The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-10-22

her labor in competitor with the labor
Of man. The world has set low price
upon " female labor as though the
product Of skill had any sex. Let her
learn an art such as men pursue, and
learn it we'll. Any woman may thus
be made independent.
To wash, to sew, to knit, or to do
housework,'' is important-we cannot
dispense with such services; but mas
much as they do not pay we'll, 1t is but
right that any female who can should
escape them by preparing herself for
the performance of more profitable du-
ties.
If lady can paint or draw well-if
she can translate well-if she can COM
pose we'll, or transcribe well-she can
earn the wages several times over a
washerwoman or cook. Why, then,
should her attention not be given ex-
clusivoly to some one of these pursuits,
that she may escape the more laborious
task?
There is common notion among
folks of some kind, that woman is in
the line of her duty when laboring, it
matters not how hard, at "house af-
fairs ;" but that the very idea of go
ing out to work." or " taking in work"
has degradation in it. We do not see
how useful labor and degradation can
be associated in the same idea, and can
have little respect for any one who can
entertain such an idea.
But if all woman forsakc domestic
labors, who shall perform them? Pay
well for such services, and YOU will al
ways find competitors for you wages.
A mechanic can earn two dollars q
day-a washerwoman is over-workcd
on the day when she earns half dol
lar and rubs the skin off her hands -
Now, If the mechanic for whom she Ia
bors were compelled to give her for
days labor what he receives for his
days labor, we should think there was
no harm in it. He would always have
the alternative Of doing his own wash
ing, If he should prefer to do so.
Washing, however, is too hard for
woman. Cannot some ingenious man
invent machine to wash for her 3
There have been many attempts, and
as many failures. Some one will yet
succeed, and earn a fortune and the
thanks Of all women.
Men are fond of saying that women
are frivalous in their pursuits. So are
men when their pursuits are too much
varied. Washing, ironing, scrubbing,
sewing, knitting, cooking, nursing, and
humorins the caprices Of tyrannical
! fathers, brothers, and husbands, are
not the means Of concentrating the
mind and elevating the objects Of ones
attention; and especially when the
training for these duties consists in pi-
ano-thumping and theoretic lessons in
botany, astronomy, chemistry, and
physiology, and practical lessons in
dancing and ornamental sewing. Ora
cious Powers
Female Medical Colleges are estab-
lished in defiance Of the will Of mankind
in general; yet twenty-five years will
not pass before all men will acknowl-
edge their bening influence. "But,
oh, it is so indicate" What pity !.
1t is indicate for a lady to become
proficient in prescribing for the cure of
the afflicted, but not for her to labor in
the capacity Of nurse in the sick
chamber. What exquisite fastidious-
ness. The cause Of true modesty de-
mands that the physician Of an afIlict-
ed woman should be woman; and so
every father will, at an early day, ack-
nowledge.
We once sat very near two celebra-
ted literary ladies: so near that we
were Obliged to listed to their convcrsa-
ton. We, Of course, caught each word
of it. Now what think you it was all
about? Two distinct subjects were
discussed: one, the best mode of pre-
serving or picking peaches; the other,
whether certain ribbons should be laid
straight or bias. We mentioned the
circumstance to an old and shrewd
friend, and in terms Of indignation too,
when he remarked: 81 was once for
tunate enough to sit at a hotel break
fast-table by the side of Sir Walter
Scott, and opposite a distinguished lit
erary friend Of his, with whom he was
conversing. They, too, had two top
les up for discussion. Do you wish to
know what they were? One was a re-
cent horce-race; the other, the points
of a good setter dog" We drew the
comparison, and forgave the two la
dies. God bless them!
New KIND OF PLOUGH.-An exchange
describes new kind Of plough as Of
peculiar construction. The material
being cast-steel between the mold-board
. al. Il