Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-05
'ciend. She did not reply, and Fanny went

"NOr can I. Or roast q sirloin2"
"No.'
"Or broil steak2 Just think of il,
Alice We can manage little useless ems
broidery, or fancy knitting; can sing and
play, dance and chatter-but as to the real
and substantial things of life, we are ignor-
ant and helpless. And with all this, for
sooth, we can not think Of letting ourselves
down to the level and condition of virtuous
intelligent young men, who, in daily useful
work, are earning fair independence We
are so superior that we 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, because his income is
small and marry for position one from
whom the soul turns with instructive aver
sion. Can we wonder that so many are un-
happy"
But eight hundred dollars Fanny How
is it possible for a married couple to live in
any decent style, in this city, on eight hun
dred dollars year2
"They may live in very comfortable
style, if the wife is willing to perform her
part"
"What do you mean by her part Fanny 2"
awe will take it for granted that she is
no better than her husbands that, having
brought him no fortune beyond her dear
self, she can not claim superior privileges"
." Well ~
"He has to work through all the day"
HWell?"
"Under what equitable rule is she ex-
emptP
"None. She must do her part, of course,
if there is any thing to do with. She must
keep his house, if he can afford house,
But if he has only eight hundred dollars
year? 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 sits in idleness all the day
long"
"She would have nothing to do"
"Could she not teach or by aid Of o
sewing machine earn a few dollars every
week. or engage in some other useful work
that would yield an income, and so do her
part?"
ayes, 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 on this sub
iect, and as l think and talk see it more
and more clearly. Our parents have been
| weak in their love for us; and society, as
constituted, has given us wrong estimates
of things. We should have been required to
do useful work in the household, from the
beginning; and should have been taught
that idleness and selfindulgence were dis
creditable. Our brothers are put TO trades
and professions, and made to comprehend,
from the beginning, that industry is honor
able, and that the way of useful work is the
way by which the world s brightest places are
to be reached. But we are raised daintily,
and uselessly, and so fitted for our duties as
wives and mothers. Our pride and self-es-
TEEN are fostered and we come to think of
ourselves as future queens, who are to be
ministered to in all things, instead of being
ministrant, in loving self-forgetfdlness, to
others. No wonder that an anti-marriage
sentiment beginning to prevail among
young men Of moderate incomes, in all our
larger cities. The fault is in us, Alice. The
in this copartnership. Weare not willing
to do our share of work. Our husbands
must bear allthe burdens"
Alice sighed heavily. Her friend con-
tinued:
#
of heaven is the delight of being useful.
And it seems to me, as | dwell upon the
thought, that the nearest approach to
heavenly delight here must be that state
into which q wife comes when she stands
by her husbands side, and, out of love for
him, removes one burden and another
from his shoulders, and so lightens his
work that smiles take the place of weari-
oh of ha ha
rich, she can hardly have so great privil-
ege; but if they are alike poor, and know
how Ito moderate their desires, their home
may become an image of Paradise. Eight
hundred dollars Alice, if you were really
fitted to become Harrys wife, you might
live with him, doing your. part, happier than
q queen"
"That is, must take in work, and earn
money, if we board or-but housekeeping is
out of the question"
"No, it should never be out of the ques-
ton in marriage, think"
"But house-rent alone would take half of
our income"
"That does not follow"
at does for any house would consentto
live in"
$50 pride is stronger than love. But
pTlue nus llS hdBcS db N0Ll dS lONSi dhu bhO
one is bitter while the other is sweet. 1t is
this pride of appearance, this living for the
eyes of people who do not care penny for
u.s. thai is marring the fair fabric Of our So
cial life. Fine houses, fine dresses, parties,
shows and costly luxuries of all kinds are
consuming domestic happiness, and burden
| ing fathers and husbands in all grades OF
society, with embarrassment and wretched-
edness. Alice, we must be wiser in our
| generation"
"That is, coop ourselves up in two or
| three mean little rooms, with eight hundred
dollar year husbands, and to do our own
cooking and housework. Is that it, my
| pretty ene"
"Alice You do not deserve good man,
You are not worthy to wed Harry Peasants,
and trust you will pass him by, should he
be weak enough to offer you his hand. He
can't expect to marry girl Of your expecta-
tions he must content himself with one
who, like himself regards life as real, life
as earnest, and the way of use and duty the
way to true honor and the highest hap
piness" .r
WHAT CONSTITUTES MEAN MAN.-Jones
being great lover of dogs, has famous
breeder, and the pups are in great demand
among those who know and appreciate thei
quality. Jones has a great many friends
and whenever any of them visit him his en-
thusiasm for dogs leads him to boast OF tn
/ e ~ mi IA -