Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-02-25
WHoLEN NO. 100
From the Newark Daily Advertiser
THE MECHANICS WIFE.

=
In Americseyery mechanic is supposed TO have,
or to be about to have, wife. The many thousand
of these spo, SIS are divided into sorts. Thus we
have good and baJ very good and very bad unspeak-
ably good and nsufferably bad; and as sort Of par
expresson-toerabie. 1t is not every good woman
who is good wife, is it every good wife, who
is good wife for mechanic.
A working man needs working wife: but as to
qualities of mind, and MORALS she cannot
too high in the scale. There is an error prevalent
concerning this. Giles says, II do not want wife
with too much sense Why not! Perhaps Giles
will not answer, but the shrug of his shoulders an
swers, "Because am afraid she will be an overmatch
for me-" Giles talks ike snnpleton. The uufor-
tunate vino have their tyrants at home, are new
err married to women of sense. Genuine elevation
Of mind cannot prompt any one, male or female, to
go out of his or her proper place. No man ever suf
fered from overplus of intelligence whether in his
own head or in his wifes.
Hodge says, 81 will not marry girl who has too
much manners" Very well Hodge; you are right.
Too much of any thing is bad. But consider what
you say. Perhaps you mean that fine lady would
not suit you. Very true should not desire to be
joined for life to what is called slime lady," to wit,
woman who treats you beneath her level, sneers at
your friends, and is above her business. But this is
not good manners. Zeal coed manners and true po-
likeness, equally at home in courts and farm hou-
ses. This quality springs from nature, and is the
expression of unaffected good will. Even in high
life the higher you &c, the simpler do manners be-
come. Parade and "fuse'' of manners are the marks
of half bred people. True simplicity and native good
will and blind regard for the convenience and feelings
of others, will ensure good manners in kitch-
en-; and have seen many vulgar dame in an
sembly and many gentle in humble shed.
Nay your wife must have good manners.
Ralph declares, Il hope may never have wife
who is strict and moral Now my good Ralph, you
ceive you do not know what you mean. Are you a.
raid your wife will be too virtious, NO. Then
you rather prefer moral than an immoral one! Sure
~. Are you afraid then of a religious wife? "Why
something like that in my head; for their is neigh
Dor Smiths wife. who gives him peace of his
life, she Is so religious Let me hear how she be-
HAYES herself Why, she is forever teaching the
children out Of the Bible. Indeed! and you Ralph,
are enemy to the Bible? 'Oh no! but then--ahem!
there is reason in all things. Yes, and the reason
you have just stated, made do hard service. But
let me understand you. Does Mrs. Smith teach the
children any thing wronga 'Oh no; but if one hears
Smith let Fly an cath, it begins TO preach at him."
Then you wish, when you have children, to have
liberty to teach them all the usual oahs and curses,
and the obscene jokes that are common. ssDear me
Mr.. Quill you wont understand me-" Yes, under
stand you fully; it is you Ralph, who do not UNDER
stand yourself. Look here. Mrs. Smith is SO re-
ligious, tat if she proceeds she has begun, her
children will break their low blasphemies. l hope
you may get inst such wife, aBut then smith can't
spend couple of hours at the tavern for fear of his
wife! And what does he go the tavern for? Just
to sit and chat and drink little! And how does
his wife interfere? Does she fetch him homei No.
Does she chastise him on his return2 o no! Does
she scold him? No. What is it then that disturbs
1 hima Why she looks so solemn and mournful, and
shuts herself up So and cries whenever he is little
disguised, that he has no satisfaction. Good and
pray that he may have until he alters his course
I of life.
proper sef-respect would teach every noble
hearted American, of whatever class, that he cannot
set too high vaius on the conjugal relation. We
may Judge of the welfare and honor of community
by its wives and mothers. Opportunities for Knowl-
edge and even accomplishments, happily open to
every class above the very lowest and the wise me-
chanic viii not fail to choose such a companion as
may not shame his and daughters in the COM
ing age, when an ignorant American shall be as obso,
ete as fossil fish.
Away with your Haunting, Cycling, squandering,
peevlsh, fashion hunting wives! The woman of this
stamp Is poor comforter, when the poor husband is
sick or bankrupt Give me the housewife who can
be ''hep meet to her Adams
For nothing lovller can be found
La woman than to study household good
And good works in her husband to promote.
| have such mechanics wife In my minds eve
gentle as TIE antelope, untiring as the bee JOYOUS
as the innet: neat, punctual modest and confding.
She is patient bat resolute: aiding in council, revia
wing IN troubles, ever pointing out the brightest
SIDE and copeealing nothing but their own sorrows.
She loves her home, believing, with Milton, that
The wife, where danger and dishonor Turks,
Safest AMI seemhest by her husband stays,
/ Who guards her, or with her the worst endures
The place of woman is evidently at the fire side
tits at honse you rusesee her, to know what she is
1t IS less material what, she is abroad but what she
is in the family circle is all important. 1t is bad
merchandise in any department of trade, to pay
premium for ether mems opinions; in matrimony, he
who selects wife for the applause wonder of bis
neiehbors. is in fair way towards domestic bank
rurtcy. Having got wife, there is but one rule
Honor and Tore her. Seek to improve her heart
strive to make her more and MORE such an one az
you can cordially respect. Shame on the brute in
Ina, s-clo, H.