Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-02-23
FROM the Ohio Statesman.
WOMAN'S WORK.

. The question Of pork for ioomen, has always
been q rather puEzling one to society, inasmuch
Assuearly every thing proposed by way of adjust
-msnt of il, has been merely palliative of radical
evils, out Of which grow continual suffering and
disorder. .t.-
Society begins to recognize, and half reluctant
Iy acknowledge the fact, that this busy half o.
creation, must have its due share THAT is, hall, l
%sdppose) of the best and most responsible work,
with plenty Of encouragement to do it we'll; or,
on the old principle that "Satun finds some mis-
chief still" &c., they lUiH NEEDLE with and mar
such work terribly.
More than q century ago, a writer in Addison's
Spectator. lamented the decline of that art by
which Penelope filled the long interval Of Ulysses
absence, but despairing Of being able to revive it,
proposed in lieu thereof increased attention to
embroidery, as The next best means Of keeping wo.
men out Of mischief such as political intriguet
aud ccquetry. The wits OF Queen Anne's reign
were not slow to discover that The weakness and
~frivolity Of the women of that period, were cor.
.inually noutralizinG all that they could do to lif
the age out Of those vices and follies which had
been left to il, as legacy, by the dissolute reigr
Of Charles ii and the weak sway Of James.
"Look at our ancestresses!" one exclaims with
enthusiasm; "what piles of tapestry they wrought
There was Matilda who worked a view o
her husbands feet leaving the harbor! and be
sides her, how many noble ladies have thu
wrought their memory into fame" So said th,
Jew Of Zurich to his daughter, who coDtumacicus
'ly questioned him about q silly Fly Of a borrower
who was about getting into his 1.-THE Jew'sl net
.f'Getthee to thy embroidery Woman have nough
ttU do with thesethipgs."
w People seem to suppose that the "femiDin
Afts." foremost of which 10 embroidery, ""eom
by nature" as DOgberry says. whereas only
few persons can, with years of practice, produc
anything really beautiful, or worth the wear o
sight and patience,
a- What if the ambitious father should say to hi
: son, "look at the frescoes Of Michael Angelo
why shouldn't you substitute labor in that glor
ious art, for your exploits in tho streets and a
public meetings." lie might be answered as wa
s tho grocer who apprenticed his son to a painter
II Decent want to be q hartist, ! wants to be
: bodtcher."
Thsckery says when he sses The absurd figure
on stools, rugs, mate, &c..-Ihe so called fame,
? work, which like prisoners, the ladies hang aroun,
the walle of their cells, and shear the Internal jim
gle that has cost so much patient practice on th
,tpisDo. I swear BY everything sentimental, l eoul
snpsep." "'
Let me not be thought, however. to underyalu
taose works Of taste and skill, so dear to youn
! girls. 1t is only when they are proposed or asceI
: lsi ss Q substitute for something better, that the
2 'beeome q nuisance. Clustered around, the graz
,OalsSts Of life. they arc like flowers wreathing
a0ataIu GaRiRaIM4 ~ LEa EnrrU.mHH s.f MLrw
Richard nidfstbs Whose wosd ought 70 Ou
weigh ours in everything Sut this, which so neal
~ concerns as, wrote, some years sgc, . vary goo