The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-10-04
Vol. III.
WORTH AND WEALTH;
OR, THE CHOICE OF A WIFE
BY ELLEN ASHTON.

notion Of that girl!" said Charles Lowry to his
friend Henry Bowen, as they sat together, crack
ing almonds after dinner.
{" And why not marry Lucy Wardeni" said his
friend.
"Why! oh! because she's not worth sous
and besides I've heard she's the daughter of
brickayer. You know, any how, that her mother
Warden that annuity on which they now just ma
mage to subsist."
ga formidable array of evils, indeed, but still
they do not dishearten me. As for money do
not look for it in wife, because should never
feel independent if was indebted to bride for
my bread. Beside an heiress Is generally educated
in such expensive habits that it requires fortune
to satisfy her luxurious wishes. As mere mon
ey matter of business this marrying for money is
nine times out of ten losing speculation, You
are forced to live according to your wife's former
style, and being thus led into expenses which your
income will not afford, you too often end by be-
coming bankrupt. Then, too late, you discover
that your wife is fit only for parlor; she becomes
peevish, wretched or sick, and perhaps all to-
gether Domestic felicity is at an end when this
| occurs-"
"But her BIRTH"
ga still more nonsensical objection 1t is one
of The prejudices ofthe old colonial times, and was
imported from England by the serve adorers of
rank, who instead of being like themselves drones
In the public hive, earned their bread fairly 1t
is this latter class to which our country is indebted
for its subsequent prosperity-a prosperity which
all the arstocrats of Europe could not have be-
slowed upon it The revolution, while it made US
politically equal, did not destroy this social arstoc
racy The same exclusiveness prevails now as
then, bat with even more injustice for it is oppo-
sed to the whole spirit OF our republican institu-
tons. Nor is this all; the prejudice itself is rdic-
ulous. How can people who scarcely know their
own ancestors beyond one or two generations, and
whose blood has been derived from every nation
and occupation on the globe, talk with any propri-
ETY. ofbirth' Why, there is scarcely man wo-
man of our acquaintance, who is not an example of
this piebald ancestry. Take for instance, Walter
Hastings, who you know, boasts of his family. I
cousin to myself. His father made fortune, and
married into our family But who was he' The
son of a German redemptioner Hastings mother,
il is true, is the grand daughter of English ba
ron, and the sister-a far higher glory-of sgner
of our Declaration of Independence. Such is a
fair sample ofour best families Why would un-
dertake to furnish from the ancestry any OF them
either peasant or peer, either laborer or
drone. Birth, forsooth! The only persons who
boast of il in this country are generally those who
have the least claim even to an honest parentage;
and the nosiest pretender to blood ever met with
was the grandson of fellow who was hung fifty
years ago for forgery"
well. you're really getting quite lo,o in your
notions, Hary-where, in the world, did you pick
up such vulgar notions? You, gentleman and a
lawyer, to marry such glrl! She's pretty enough,
| grant-amlable no doubt-can sing and draw
passably-and makes, hear, a batch of bread, or
does dirty house-wor as we'll as a common kitch-
en- girl. But perhaps that is what you want her
for!"
"Your sreer aside, yes! 1t is because Lucy
Warden is good house-keeper, that intend to
marry her. Not that would have BRIDE only
because she could, as you say, make batch OF
bread. Education, amiability, arefned mind and
lady-like manners are equally necessary. But a
knowledge, and practical one too, of house keep
ing is no slight requisite IN good wife. know
such knowledge is scarce among our city ladies but
that is the very reason why prize il so highly
Believe me, refinement is not incompatible with
this knowledge?"
"Pshaw, Harry; but granting your position,
what is the use of such knowledge'"
"It is Of daily use. Servants will always i'm
pose ON mistress who knows nothing of her du-
ties as the domestic head of the house. You are
an importer; but how long, think you, would you
prosper you left every thing to the OF clerks
who would naturally take advantage of your care
lessness, to fleece you? A mistress of house
ought to oversee her establishment in person.
This she cannot do, unless-to use a mercantile
phrase--she understands her business If she does
not do this, nothing will be DONE The whole
evil l believe, arises from the desire Of our wo-
men to ape the extravaganza OF the English female
nobility, whose immense wealth allows them to
employ substitutes to oversee their domestic es-
tablishments But even had we incomes CT hum
dreds of thousands of dollars we could not carry out
the plan, owing to the total absence of good SER
vaLts of this character in our country; and in this
opinion ] am borne out by Combe and Hamilton,
two Of the most observant and just of English ira
vellers."
"Well, Harry, you were born for barrister, or
you could not run on SO glbly. But it's shame
that gentleman who might command the choice
of the market, and marry the richest heiress in
Walnut street, should throw himself away upon
girl without sixpence Now there's Charlotte
Thornbury and her sister, who are co-heiresses, -
why cant you take the one and the otherl'
"Merely because love another. You smile;
but despite the sneer am believer in love. OIL
Charlotte have nothing to say, except that she is
beautiful You know how often we have discus