The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-14


pufery, why may not she enjoy them? Ys
imagine, dear P one Of us with cigari Pearl
teeth-coral lips No, can't imagine it. w
will keep it as a resource when we become thos
odlous old maids. 1t may make US more odiou
STILL but, if there be comfort, it will sustain u,
l should be sorry to distrust the testimony of s
many men.
But, as | was saying, men smoke becaus
they must think that they are doing something
The ghost of an imagination of employment i
every cloud of smoke. We may not be in muc
danger of following this example, and vet wi
tell you secret. l should not have much fait
In the power even of the public opinion whic
would frown upon smoky woman as upo
a smoky chimney, had we not stronger safe
guard in our employments. Let US hold fast t
the needle. She was a wise and observant pei
son who said, "No woman could be happy, VIII
did not know the use Of the needle" We nee
not be slaves to il, we need not bind up soul am
body In the mysteries of crochet and embroidery
single stitch and double stitch; we entangie our
selves in silk and zephyr worsteds, till we hav
not an idea beyond. That is the extreme. Blu
to know how to work easily and gracefully, t,
be able to keep the fingers employed, while tn
mind is free-this is well. 1t is soothing ant
calming, and may help to while away many
weary hour, when books are UNDECIDED, and W,
have no society.
Thinking this of our work, propose to fine
some social employment for men; at present,
know of none truly innocent but ,ohiaing. Wha
can they do2 Read the papers2 Yes, and turn
their backs to you while they read What next
Smoke? Aye, smoke. This is the alternative
| once set going, like the cork-leg, they canno
| stop. Work with all their might, eat with al
their might, smoke with all their might, slee1
with all their might.
Watch man who has nothing to do, in hi.
attack upon your work basket. He picks NJ
your scissors, and works at them, till You take
tnem away, just as the edge is utterly spoiled
Before you can look up, he has them again, anc
has shipped up precious bit of work YOU wer,
transferring, on the last piece of a particula,
shade OF worsted. Then he cuts YOUR thread
| and unwinds your silk, till you rescue from hin
one after another of the contents of your basket
and console him by leaving him a piece O
thread to twist round his fingers.
1t were a charity to give him work; and no
long ago, almost cried Eureka" a sewinc
machine Gentle exercise for hands and feet
combining amusement and utility, and requi
ring little attention. What more agreeable than
for the pdter fdmitias, as he sits at his evening
hreside, to entertain and be entertained, while
at the same time he has occupation for bis
fingers In promoting the development of the
family jackets and other ornamental branches
But, l saw the machine, heard it, and con.
cluded to wait for another invention. They
are not melodious, and Mr.. Pater might better
grind hand-organ for our amusement.
But, dear p, | had almost forgotten, and
perhaps you had, the question with which we
set out, Whom shall zoe marry? There are
beautiful pictures in books, men who are every.
thing that is good, and wise, and bright, and SO
devoted but, alas we usually take leave of
them when they marry, and never know how
they hold out. Perhaps they become like real
men after that ; but l think novel writer's ought
to be indicted. They give US these specimens,
and we naturally invest our idols with the same
perfections, for want of better knowledge and
-. - a;ded and aLa..Ad IN obtaining
our good will under false pretences.
Somebody has charged women with being
vain and extravagant and foolish. grant that
some are so and but don't you mention it) SO
are some men. Their fancy-work is of a diff.
ferent kind, and stocks and notes and specula-
tons are the follies they deal in. Even in
dress, they are noseled by fashion, and would
wear red velvet caps and purple cloaks and
blue trunk hose, if they were bid. Those who
tinuations, and who carry about upon them
representations of Mount Vesuvius and the
Mississippi river, would commit any other
enormity, if it were dictated by the same high
power-fashion.
Some tales gain force by repetition and it
has been repeated, without contradiction, that
all the women here (graciously allowing here
and there an exception) are extravaganza, and
given to folly and fashion; while their hus-
bands and fathers, poor, dear, Woodworking
slaves, are obliged to exhaust themselves in in
cessant labor, to meet the demands of these
daughters, ever crying, "give, give" have
heard of offices and counting-rooms and bank
parlors, with comfortable arm-chairs, where
plenty of gossip circulates, (but men never Cos
sip,) and of clubs and club houses-but of
course, married men never 90 to them. No;
they are working hard for the wives who will
spend so much.
L have only to say, that some men are extrav.
agant too, in houses, dress, equipage; and /
have seen women who would hold back in these
things, and urge less freedom of expenditure
But their efforts alone avail but little for what
are woman's savings to a mans spendings?
And if we are so vain and foolish, why do
they encourage US in it? Why is no effort
made to raise US to level with their nobler
natures? Why do they treat with most atten-
ton and admiration those who make most dis
play in dress? 1t is their own beautiful bust
ness principle, that " the demand regulates the
supply"
Granted, that some fail in economy-there
may be reasons. Some spend freely, because
they do not know they need do otherwise. l
have seen q woman boast of her husbands
prosperity, and spend in proportion, when every
one else knew that he was straining every nerve,
and paying unmentionable per cent month,
to keep his head above water. She, of course,
has her share of blame.
Mr.. u. failed, and, not long after, his wife
gave party, to introduce her eldest son into
society. / exclaimed, there must be some mis-.
take-it could not be-; and Cousin Pen Joined
with me. Mr.. y. quietly said, it was nothing,
Mr.. z. had probably forgotten to tell her. These
Fertilization street failures were of no account
/ am trying to learn this new code of moral
ity.
There is true philosophy in the extravaganza
of some women. They know by how uncer-
tain tenure they hold what they have, and 60
make the most Of it while it lasts. In the
reckless mode of doing business, all may 20 at
any time and all they could save would make
no difference in the general crash.
If wife knows that her husband is playing
at ducks. and. drakes with his money, what in.
ducement has she to take care of it? He buys
fancy Stocks and she buys fancy collars and
sometimes she has more to show for her trans.
actions than he has. He goes among bulls
and bears, and she prefers ermines and sables.
he writes his name for friend, and pays round
ly for the privilege; she writes to her friends,
and merely pays for the supper and music they
enjoy in her house.
! mnst, by the bye, make the confession
that we dress too much in the street. But les
aouveaur riches are like the child with new
toy-he must not only enjoy it himself, but show
it to every one else. BY and by we shall tire
of showing all the world what our money can
buy, and so we shall attain to more propriety
in our dress.