Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-01-30

"Non
"Nor can l. Or roast sirloin?''
mo"
"Or broil steak? Just think of it. Alice
We can manage little useless embroidery, or
fancy knitting; can sing and play, dance and
chatter-but to the real and substantial things
of life, we are ignorant and helpless. And, with
all this, forsooth, we not think of letting our
selves down to the level and condition of virtu-
Gus, intelligent young men, who, in daily, useful
work, are earning fair independence We are
so superior that must have husbands able to
support us in luxurious idleness or we will have
none. We are willing to pass the man to whom
love would unite us in the tenderest bonds, be-
cause his income is small and marry for position
one from whom the soul turns with instructive
aversion. Can we wonder that so many are un-
happy1"
''But eight hundred dollars Fanny How is it
possible for a married couple to live in any de
cent style, in this city, on eight hundred dollars
year?"
"They may live in very comfortable style,
if the wife is willing to perform her part"
"What do you mean by her part, Fanny?"
1--WE will take it for granted, that she is no
better than her husband. That, having brought
him no fortune beyond her own dear self, she
cannot claim superior privileges"
"Wellr,
"He has to work through all the day."
"WeT?"
"Under what equitable rule is she exempt?"
"None. She must do her part of course, if
there is anything to do with. She must keep
his house, if he can afford house. But if he
have only eight hundred dollars yelrl Why,
rent alone would consume half, or more than
half of that. There would be no housekeeping
in the case. They must board"
"And the wife sit in ideness all the day
long?"
''She would have nothing to do
"Could she not teach? or, by aid of sewing
machine, few dollars every week7 or
engage in some other useful work, that would
yield an income; and so do her part?"
"Yes, she might do something of the kind
but if marriage is to make 'workies' of us, it
were better to remain single"
"And live in unwomanly dependence on our
parents and relatives. No, Alice; there is false
sentiment prevailing this subject and as think
and talk, | see 1t more and more clearly. Our
parents have been weak in their love for us; and
society, as constituted, has given us wrong esti-
mates Of things. We should have been required
to do useful work in the household from the be-
ginning; and should have been taught that idle
ness and self-indulgence were discreditable Our
brothers are put to trades and professions, and
made to comprehend from the beginning that in
dustry is honorable, and that the way of useful
work is the way by which the worlds brightest
| places are to be reached. But we are raised
dainty and uselessly, and so fitted for our dutie;
as wives and mothers. Our pride and self esteem
are fostered, and we come to think of ourselves a:
/ future queens who are to be ministered to in all
things, instead of being ministrants, in loving
self-forgetfulness to others. No wonder that an
anti-marriage sentiment is beginning to prevail
amongst young men of moderate incomes, in al
our large cities. The fault is in US, Alice The
| sin lies at our door, Wedemand too much in the
CO partnership. We are not willing to do oul
share of work. Our husbands must bear all the
burdens"
Alice sighed heavily. Her friend continued
al have read somewhere, that the delight o
heaven is the delight Of being useful And i
seems to me, as dwell upon the thought, tha
the nearest approach to heavenly delight here
must be that state into which a wife comes
when she stands by her husbands side, and
out of love for him, removes one burden ant
another from his shoulders, and so lightens hi
work, that smiles take the place of we lrnes
and the shadowings of care. If he be rich
she can hardly have so great privilege; but i
they are alike poor, and know how to moderat,
their desires, their home may become an imag
of Paradise. Eight hundred dollarsl Alice,
you were really fitted to become Harry's wife
you might live with him, doing your part, hap
pier than any queen"
THAT is, / must take in work, and ear
money, if we board or,-but housekeeping
out of the question"
"No; it should never be out of the question il
marriage, think"
"But house rent alone, would take half of ou
income
"That does not follow"
at does, for any house | would consent I
live in.''
$50 pride is stronger than love. But pride IN
J its wages as well as love; and the one is bite
! while the other is sweet. 1t is this pride of AZ
pearance. this living for the eyes of other peopl
who do not care penny for us, that is marin
the fair fabric ofour social life Fine houses fin
furniture, fine dresses, parties, shows and costl
luxures of all kinds, are consuming domestic haI
! piness and burdening fathers and husbands, in a
grades OF society, with embarrassment and wretch
: edness. Alice, we must be wiser in our genera
T tion."
"That is, coop ourselves up in two or three mea
little rooms, with our eight hundred a year hu,
r bands, and do our own cooking and houseworl
Is that it, my pretty oner"
''For shame, Alicel You do not deserve
good man. You are not worthy to wed Harr
Q Pleasants. and trust you will pass him by shou
{ he be weak enough to offer you his hand. II
q can't afford to marry girl of your expectation,
e he must content himself with one who, like hin
self, regards life as real, life as earnest and til
A way of use and duty the way to true honor an
5 the highest happiness"
/, Suppose you take him, Fanny" said Alic,
e half sportively, half petulently. She was veal
g proud, vain girl.
T eff he should offer himself. perhaps will"
r "Oh, then, if he kneels at nv feet will r.
fer him to you as one likely to make him a goo
cook and chambermaid.'
J, "Do, if you please. / always liked Harry
and don't think it would take much effort Q
my part to love him. He is great deal bett'
u of in the world than / am, having an income
eight hundred dollars a yeIr while have nothin N
e On that sum, / am sure,we could live in comfor
taste, and happiness. would not keep servai
to wait on me so long as | could do the work
our little household Why should keep a Sc
want any more than he? would find mental r.
creation and bodily health in the light tasks OF
modest home would require. Need we care as
what the world would say? AMI whit would Il
E, world say?''
n THAT your husband had no business to mar
IT he couldn't support his wife"
5 mot by any means, Alice This world wou
;, say, There's sensible couple for you and wi
E; worth having. Well endorse them for happine
oi and prosperity And, what is more, Alice, OF
De ers would be encouraged to act the same wi
part, and thus be made happy through our exar
pie. I'll take Harry if he offers himself, al
I'd show you model home and model wife;
pass him over to me. should he lay his fortune
Is your feet
- The newest fashion IN Paris is the new pet
coat--the jupon multiple as it is styled in the VI
! nacular. Its popularity is that by adding lave
~ of muslin it may be made as large as twenty pc.
coats. Alas for horse-car riders.
MORNING TOILET. : Double skirted taffe
or dress; the under skirt is plain. and the upper