Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-04-23
From The True Democrat.
"AbOut WaShtnbS.'

hbuH6 uuOu(hUO.
The editor of the Boston Chronotype fire.
quently throws out in his way, hints and
principles which are amusing and highly in.
structive. The Boston Star has of late found
considerable fault with Mr.. Wright on ac-
count of his plebeiln manners ard mode of
doing business. One grave charge against
him is, that he aids his better half in her do
| meslic duties, and is frequently seen at the
wash-tub, performing the ''meniai cork'' of
the kitchen servant. Mr.. Wright J~uslifies
himself, and throws out the following in vim
dication of his course.
"The dapper Hyperion of the ambrosial
curls who presides over the modern slow at
tic wit" of the Star, has a mortal horror of
washtubs. He has been South. We do not
know but he has there ilnbibed sufficient
chivalry to "call OUT any man who should
allege that his grandmother did her own
washing. However that may be, we shall
make no such statement. We do not know
that any of his ancestors ever earned their
living, though the gallant Corporal himself
has tried hard to earn his, by the very illus
trious profession of toadv 10 the Cotton
Wings. We are not sure but his i'll humor
may arise from partial want of success. If
it does, he is a proper subject of pity, for he
has failed in a business for which he was
eminently qualified.
But as the Corporal has called up the sub
ject of washtubs, and invoked the adherence
of the community upon us for daring 10 say
it would do some rich men good TO trundle
wheelbarrows, and their wives good Ia, sweat
at the washtub and as he has invoked pub
lie sympathy for our own wife for being kept
at the washtub, we may perhaps DO excused
for defining our position in regard 10 wash
tubs.
1t is a cherished doctrine of some that it is
mean for a person Of wealth to 'descend" 10
any thing ''menial." 1t is regarded as a rob-
berry of the poor for one to black his own
boots, split his own wood, or wash his own
clothes. Under this high sense Of dignified
duty to the poor, many a poor gentleman acts,
who cheats his boot-black and never pays his
wssherwoman. Especially is 1t thought We
ry mean to be seen doing any of the drudge
ry which it is the province of the poor to do.
This doctrine brings misery to tho rich, and
misery to the poor in about equal portions.-
1t is wrought into the very warp and wool
of education! Is it true! No. 1t is the
creed proposed TO us by the Father of Lies.
Its work curses the latter with a constant
sense Of degradation and the former with a
feeling of useleSsness and helplessness fol
which no money can atone. 1t is this dis
grace attached TO labor, especially what is
called ''menial" labor, which draws the mi
ser's purse-string, and sets the whole world
into an agony to be rich. Even those who
have become really poor, and are fdin to Gc
the seyerest drudgery 10 fill their slomachs,
often wish to be thought rich i; and beyond
all things covet the appearance of idleness.-
This is all boolless misery. The fatigue OIL
labor, as it is divided in the present state OF
society, is bad enough, but il is nothing
compared with the artificial pain Of lis dis.
grace. Now, we would like to see the Sol.
ONION who can point out a good that comes
of this feeling that labor or mental drudgery
is dishonoraDle. We hold it to be the duty
of every one, rich or poor, to feel, and tC
show by his actions that he feels, it is no
so. AS to our rich men, even the very rich
we think it would be a great good, both fot
their own health and that of the public, i
they would frequently serve themselves in
''menial' capacity, and especially 10 bring
up their children 10 think it honorable to d,
any honest thing peH, and to be disgracefu
not to know how to perform the common of
fees of life. So far as they thus defraut
the poor, let them make it up by increasin.
their wages when they do work. II labo
were only stripped of its disgrace, it and it:
rewards would soon be more equitably diyi
vided.
SO long as the common spawn Of willing
think it the severest gibe they can throw a
a man to say that he trundles a wheelbarrow
or shares with his wife the tolls of the wash
tub, society must be in a very false and un
comfortable s%tate--in fact, despicably miser
able. May Heaven deliver it from such need
less misery in due time"