The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-06-04
CAN SHE SPIN!

THIS question was asked by King James Is
when young girl was presented to him, and III,
person who introduced her, boosted of her prof
cheney in the ancient languages. Il can assure
your Majesty said he, that she can both speak
and write Latin, Greek and Hebrew These are
rare altainments for damsel,' said james, hui
pray tell me, can she spin? ?
Many of the young ladies of the present day car
boast Of their skill in the fine arts and polite &c.
compshmens, in music, painting, dancing, but
can they spin or what is perhaps more appropri-
| ale to tho times and the modern improvements in
labor-saying machinery il may be asked, can they
perform the domestic duties of wife, Do thcy
understand the management of household affairs
Are they capable of experimenting, in judcious,
prudent, and economical manner, the concerns OF
n family
A young lady may be learned in the ancicn, and
modern languages, may have made extraordinary
proficiency in every branch of literature; this is all
very well, and very creditable, and, to certain
class Of the community, who ARE not obliged, ms
was st. Paul, TO labor with their own hands,, is
all that is absolutely requisite, but to much lar
ger portion of the community, it is of far greater
consequence to know whether they can spin
II is Of more importance TO Young mechanic,
or merchant, or one of any other class of people
who depend upon their own industry and eyerons,
if he marries u wife, to have one who knows how
TO spin or perform other domestic duties, than one
whose knowledge does not extend beyond great
proficiency in literature and the fine arts.
II has heen often said that the times are strange
y altered; and certain it is that the people are. It
was once thought honorable TO be constantly en-
pOyed in some useful avocaion; but nOw-u-lays
il is thought more honorable 10 be idle. People
complain of the high prices Of all the necessrics of
fc and with much truth Bat it the amount Of
ideness could be calculated accurately throughout
The community, allowing the droncs half price for
tho services which they might perform, aud whirh
Others are paid for, it might be Il safe calculation
to estimate it equal to all that is expended for pro-
visions and marketing in the United States. 80 it
ia not little inconsistent to hear parents complain
abou, the price Of provisions, while they bring up
their daughters to walk the streets and eSpend
money!
Let the fair daughters Of our country initiate the
industrious matrons Of the past. The companions
Of those who fought in the Revolution were Injured
to hardships, and accustomed to necessary toll and
thus did they educate their daughters. Health,
contenmcnt and plenty smiled around the family
altar. The damsel who understood most thorough
~ and economically the management of domestic
affairs, and not afraid 10 put her hands into the
wash-tub, or to 'lny hold Of the dlsaT' for fear of
destroying their elasticity anil dimnlng their snowy
wilderness, was sought by the young men of those
days MS fit companion for life, but in modern times
10 learn the mysteries Of the household would make
our fair ones faint away; and 10 labor comes not
into tho code Of modern gentility.
Industry and frugay will lead 10 checrfGlness
and contcn,ment, and contentcd wife tends great
~ to soften the asperities and smooth the rough
paths in mans journey through life. 1t has been
truly said, a pleasant and cheerful wife is rain
bow in the sky when the husbands mind is tossed
with storms and tempests; but a dissatisfied and
freifu wife, in the hour Of trouble, is like lhun-
dcr-cloud, charged with electric fluid.