St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-05-02
Communications.
For the 81. Charles City intelligcncer
The Contrast.

l nad Dccn Tor ScNeral HOurS thc
sole occupant Of my little shop, when
Mrs. Mcddlesomc unceremoniously en-
tered, and taking a seat opposite my
self at the work table, proceeded with
her accustomed business. | quietly
suffered her interrogations and re-
marks from pure dread of interfering
with woman's rights" But she has
left and, as | am situated lastly on
her circuit, she is now probably over
seeing her own domicil Oh !! what a
woman-what mother. She has
husband and four children, who nat
urally require her presence and attcn-
ton but possessing a mind so cx-
trcmcly active, and disposition SO
utterly at variance with the quiet du-
ties of domestic life, great proper
ton of her time is spent in visiting
from house to house through the vii
lage. Thus of necessity her own fam
lily is neglected. Her house presents
a fair sample Of what should call
chaos. There is nothing in its place,
neither is there a place for anything.
Her children manage to help them
selves as best they can her husband
patient, pcace-loving man, silently
submits to such evils as he can not
prevent. Having imposed upon her
self the duty of prescribing for all
the invalids directing all the tea par
ties and sewing circles, arranging all
the courtships and family quarrcls !;
predicting all the future events rcla-
ting to deaths, marriages, &c. dcci-
ding all questions of slavery, law and
politics within the circle of her &C
quaintance she can, Of course, have
very little time or relish for the ad-
! iustment of her own affairs. If any
/ thing of the kind is ever attempted, So
much is commenced that nothing is
properly completed She would be
President of all the benevolent socie'
ties but for the good sense of those
connected with them. She abounds
, in sympathy and tears for individuals
present, but the absent are remarka
BILE specimens Of human dcpravity.
Happily, no Christian church is dis
graced by her name upon its records
1t is a common remark that all per
sons possess more or less good traits
for which they deserve credit. This
may be true of her, but there is LITTLE
evidence of it. To say nothing of the
; extent or amount of mischief that she
; occasions in the community, who cal
E estimate the amount or limit the ex
tent of her influence at home. But
1 as my powers of description are in
adequate to full and complete devel
1 opment of character and habits, viii
pass over to her neighbor opposite.
Mrs. Inertia is the wife of a me
e chanic of slender means. Her HON
u is ever neat and orderly. She pei
g forms with her own hands all tn
n labor necessary in the several depar
k ments, such as sewing, sweeping
: washing, cooking, &c, &c. Her ware
G robe and that of her family consists
!. simple change of plain garments
y clean and whole, and laid in the
r. proper places. She has few acquain
Is ances, except her own relatives
seldom seen in the street or at chure
IS knows nothing of her neighbors a
f. fairs, consequently is never rufhed
" spirit by rejection of proffered Sc
Is vices-assumes no responsibilities
e. is member of no church, party or Sc
ID engages in no enterprise calculate
n to enlighten her mind or warm h
v hear:-expresses no fear or wish re
es pecting the future of this life, but
ch appearances is fully satisfied with t
ho daily routine of duties within her ]
n tie home. Her husband, her old b
y and chickens, her little tabby cat.
w to overaowing the utmost bounds
of her heart. She is oH the whole I
&c. most passive lump of human fiesl
es- ever saw living. She may indeed
M joice at seeing unfortunate suffer-
re- relieved by others, but never OF
ar dreams that any effort Of hers is e
required confirming the truth of