New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-09-30

THE WRONGS OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
rrF DrITy OF AMERICAN WOMEN.


The same day brought us a copy OF Mr. Burdetis
rfe book. in which the sufferings and difficulties
that beset the large class Of women who must earn
,.eir subsistence in city like New-York are deln-
GATED with 10 mach simplicity feeling and exact ad-
b,rence 10 the facts-and printed circular contain
ing proposals for immediate practical adoption OF
IN. Dlan more fully described in book published
anne weeks since under Ike title The Duty OF
American Women to their Country" which was
ascribed alternately TO Mrs. Stone and Miss Cathe
rioe Beccher but of which we understand both
those ladies' decline the responsibility. The two
matters seemed linked with one another by natural
piety. Full acquaintance with the wrong must call
forth all manner of inventions for its redress
The Circular in showing the vast want that al
readv exists of good mems for nstructing the child
"a, of this nation especially in the West, states
also the belief that among women, as being less i'm
mersed in other cares and tolls from the preparation
il gives for their task as mothers and from the ne
cessity in which great proportion stand OF earn
inc subsistence somehow at least during the years
which precede marriage, if they do marry must
the number of teachers wanted be found, which is
es,isa ted already at sirty thousand
We cordially sympathize with these views
Much has been written about Woman's keeping
within her sphere. which is defined as the domestic
sphere AS little girl she is to learn the lighter
family duties. while she acquires that limited ac
auainsn with the realm of literature and science
that will enable her to superintend the instruction
Of children in their earlies, years 1t is not general
ly proposed that she should be sufficiently instructed
and developed to understand the pursuits aims of
l.. l.l, IL,
him. in tho way of companionship or counsel, ex-
cept in the care Of his house and children. Her
youth is to lie passed partly in learning 10 keep
house and the use OF the needle, partly in the social
circle where her manners may be formed, ornamen-
tai accomplishments perfected and displayed, and
the husband found who shall give her the domestic
sphere for which exclusively she is TO be prepared
Were the destiny of w oman ihusexacily marked
out did she invariably retain the shelter OF pa
rents or q guardians roof I'LL she married did mar
rage give her a sure home and protector, were she
never liable to he made widow, or II so, sure OF
finding immediate protection from brother or new
husband. 40 that she might be forced to stand
alone one moment and were her mind given for
this world only. with no faculties capable OF etcrnaI
growth and infinite improvement, we would still
demand n
ture than is proposed by those who 40 anxousy de
fine her sphere We would demand II that she
might not ignoranily friyolously ibwart the de
signs of her husband haa she might be the respect
ed friend Of her sons no less than her daughters,
that she might give more refinement elevation and
attraction TO The society which is needed TO give the
characters of polish aud plasticity-no less so
than to save them from vicious and sensual habits
But the most fasdious critic on the departure of
Woman from her sphere, can scarcely fail to see at
present that a proportion OF the sex ii not the
better half do not, CANNOT. have this domestic
sphere. Thousands aud scores of thousands in this
country no less than in Europe obliged to main
tain themselves alone Far greater numbers divide
with their husbands the care OF earning support
for the family la England, now, the progress Of
society has reached so admirable pitch that the
position of the sexes is frequently reversed and the
husband is obliged TO stay at home and mind the
house and BARNS while the wife goes forth to the
employment she alone secure.
We readily admit that the picture Of this Is most
psinful-that Nature made entirely an opposite DIS
tribuon of functions between the sexes We be
leve the natural order TO be the best and that i;
could be followed in enlightened spirit, II would
bring TO Woman all she wants, no less Tor her I'm.
mortal than her mortal destiny We are not sur
prised tina, men, who do not look deeply or carefully
Al causes or tendencies should be led by disgust at
the hardened hackneyed characters which the pre-
cent state Of things too often produces in women to
such conclusions as they are. We, no more than
they. delight in the picture Of the poor woman dig
ging in the mines in her husbands clothes. We no
more than they delight to hear their voices shrilly
raised in the marketplaco whether of apples or &C.
lebrty But we see that at present they must do as
they do for bread Hundreds and thousands must
step out of tina; haowed domestic sphere, with no
choice but to work steal belong TO men, no, as
wives. but as the wretched slaves of scnsuality.
And this transition state, with ali its revolving ca.
turcs, indicates, We do believe, the approach OF a
nobler era than the world has yet known. We trust
that by the stress and emergencies OF the present
and coming time the minds of women will be form
I'd to reflection and higher purposes T. an here
Ioiore-,heir latent powers developed, their oharac.
tiers strengthened and eventually beauiited and bar.
nonized Should the state of society then be such
tia, each may remain Nsaturc seems 10 have IN
tended, the ,uielsry genius of a home while men
manage the out door business OF life, both may be
done with a wisdom. mutual understanding and
respect unknown at present Men will be no less
the gamers by this than women, finding in pure and
more religious marriages the joys OF friendship aud
love combine' in their mothers and daughters bet
e. instruction sweeter and nober companionship,
and IN society at large excitement 10 their finer
powers and feelings unknown at present except in
the region of the fine arts
Besi be the generous the wise among them who
seek TO forward hopes like these instead of strug-
Cling sgsins, the fiat of Providence and the march Of
Fate 10 bind down rushing Life TO the standard Of
The Past. Such efforts vain, but those who make
them are unhappy and unwise
Ii Is not, however, 10 such that we address our
selves bat 20 those who seek TO make the best OF
things as they are while they also strive TO make
them better Such persons will have seen enough
Of the state OF things in London, Paris, New York,
and manufacturing regions every where to feel that
uere IA imperative niece sstv for opening more