Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-08-19
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Women and agriculture

Allen. the Farmers bookmakeT in his Rural
Architecture makes the following sensible re-
marks upon the necessity of ladies' identifying
themselves with agricultural pursuits and at
tanning a knowledge and taste in the business
which their husbands, fathers, and brothers
are striving to elevate, to make profitable and
enrolling We bespeak for him an attentive
ear from our lady readers.
s'Nor is this Iandabe taste. confined TO men
alone. Females of the highest worth, and
domestic example, both abroad and at home,
cultivate love for such objects, and take
much interest in the welfare of their farm
stock We were at the annual State cattle
show, in one of our large States, but short
time since, and in lettering about the cattle
quarter of the grounds, met lady of our ac-
quaintance, with party of her female friends,
on tour of inspection among the beautiful
short-horns, and Devons, and the select varie-
ties of sheep. She was the daughter of dis
tnguished statesman, who was also large
farmer, and patron of great liberalIty, In the
promotion of fine stock in his own state. She
was bred upon the farm, and, to rare accom-
plishments in education, was possessed of a
deep love for all rural objects; and in the
stock of the farm she took peculiar interest.
Her husband was an extensive farmer, and
noted breeder of fine animals. She had her
own farm, too, and cattle upon II, equally
choice as his, N her own right; and they
were both competitors In the annual exhibit
tIons. Introduced TO her friends, at her re-
quest we accompanied them in their round of
inspection. There were the beautiful cows,
and the younger cattle, and the sheep-all
noticed, criticised, and remarked upon; and
with a Judgment, too, in thei! various pro-
perties, which convinced US of her sound
knowled dye of their physiology, and good qua
liiies, which she explained to her associates
with all the familiarity that she would a tam
bouring frame, or a piece of embroidery.
There was no squeamish fastidlousness; no
aifectatlon Of prudery, In this; but all natural
as the pure flow of admiration in well-bred
lady could be. At her most comfortable, and
hospitable residence, afterward, she showed
US, with pride, the several cups, and other
articles Of plate, which her family had won
as prizes, at the agricultural exhibitions; and
which she intended to preserve as heir-looms
to her children. This is not solitary ex-
ample; yet. a too rare one, among our fair
country Such a spirit is contagious,
and we witness with real satisfaction, their
growing taste In such laudable sources of en-
ioyment; contrary to the parrGnue affectation
of a vast many otherwise sensible and accom-
piished of our cities and towns-comprising
even the wives and daughters of farmers, too
who can saunter among the not over select,
and equlvocaI representation, among the
paintings and statuary of our public galleries :;
and descant with entire freedom, on the va
rious attitudes, and artstical merits of the
works before them; or gaze with apparent ad-
miratIOn upon the brazen prouettes of pub
lie dancing girl, amid all the equivoque Of a
crowded theatre; and vet whose delicacy is
shocked at the exhibition of a cattle show
Such females as we have noticed, can admire
the living, moving beauty ofanimal life, with
the natural and easy grace of purity itself.
and without the slightest suspicion of stain
Of YulgarIty. From the bottom Of our heart
we trust that reformation is a. work among
our American women, in the promotion of
taste, and not only a taste, but a genuine
love Of things connected with country life.
II was not so, with the mothers, and the wives
of the stern and earnest men, who laid the
foundation Of their country's freedom and
greatness. They were women of soul, char
acter, and stamina; who grappled with the
realities of life, in their labors; and enjoyed
It's pleasure with truth and honesty This
over nice, mincing delicacy, and sentimental
ity, in which their grand daughters indulge,
Is but the otfthrow of the boarding-schoCl,
the novelist, and the prude--mere Heather
and prunella." Such remarks may be thought
TO lie beyond the line of our immediate labor
But in the discussion of the collateral SUBJ
Jects which have bearing upon country life
and residence, we incline to make clean
breast of it, and drop such incidental remark $
as may tend to promote the enjoyment, as
we'll as instruction. of those whose sphere OF
action, and whose choice in life is amid the
pure atmosphere, and the pure pleasures oil
the country