, 1842-07-30
Reply to leila. Defence of Farmers
Wives and Daughters.

did not feel a little excited about
some of Zelia's remarks, which,
though good and full of interest. |
consider as not applicable 10 farmers,
their wives and their daughters gene
rally. | commend the discretion and
wisdom she is anxious to enforce. but
would guard against views which !
conceive to be erroneous.
In the first place, she calls upon wO-
men TO consider whether their intlu-
ence goes TO promote temperance,
industry and their natural results, or
their opposite. These considerations
deserve the attention Of every mother
and daughter, every father and son.
The mind and the body are 50 con-
nected, that the occupation and on
ditien of the m sensibly affects the
other. When we labor with our
hands, our minds almost unconscious
ly imbibe sentiments and feelings
which the employment is adapted to
inspire. When we open our hearts
to the influence of piety and com
passion, our hands are prompted to
acts which may alleviate the sorrow
and distress our eyes behold. For
this reason it is iudicious and highly
desirable for all persons TO employ
their minds and thoughts in a manner
that may actuate their hands TO per-
form their duty; and study to use
physical strength in a name that
may impart TO the mind the satisfac-
lion resulting from a useful and virtu-
Gus life.
She farther adds. "that she believes
it is generally admitted, that the ex-
%travagance that characterizes our
age, the enormous expenditure of
time and money on mere trinkets. is
the predominant cause of the embar-
easements of u times. | suppose
that politicians would differ on this
point. Be that as it may. ! really do
not believe that the trinkets of the
farmers, their wives or daughters.
would amount to a vast sum-. They
generally understand too well that
their money is hardly earned, and
therefore prize it too highly TO tide it
away. should have suppose that
leila intended her remarks for Il GER
tain class, TO which they would be
very applicable, if she had not sad
"no particular class is exempt from
the charge" Now | contend that
farmers, IS a general thing, are ex-
empt from extravaganza in any thing,
except the de- hat they are too
poor TO lay out a great many dollars
in enlarging, cultivating and orna-
menting the minds or persons Of their
children, or Of affording themselves
the means of useful instruction. Not
that | would advise or wish anv one
to live beyond their means; not so.
but every one should study to make
themselves useful, and use the means
which God has given them to elevate
and improve, to refine and polish. the
mental powers and personal qualities,
for which the means of improvement
have been SO amply provided. i
should be sorry TO indulge any unjust
prejudice, but the farmers are more
exempt from this reproach of extava-
gance than the working classes of the
cities and villages. as they live more
secluded from the fashionable and
vain, and consequently have less to
tempt their love Of show ard splen-
dor.
Again she says, ''all have lived be-
yond their means, beyond the limits
Of common sense and prudence" &c.
| must think if leila were as well ac-
luainted with the habits and manage.
nent Of families as | am, she would
not have said all. That they have
been TO 4 degree involved in the gen.
eral ruin and distress that Pervades
the country, do not deny. But that
It has been brought upon them
the missmanagement and ex-
travagance Of their wives and daugh-
ters, or even their own, | cannot ad-
nit. That the merchants and me-
chanics, the professional men, and the .
drones, have long INDUCED in a vain
and deceitful ostentatiUn and extrava-
yance, is evident. But the farmers,
although their prudence has been
much of the time almost unmarketa- &;
Die, aad when sold, sold at reduced
prices and on credit, still by the per- {
;evering industry Of themselves, their
wives and their daughters, and the (
econoical management Of their bust. |
ness affairs, they have braved the c
'torm of broken banks and broken I
broken fortunes and broken c
and by Uniform purse of q
rood policy and praiseworthy self:de-
lial Of the dainties and luxuries of a
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