The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-25
Women and Agriculture.

We were at the annual State cattle
show, in one of our larger States, but ;
short time since, and in lettering about
the cattle quarter of the grounds, met Z
lady of our acquaintance, with party o
her female friends, on a tour of inspec-
ton among the beautiful Short-horns. ant
Devons, and the select varieties of sheep
She was the daughter of distinguished
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
accomplishments in education, was pos.
sessed Of deep love for all rural objects
and in the stock of the farm she took a
particular interest. Her husband was an
extensive farmer, and noted breeder Of
fine animals. She had her own farm, too
and cattle upon it, equally as choice as
his; in her own right; and they were
both competitors at the annual exhibi-
tions. Introduced to her friends, at her
request, we accompanied them in their
round of inspection. There were the
beautiful cows, and the younger cattle.
and the sheep-all noticed, criticized and
remarked upon; and with judgment
too, in their various properties, which
convinced us of her sound knowledge of
their physiology, and good qualities,
which she explained to her associates
with all the familiarity that she would a
tambouring frame. or piece Of embroid-
cry. There was no squeamish fastidi-
business; no affectation 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, afterwards, she showed us
with pride, the several cups, and other
articles Of plate, which her family had
won as prizes, at the agricultural exhibi-
tions, and which she intended to preserve
as heir looms TO her children.
This is not a solitary example; yet, a
too rare one, among our fair countrywo-
men. Such a spirit is contagious, and
we witness with real satisfaction. their
growing taste in such laudable sources of
enjoyment, contrary TO the parrenu affec-
tatlon of vast many otherwise sensible
and accomplished females of our cities
and towns-comprising even the wives
and daughters of our farmers, too-who
can saunter among the Tot over select
and equivocal representations, among the
paintings and statuary of our public gall
leries, land descant with entire freedom
on the various attitudes and artistical
merits of the work before them, or gaze
with apparent admiration upon the brazen
pironettcs of public dancing girl, amid
all the equivoque Of crowded theatre,
and yet whose delicacy is shocked at the
exhibition of cattle show!
Such females as we have noticed, can
admire the living, moving beauty of ami
NAL Fife, with the natural and easy grace
of purity itself, and without the slightest
suspicion of stain of vulgarity. From
the bottom of our heart we trust that a
reformation is at work among our Ameri-
can women, in the promotion of taste,
and not only taste, but a genuine love of
things connected with country life. 1t
was not so with the mothers and the
wives Of the stern and earnest men who
laid the foundation Of their country's free
dom and greatness. They were women
of soul, character and stamina, who Crap
pied with the realities of life in their la
bors, and enjoyed its pleasures with truth
and honesty. This over-nice, mincing
delicacy and sentimentality, in which their
grand daughters indulge, is but the off
throw Of neutrality-suspicious., the novelist
and the prude-mere "leather and pru-
nella." Such remarks may be thought to
lie beyond the line of our immediate la
Dor. But in the discussion of the COL
lateral subjects which have bearing
upon country life and residence, we in
cline to make clean breast Of it, and
drop such incidental remarks as may tend
to promote the enjoyment as well as in
struction of those whose sphere of action
and whose choice in life is amid the pure
atmosphere, and the pure pleasures Of the
country.-.4llen's Rural .A:chitccture.