Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-07-11

their farming sdreis, engaged so checrtuiJ
and pleasantly in tilling the land, and pro
ducing the raw material for food and raiment
When woman, with her loving heart ant
ready ingenuity, shall become. ,practica
farmer, how much more worthy will sheSb
of the love and respect of alt that's true, jus,
and noble, than the pailor Dali, or, the city
or village Bile! Then, and not before, will
the world be saved by healthy wives, and
healthy mothers, and healthy daughters and
sisters. Yes, and by healthy husbands,
fathers, sons and brothers, also. Some dis
GU sion followed by the Club, in regard to
the propriety OF women engaging in outdoor
labor. .-.- -..r- .-aa ..s.-4 e-rgss-. stEur
Scion Robinson, of the Tribune with me
there is no question whether it is not more
respectable for the daughters Of Mr. Roberts
to go into the field and labor, than it would
be to spend idly their time in the house, liv.
ing upon the toll of their parents. These
girls are entitled to the honor and respect OF
all honest men and women.
Prof. Nash, Of Amherst, Mass.-It is not
uncommon in England or Scotland for wo.
men to take charge Of a farm, and conduct it
successfully. In England, women take pride
in a knowledge Of agricultural matters, and
attend meetings and shows, and are respected
highly, for their influence is very beneficial.
1t is the reverse in this country, where many
women would pride themselves upon their
ignorance Of everything that smells of the
earth. ~ -..
EDITORIAL REMARKS ON THE ABOVE.
We are glad to see the attention Of the
women of America called to this subject
Not that we are in favor of women taking Il
place with men in the labors of the farm, as
advocated by Mr.. Wright, and practiced by
Mrs. Roberts and her daughters. but because
woman ought to be more familiar with rural
pursuits; ought to know more Of mother
earth, fresh air, sunshine, growing, plants
and animals, and less of work indoors over
hot stoves, in badly ventilated rooms. 1t will
not take great many generations more to
dctnrloratc the bodies Of the human race, so
that. our national existence will be more in
danger from cifeminacy, than it now is from
the rebels, II we do rot do something to stop
the degeneration. It would be vastly better
for the human race, that women should turn
farmers, and hoe corn and chop wood, than
it is that they should work in the house all
Of the time, as most of them now do. We
often see women in factories, workshops,
counting rooms and school houses, in the
kitchen and in the pallor, who would be liv-
ing more in harmony with natures laws, if
they were blowing and narrowing.
WY is ii that -4meyjcDa ,romcn Ire 50 IT,
tie an tie oPSn air, a1ldhare go little ldce for,
and kaorledge Of r,ral pursuits and rurql
pleasures? ost...'.s.- .." -
There is no reason why they should pride
themselves in their ignorance about the farm
and its management. Such knowledge is
not in the least inconsistent with the true
dignity and refinement Of woman's character.
1t rather adds to that dignity, and would, if
possessed by all, make country life far more
attractive than now. 1t could be easily at
tanned IN early life. Thousands of women
are frequently thrown, by circumstances, in
to conditions where such knowledge would
be exceedingly valuable. .a. ..
Women, after the death of husband, Of
ten carry on the farm with a good deal of
skill but with how much more ability would
they perform their work, did they under
stand more Of the business. There is no OBJ
lection to women, if their tastes, necessities
or health require it, carrying on the opera
tons of the farm rs business. Gardening
and fruit culture may be carried on by wo-
men with pleasure and profit. Many women
about cities Go considerable at this business,
and we think there are few who would not
rather their wives or daughters would do
this kind of labor, than wash for living, or
as Phin in his work on Grape Culture says,
" make shirts for FIVE cents each, and then.
get cheated out of their pay" School teach
ing is very honorable business, and has fur
nishcd employment for thousands Of women,
but there is little doubt that of two ladies,
equally well educated, if one should own and
cultivate a vineyard, and the other enter the
school room, that in ten years time the for
mcr would have more money, and vastly bet
ter health than the latter Indeed it is very
doubtful if the latter would have any health
at all, after teaching ten years in cur public
schools. ....
We do not believe it is necessary or best,
however, that woman should, KS Mr.. Wright
suggests, plow and SOW, reap and NOW, or as
Mrs. Roberts and her daughters do clear
land Of stumps, stones, bushes, etc. Such a
course would greatly improve their health :;
they would become very strong, as strong
perhaps as men, but they would lose that
lightness, elegance, grace, elasticity and plia-
bility, which are peculiar and desirable traits
of woman's physical character, and become
stiff, awkward and ungracefu as the peasant
women of the old country. The vigor which
woman needs, must be accompanied with
nervous or mental power. ..........
Heavy farm work tends to produce stiff.
ness, and if carried to excess, dullness, stu
pidity and inability to mental effort, and es-
pecialy would this be SO with woman, whose
organization is by nature finer than mans.
Winship. who lifts ton, has hraught on
himself this very condition. While we would
gladly see those kinds of labor by which she
can become, not independent of man, but as
independent of him as he is other; while we
would gladly see her freed from those occu-
pations WHICH tell SO severely on her health,
and which confinc her so much in. doors. we
hope, in this country, not to see her subject
to the rough toll of the farm, and We are sure
we never shall. Let us have the happy me-
dunn between what is, and what Mr.. Wright
advocates. Let her understand the philoso
ply of farming, aud not be ashamed that she
knows all about agricultural operations. Let
her when necessity requires it, carry on the
farm, let her indulge in gardening and hor-
ticultnre, but avoid the heary farm work.
We close with an extract from Downing's cs-
say on " Feminine Taste in Rural Affairs"
There are those, we fear" SAYS Mr.. d.
% who fancy that there ic comc.b;,,r ,,,-.;o