The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-10
no MEcHANICs, xvIyEs.

TO MECHANICS WIVES.
Convinced that the wives OF the laborng class can
do .uaar TO 20 uI- pscunhiry Independence, and
that many Of them have little providence for the u
ture, We feel called upon 10 remark upon this subject
We viii quote passage from Caroline Fry's work
entitled "a word 10 W0mep, and other Gath rings
and appeud some comments Of our own.
As far Ms iha mammon of this world Is confined
10 the desire OF getting money females are very nte
exposed TO its influence; and, perhaps any ramon.
srance upon the subject may seem 10 como very W
from us who so little experienced In the temp'n-
ton. But have often thought women are NOT ST.
hciently aware, or not sufficiently mindful Of me eS
tent 10 which they the occasion Of sin they ere
spared the commission OF; how deeply they aro guilty.
Of their fathers and their husbands condemnation In
this particular. What goads on the tradesman or
the merchant TO increase his income; or, II he can
increase H. TO ourliye Il TO his runl II Is not
he for the most part who drives in the carriage or
enjoys the mansion. Sometimes u is hls pride thnt
seeks the elevation of his family and pride within
the reach of female influence TO animate OF dscour-
age but much otener Il Is his afiectonate indul-
Gence that loves TO crafty his wife and children with
a thousand suporiles. Ii lis because he hears al
home that his establishment must be increased and
the expense of his children's education cannot be
restricted; they must Dress they must associate,
they must learu. Many n parents heart
need not DO broken, many tender family need not
have been destitute, IT, on the first symptom Of de-
cension In his affairs, or diminution in his profits
the husband had had the courage TO require from his
family the REIMBURSEMENT Of their superiluies And
were set upon them; their happiness was in them
the pnyation Of Injuries and expenses they were
customed to, would be an nfction Of pain and SCR
row, which he determines TO postpone, In hope OF
bsiter days. How differently would his fond heart
beat at such time-aye, or his proud heart, II il
should be sohad he reason to believe that his wife
and daughters did not want these vnntes; that these
auperfiuiiies were their playthings not their bliss
that they dressed themselves, and dressed their
houses, and dressed heir tables 10 meet his wishes
and become his station but attaching no impoI-
lance to either And 4 he knew this when he Is
getting money, as well as when he Is loosng II
Mammon would lose his strongest held on many a
generous BOSOM"
The excellent lady who wrote the above had not
observed the management Of her sex In vain. She
had frequently discovered that II mechanic should
get one hundred dollars in bank as portion OF the
savings with which to procure home, his wife not
looking beyond the present. and seeing some lady
she wished 70 rival in dress, would importunc her
husband for more costly shawl or dress than she
has had; and he not willing 10 deny her request
long as he had money 10 bank, would yield and
ence. The husband loses his couruge-goes not TO
his daily toll with the cheerfuness that he did before
and perhaps he contents himself to live only from
hand to mouth" Perhaps, too, he becomes careless
US 10 temperance md resorts 10 his cups then the
wife reaps the full reiribution Of her wrong
That Is true, ne Mrs Fry intmated, that wives are
not afflicted with love OF Mammon, and therefore
do not feel the importance Of laying up" something
for future need. Its not any bad intention that &C.
tuates them hut simply that they do not feel how
essential it is TO happiness and Independence have
house and lot from which landlord cannot eject
them, and small fund from which draft can be
made when adversity creeps 10 their fresde.
II too frequently yea, almost universally hap
PENS that the merchant expends, as he goes, all
his earnings This Is the grossest folly that afcts
the lahorng classes. There is need Of expanding
all In living With healh and a small family, three
dollars per week Is ample TO pay for necessary food
and rent Al this price you can get better food and
have greater variety at your table than Is found Of
the boarding houses. Three dollars per week would
be sl56 per yeor--and 800 more lie all that the cloth
ing of small family should cost--naking 1885, or
a. the outside SITS, as the annual expense Of such
family.
Now, what can be earned in one year1 AT 81 IS
per day for three hundred days the income would DO
1915, leaving sloo as the clear annual gain ct the
lowest rate OF 81 25 per day. We grant thar this IL
pinching rate at which TO live, when compared
with the living OF one who has fine house, with
servants horses and carriages &C.; hut II Is not
uncomfortable way, for we have tried it-it Is more
independent and pleasant than 10 board" Il Is
far better TO live few years AT this quite tolerable
rate, than 10 find yourself with large family and no
home, compelled 10 live at a most intolerable rate
during life. In the above calculation, Il lie presumed
the wife will s'leDd helping hand, and do the
washing and cooking.
What all need Is security for the future; and In
this selfish and avarlcious world IL Is impossible TO
feel secure, unless we have home that cannot he
violated, and few dollars that will serve in time OF
need. We cannot TOO strongly impress unmarried
mechanics with the vast importance OF being econ
Sui.a, nuu re'uIlux iiiurptHueHcc oeIVc CUu-
uacting the marital alliance. They can as well be
"well of as poor, II they will be prudent. What II
you do forgo some amusements, some costumes
OF apparel which you think would be pleasant 10 en-.
Ioy--remember that the long future Ia before you--a
future Of misery perhaps accustomed by your prodi-
gahty while young No--you had better wear hemp
few years az the commencement Of life, Than TO
wear rags and live In filth, with wife and children
You love, during the period Of your manhood and
old age.
In Liverpool 1890 persons live In 1872 cellars,
and In Manchester 1927 inhnbifunts live In 4443
cellars. o, may all the mechanics Of this country
look to Il In season. and not only keep themselves
from such miserable abodes, where filth and immor-
aiiy abound, but also promote such spirit Of fra.
ternty among all classes rs will be u safeguard
when this country shall be densey populated. - Gin
einnafi Nonparea