The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1854-01-11

broom. More could hardly have been done
for the dignity Of household labor.
We shall, therefore. as we hope, not shock
anybody by saying that. to our thinking, our
ladies' Of fortune show bad taste by their stu
dious avoidance of thoss household occupa-
tions which their sisters, without fortune are
in duty bound to practice daily. This brings
these occupations necessary for the comfort
and happiness Of every human family, from
the palace to the hut, and therefore proper
objects to every one having human heart
and sympathies--into diHepute and contempt.
We contend that domesticity is the honor and
glory Of a woman, whatever her fortune and
abilities, aud that when she performs all its
duties by means of hirelings. she is untrue
to herself and her birth. right. Natures re-
venge is severe enough-for the loss of real
pleasure and interest is incalculable, and there
is no computing the e1aasi, inanity and ill
health that come Of the error. But the pun
ishment is seldom recognized as such, certain
as it is. The lady becomes nervous" and
accuses her cruel stars or "dyspeptic, and
talks of her stomach till she turns every ones
else i; or consumptive, and goes down to the
grave in the prime Of life BY what is called a
mysterious dispcnsation." But she never
believes, nor can you persuade her; that the
dullness and monotony of an objectless and
wasted life has anything to do with these sad
results. She would laugh at you, if she could
vet laugh, should you tell her that the woman
who, with no choice in the matter, flies from
the needle TO the churn. from the broom to
pie-board, and from putting the children to
bed to knitting stockings for them. Is far hap
pier and better of. and would be still more
blessed II, in addition, she had the cultiva-
ton, the taste, and the abundant means thrown
away upon her idle sister, without loosing her
own activity and the habit of various en-
ployments.
WANT of time" is much talked Of, as If
from the shortness Of life, we could wisely
attempt but little. But this is a great error.
The complaint is oftenest made by the idle
and inefficient. It has been proved thou
sand times that those who have most to do
have the most effective leisure. e., that
they are the people to apply to if you need
aid unexpectedly. Our working hours are
carefully reckoned by the clock those that
slip by unproftably do so unrecorded. There
is time for the highest cultivation and the
highest usefulness; those who doubt it, ac-
cuse Providence. as if powers were meant to
run TO waste. The langor Of too much rest
is not repOse, but imbecility; the intervals Of
intense action are sweet and full Of life and
promise. The excitements of true woman s
life, under favorable circumstances, are gentle,
but they are incessant She has no occasion
for severe labor, she has no excuse for wlllful
idleness. Our ideal women will not think
idleness lady-likc.
The ideal American woman-would that
her time we're come-will govern her chill
dren, which certainly the American woman
of to-day does not. We will venture TO say
that so many utterly uncurbed children are
not TO be found anywhere as in the United
States perfect nuisances to everybody who
is unhappy enough to come in contact with
them-an expression perhaps suggested oy
the fact that we are still black and blue IRON
the kicks of little boy whom his mamma
very complacently allowed to assault US re-
peatedIy during long stage-ride this last
summer. We should perhaps have been more
indignant if the good lady had not been kept
in countenance by all the American mothers
we encountered during pretty long tour
It is hardly possible to exaggeratc in de-
scribing the behavior Of American children
to their parents, their nurses, their unhappy
teachers-and why is this so little noticed
In conversation it is never-failing topic,
especially among travellers, who experience
its effects in every steamer, car and carriage:
Ask our teachers to what extent parents aid
them in the government Of children. If they
dare, they will tell you sad stories.
Now, begging pardon of all the dear, good
women Of our acquaintance who allow their
children to treat them with disrepect, there is
pitiable weakness in this, and our ideal wo-
man will put it to shame by the 6rmness with
which she will insist on her rights, and the
tenderness with which she will grant her
children theirs. She will not, for the sake Of
seeming amia5le, let them grow up in un-
checked insolence, which. in tho end, she is
as unwilling to bear as other people. She
will neither be the tyrant Of her children,
nor allow them to lord it over her; she will
not harrass them by incossant governing, nor
permit them to despise proper restraints.