Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-04-06
Household Affairs.

v Ing bA GAAN "AA IL
leaving to the care of females, the labor y
and toll Of providing for and managing the S
affairs of home, without feeling the amount .
responsibility which they should assume s
in such matters Appropriating almost their 7
entire time, except what is claimed for meals |
and sleep, to the business which naturally
and properly belong to them, they leave to
the wife not ouly the feminine duties of the
household, but many of those which demand
the thought, care and wisdom of the head OF
the family.
There are duties in a family which may
properly be assigned wholly to the wife, as
there are those out of doors which naturally
and necessarily devolve upon the husband
OF these we make no mention IN this article
We have a word to say in regardto the high
responsibilities of each, in those duties vhich
rest upon both. We mean the proper disel-
pline and management of children and ser
wants. This duty is imperious, and although
divided, cannot be shifted from the one to
and c carer i IN }J tbs absence fR;S Of the husband,
child and servant, administering advice, en-
co~uragement, repnoof or correction as they
require. 1t is a most difficult task, and costs
many hours of painful anxiety and oftimes
much mental and bodily suffering. She does
the best she can under the circumstances,
feeling, however, that it is a burden which she
ought not and cannot bear alone. When
her husband returns to his meals, she has a
right to claim that he examine into and give
his sanction to her administration or if he
cannot honestly do so, that be will refrain
from the expression of an adverse opinion, al
least in the presence of Ghe children and SER
wants. If serious defects in her administra
ton appear to him, it it his right to labor tc
correct them, but not fudely or angT1ly eyer
in private, much less in the presence of tht
family. Such a course is not only unjust tt
the wife, but it is wholly injurious to thosC
under discipline. No act, word or look 0
his, should under any circumstances, be al
lowed to destroy NAe coincidence of children
or servants in her, or to weaken her authori
ty over them. But how different is tn
course of many men? How often is the wit
chided with ignorance, or a want of judgment
or a bad temper, to the utter overthrow {
all her influence in the family. And is
surprising that we hear of SO many bad chile
rem and refractory servants2 How often al
the silly complaints Of children and servants
SO treated by the husband, whether jestingl
or seriously, as to damage entirely her al
thOrity and to increase and promote the r
bellisn of the governed?
Quite as much damage is often done by ii
silence or sheer indifference of the husbar
!, to the faults and mtisdemeanors of the famil
1t is a vexatious, troublesome task. He IL
AGNES he has quite enough to do out of door
and by a manifest indifference, thus he throy
the entire burden off his shoulders, upon Il
wife already pressed to the earth with h
own share of the burden. But this no M
; can do. His own share Of the burdea
must bear, if he fear God; and if not,
!, must still bear it, unless he has become
: tally reckless to the consequences to
children and servants. Nor is he allowed
!. be Indifferent, even when under the SUPER
= management of his wife, all things move
!, smoothly, whether he hear complaint or n
g 1t is his duty to inquire into their cOnd'
and ascertain that all is right. Such a coul
would tighten the load of the wife and ex
= a happy influence upon the family.