The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1859-04-14
Model Wives,

Th, following is sent to us by lady, who
thinks that this side ought to be heard from in
the paper:
1t is enough to make us married women sick
to see the nonsense that men put into the papers.
On one particular head--reQu Quirement for wives
there is enough absurCity uttered in one
month - do for the whole twelve months Of the
year.
Nov, if men were angels, or demigods there
might b. some reason in their requiring angels
and goddesses for mates; but when 1t isrenarked
what poor, imperfect, unrclia BILE, unreason-
able, uuneritUriuus set they are th-ir face 4"
| in setting up such claims would be perfectly
amazing aud undccountabi', We're it not Tor the
well known enormous sclt-esteem OF the spe.
cies.
Suppose, just FOR moment, that any woman
could be found sufficiently reinyd, beautiful,
good, attractive, aud rich, Tor all the pIcpOsler-
Gus dt mandS that are made, where would she
ind mate meet for her? Does any one sup
pose that such a paragon of perfection would
stoop TO wed with mere mortal man, who
would mos, certainly shock her to death by NOR.
tai vulgarities and faults
As women are, they have plenty to do to
swallow " all that is mingled in their cup of
life when their fate has actually given them
over into the power OF men. 1t is barbarity to
wish them to be any more refined AMI delicate;
il is prodigalily to desire them to be any more
beautiful or desia bic than they are, considering
they are made jor men,
Women are faulty crcatures-that is not
denied. They have abundant reason to be
ashamed of themselves that is freely Owned
They are foolish, weak and IN too many re.
specs wicked--that they ore always hlIing in
love with men is proof eGough OF that But
we return to our proposition, and w do most
emphatcaly, distinctly and unqualiGcdly de
rla tLp, Unpl pnpuUll fnr men
We wiSh--oh earnestly, sincerely yearning
ly it were not so; We wish they We're not good
enough Not that they were less perfect than
they are but that mrn were all 50 just, 50 noble,
so true 50 large hearted, SO a1eciiouate, 50 o-
together admiro0le, that they would deserve
perfection in their wives. Then there would be
some sense and encouragement in trying 10 i'm
prove. But whit induccmpnt has woman to
cudeavor TO come up to the mark Of " the high
calling OF wife?
AS soon as she is wife, or most, as soon rs her
husband has recovered from the FIRST overpo yer-
ing sensation and OnTictinn OF mdtr;mony, and
arrived at the sensible conclusion that he is not,
after all the lirst and only Case of the kind that
ever occurred--that other men besides himself
really have been mdrred--he b gins to criticise
his witeS daily life and conversation. Faml-
iarity has robbed her manners of the charm TREY
once had tor him AMI he begins TO admire tbs,
really better but b cause they are new to him,
1t ma,tcrsnot at all how beautiful may be the
lace that every morning he sees beside him on
the pilOw--he soon Iorgets to speak, or even to
think, OF its familiar beauty, and saves all his
stares and excldmations of admiration for that
of other mems wives and daughters
His wite's astn may be of The very finest or
der, yet, in nine cases out Of ten he will praise
the dress and appearance Of other women moro
than lie will hers.
If her style Of dress be showy, he will call her
Iextravagant--it it be plain, he will call her
dowdy. II her disposition be of lively play
ful turn, he will check her for her "wild ard
childish Ways = and it she be given to retire
ance, he will call her dull and sullrn.
What is qu5elily dignity In smother woman,
will be Stiffness and haughliness in his own
wife, What is grace and sweetness in another,
will be affectation enl shallowness in her -
When he has exclaimed in rapture over the ele,
gance OF some wOmans sttirr anl his wife al
tempts TO give him u similar pleasure by array
ing herself in similar style, he will rail at her
for wearing her clothes SC tight as to stop circu-
lation (she may not be laced one third as much
as her mOdel) so long as to sweep the streets,
and so full that she looks like bollcon blown
up. He will declare that she has on too many
Ipetucoats, that her shoes are too small, thai
her dress is top high too low in the neck, that
he never could bear to see short sleeves, that he
is really almost ashamed to be seen with such
a figure OIL his arm"
Now we would ask, in all humility, what en-
couragement there can possibly be for women TO
try TO improvee themselves for the sake of those
beings who are sure, the moment they feel se-
cure in their possession, TO see in other women
ten charms to where they see one in their own
wives?
Let men learn to be model husbands. and
tharp Is q hf k,,,. h. a.
will soon be enough and to spare, unfortunate
ly, of the material out Of which to make mod
e wives" Begin at ne beginning, sis.