ness and good humor to keep the affec-
tons of her husband as warm as they
were in the young days OF their union,
for experience tells that it is easier to
,Uin mans affections than to heep
them. Abroad she should assiduously
study to retain the esteem and good
will of others, and avoid letting the
world know how much she loves her
husband, for it is generally believed
those who COO abroad are cats and dogs
at home. The duties Of mother call
forth herutmost energies, her patience
and forbearance. On herdevolves the
high task of rearing her offspring from
its tcnderest age-to nurture ito
watch it with unceasing care--to cult
vatc its infant mind and train it in the
way it should go. Many mothers, we
are sorry to say, trust this natural duty
to nurses who cannot feel their spirit
lean towards the innocent heir TO life
of care and toll. We have even known
The children of rich and influential pa
rents nurscd apd even nurturcd by ne
groes nurses-and what was the con-
sequences? AS they grew up and be-
gan ospeak, their words partook large
ly of the negroe slang, their habits
closely assimulated themselves to those
Of negroes, and for the want Of moth
cr's tenderness, they were always at
tached to the nurse who in their infan-
cy was the first to satisfy their wants
and per forcetrc them with kindness
Away with this unnatural custom-al
mothers should exclaim with the Ro-
man matron when she pointed to her
children "these are my jewels "-too
precious to be trusted to other hands.
Fashion may make imperious demands
upon the time and inclination Of mo-
theirs who have been accustomed to fol-
low in her wake---but what are the
calls OF fashion to those Of nature.?-
Which is the brightest ornament to do
nestle society, the glittering married
belle or the tender mother whose en-
tire heart rests on the little cherub that
lies smiling in her arms?
Dress like, confess, to see a
young wife neatly dressed. There is
a neatness which is perfectly compati-
bic with plainness; and dress may
be graceful without being ridiculous.
like neat simplicity, because there
appears 10 be frequent connexion be-
tween the out side and inside. The
exterior is to some degree key to the
interior. If ! see person dressed like
a thorough going fop, I cannot, if i
would, respect the mind of the person.
Even wherea future close acquaintance
discloses to me my error, it is hard to
overcome the first impressions.