Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-07-06
What shall the Ladies do ?

No subject at the present day is exciting more
general attention than the sphere and rights Of
Though public sentiment is divided as to how far this
sphere does EXTEND there is but one opinion to the
Tact, that in the present state of society the whole
Energies of the female mind are not generally brought
into full requison, and that all her powers are not
rightly developed. As is usual in such a state of
public sentiment the more radical and ultra minds
are disposed TO revolutionze the political organization
of the country, and demoish the existing fabric of
society. On the contrary, conservative minds are
unwilling to let go single precedent, and argu
ment and without stint in defending the time
honored usages of the nation. The result of these
discussions will undoubtedly be the elevation of the
standard of female attainment, and the rendering
available large amount of latent talent. To one
who chershes firm faith in the real progress of the
race, the dissensons, the bitterness, the extremes
and the folly, which always manifest in the heat
of contest are indicative of ga good time coming,
when the oscillations of society shall cease, and the
eyes of all be directed to the polar star OF pro-
gress Since some women have claimed the right to
vote, all may have the right 10 speak freely by
tongue and pen of the wrongs which abuse OF
power inhicts, conceded to them by the spontaneous
verdict of all right minded men and women. Since
some women ambitious of the honors of
gressona halls and the dgnities of the pulpit the
bar, and the professor chair, all may have wider
sphere of action opeped to them, and their walks of
usefulness may he extended over broad area. With
these hopeful and liberal remarks with reference to
an exciting topic we wish 10 introduce few others
in answer to the question, loha shall the ladies' do
They aaaV c1tltirate Rural Taste. This they can
do without sacrificing any of the modesy which
graces the without coming in contact with the
coarse, revolving side of humanity without going
beyond the precincts of their homes without
negectng single duty. The ladies are allowed,
all hands, to possess more universal and delicate
appreciation of the beautiful than They love
it for its sake, and seldom mingle with it that
critical fault-ndng taste which often characterizes
the aesthetics of the Steiner From their infancy
they have loved flowers they played with them at
home they carried them to school they crowned
the Queen of May with coronet of them, as the
only means of adding to her beauty they them
at the bridal they scatter them on the tomb But
how many love 10 cultivate theml How many feel
any enthusiasm in watching the progress of plant,
and that intense enjoyment at the expanding of IA
vorite flower which the artist feels when the last
touch of his pencil has made the ideal real They
love the fragrance Of flowers, to Irvine them in their
hair to arrange boquets for the centre table but do
they love to study vegetable physiology and botany,
or 10 be seen at work in the garden Mr. Coleman,
in his European Tour, tells us of English ladies of
rank who are familiar with Horticulture and farm
work who pride themselves their skill in cult
waiting superior plants and who not deficient in
the mysteries of the kitchen, in grace and inte
gence There are such ladies' in our country, and
their number is rapidly increasing ladies whose
love of Nature has survived the romantic fever of the
boardng-school has increased amid household cares
and rpened into constant affection, which has be-
come part of their being.
The cultivation of a taste for floral and horticu-
tural pursuits recommends itself especially to ladies
IN fha I mioht he dificult IN nersuade
those who are absorbed in the spring fashions and
the last debutane at the theatre opera house, TO
listen to an argument this subject. Unless city
ladies wealthy, it is quite out of the question to
think of having garden, a greenhouse or lawn.
Their rural pleasures limited to a small stand of
house plants, and occasional visit hortcul-
tural exhibition. But country ladies have land
enough their command, and they have time enough,
would they but improve it. The pleasure to be de-
rived from little flower garden is sufficient motive
10 who has seen the first expanding blossom
long and tenderly nursed plant. But this is not
half it would infuse element of interest into
many freside circle give a impulse to many
weary, toilsome life restore elasticity to many
iootstep and the bloom to many a cheek. So many
of our enthusiastic young ladies would not subside
into the monotony of domestic affairs and lose their
vivacity and energy, did they spend two three
hours of each day in the open air There is, too,
something refining ana ennoOng IN cultlVatng leve
for the beautiful things in II shuts out, as
were all inferior objects Of affection, and preoccupes
the mind and heart by its own sweet presence. Il
furnishes constant and varied subjects of thought
invites the mind to research, and opens TO it new
truths and beauties. 1t would subdue that restless
ness and dissatisfaction which destroys the harmony
of many ladies' lives revealing TO them life il
nature in accordance with the natural desires o.
the spirit than baeing in the conflicts of public life
If these motives not strong enough ladies'
think how much the culture of flowers would asss
you in ornamenting your homes. Some of you have
wrought all your leisure time for months 90 finish
piece of embroidery You have toiled with achnl
head and eyes, day and evening, TO produce som,
faint resemblance TO hoquet cloth, which yol
cover with glass in frame or otherwise concea
your ottomans. You spend deal of time il
working leaves and vines muslin collars and what
nots or perhaps in making flowers
Now, in sincerity ask, could not some portion
of this precious time be spent pro6taby in pro
ducing real howers--in cutvatng real plants
Would not the genuine leaf and blossom delight yo
more than their worsted semblances, reposing in life
less greenness and fading coors on foot-slools am
chair seats The flowers are many-hued the
come at our bidding In spring, summer, autumn AM
winter they are fragrant, beautiful, vocefnl; the
are grateful for attention, and repay the affection be
slowed upon them by proportionate profusion o
bloom.
Believing, do, that the social well-beng o
the community is intimately connected with the pro
gress of rural taste, ask the attention of all ladie
who are DESTROYS Of aiding in reform, to the consid