Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-06-08

her to their esteem than that of being ac-
quainted, practically, with the details of
the kitchen and economies of house
keeping.
This naturally introduces me to dis
cussion of the benefits of physical indus
try, and the assumption of regular house,
hold duties. There is no better relief to
study than the regular performance of
special duties in the house. To feel that
one is really doing something every day,
that the house is the tidier for ones efforts
and the comfort of the family enhanced,
is the surest warrant of content and cheer
fulness. There is something about this
habit of daily work-this regular perform
ance of duty-which tends to regulate the
passions to give calmness and vigor to the
mind, 10 impart a healthy tone to the body
and to diminish the desire for life in the
street, and for resort to gossiping compan-
ions. Were | as rich as Crasus, my girls
should have something to do regularly,
just as soon as they should become old
enough to do anything. They should, in
the first place, make their own bed, and
take care of their own room. They should
sweep portion of the house. They should
learn, above all things, to help themselves,
and thus to be independent in all circum-
stances. A woman, helpless from any
other cause than sickness, is essentially
nuisance. There is nothing womanly and
lady-like in helplessness. My policy
would be, as girls grow up, to assign to
them SPECIAL duties, first In one part of
the house, then IN another. until they
should become acquainted with all house
G., "A I - - i
ject in this beyond the simple acquisition
of knowledge of housewifery. 1t should
be for the acquisition of habits of physi-
cal industry-of habits that conduce to the
health of body and mind-of habits that
give them an insight into the nature of
labor, and inspire within them genuine
sympathy with those whose lot it is to
labor.
All young mind is uneasy, if it is good
for anything. There is not the genuine
human stuff in a girl who is habituaIIy
and by nature passive, placid and inactive.
The body and the mind must both be in
motion. If this tendency TO activity be
left TO run loose-undirected into channels
of usefulness-a spoiled Child is the re-
suit A girl growing up to womanhood,
The mind aches and chafes because it
wants action, for a motive. Now mind
in this condition is not benefited by the
command to stay at home, or the with
drawl from companions. 1t must be set
to work. This vital energy that is strug
Cling to find relief in demonstration should
be so directed that abits may be formed,
habits of industry that obviate the wish
for change and necessary play, and form
regular drain upon 1t. Otherwise, the
mind becomes dissipated, the will irreso-
lutte, and confinement, lrksome. Chris
will never be happy, except in the COM
pany of their playmates, unless home be-
comes TO them a scene of regular duty,
and personal usefulness. There is an
other obvious advantage TO be derived
from the habit of engaging daily upon
special household duties. The imagina-
ton of girls is apt TO become active to an
unhealthy degree, when no corrective is
employed. False views of life are en-
gendered, and labor is regarded as meni-
al. Ease comes to be looked upon as a
supreme!y desirable thing so that when
the real, inevitable cares of life come,
there is 10 preparation for them. and
tent are the result.
And here l am naturally introduced to
another subject. Young women, the glory
of your life is to do something, and 10 be
something. You very possibly may have
formed the idea that ease and personal
enjoyment are the ends of your life. This
is terrible mistake. Development IN
the broadest sense and in the highest di-
rection is the end of your life. You may
possibly find ease with it, and great deal
of precious personal enjoyment, or your
life may be one long experience Of self
denial. If you wish TO be something more
than the pet and play-thing of man; if
YOU would rise above the position of
pretty toy, or the ornamental fixture of an
establishment, you have got a work to do.
You have got position to maintain in So
ciety; you have got the poor and the sick
to visit; you may possibly have family
to rear and train you have get 10 take
load of care upon your shoulders and bear
it through life. You have got a charac-
ter to sustain, and l hope that you vii
have the heart of a husband to cheer and
strengthen. Ease is not for you. Selfish
iovment is not for YOU. The world Is to
be made better by you. You have got to
suffer and to work and if there be
spark of the true fire in you, your hearts
will respond to these words. The time
will come when you shall see that all your
toll and care and pain and sorrow and
practical sympathy tor others has built you
up into q strength of womanhood which
will despise ease as an end of life, and
pity those who are content with it Get
this idea that your great business is simp-
ly 10 live ease out of your head at once.
There is nothing noble and ennobling in
it. Your mental and physical powers can
only give you worthy happiness in the
using. They were made tor use and a
lazy woman is inevitably miserable.
do not put this matter of enjoyment before
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