The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-02-19

Farmers, wiyss-..why Insane.

brilliant star in the Western literary firm
ament, paints for the Home Journal the fol-
lowing picture, alas too truthful, of the con
dition and life of many farmers wives in the
West:
It has been remarked by writer Of note
that the largest of any one class OF insane
women in the United States is made up OF
farmers wives.
He rs perfectly wonder-struck in ecnse-
ouence of the discovery which he has maze
against this class Of humanity. which has
beon SO often pictured in the "rosy-cheeked,
singing, up with-the-lark, strawberry-and-
cream style "-and goes on to give them
slice from that inevitable loaf of "advlce''
which must go more toward driving them
bedlam-ward than all their cares besides.
Now, I'm not in the least surprised that
there should be more crazy farmers wives
than crazy "ton" women, or crazy sewing
girls, or crazy blue stockingsl Country girls
new-a-days, are nearly as well cultivated as
city girls the better classes more so. They
have not the springing vivacity of mind ana
spirit which the friction of the city imparts,
no more than the clam-eyed forest flower has
the varegated charms and rich odors OF the
parterre pet; but they are compensated tor
this in having broader views, purer ideas OF
life and living and in walking near the pres
ence of great, benign nature.
All country girls are brought up with ideas
of neatness and order; and all of them have
little notions of grace, tastes for beautiful
things, and often times the genius to WELD
the pen or 'sweep the dulcimer."
When they marry their farmer lovers, all
these ennoblng tastes go for nothing-are
reduced in the crucible of their husbands
opinisns to "fol-de-roll" Then, since their
Genius cannot express itself in little music
or quiet crayoning, thu cultivation of flowers
or, in poorer way, embroidery, it will ex-
press itself, though in nothing sublimer than
al Immediately scrubbed kitchen floor, artls-
tic curtain folds and graceful wreaths in the
pastryl Allowed this meager escape-valve,
the innate genius, the germ that fully ex'
panded, might have mad, the world little
lighter and better, is content to lull itseli
leep to fling cut the petals, but forbear
from fruiting.
| But suppos ng, as is the case in half n mil
lion instances at least, the farmers wives
have not even this relief. Surprising that the
whole long day is given up to cooking, dish
washing, house-righting, and baby-tending,
with snatches Of un-pu -offabic patching, and
the washing and iro. ng yet ahead sup
posing it to be busy day, "hurrying sea
son" on the farm, with from three to six
workmen to feed, and usually two or more
children to be kept in decent, school-going
order. Late in the evening, TIVE hours after
husband and "hands" are asleep; after sup
per has been cleared away; the dairy visited,
the breakfast planned; Johnny's lacerated
! jacket repaired, and the little incidental
chores of picking up" performed, then, with
t usually an insatiate baby to imbibe what life
she has left, the "farmer's wife" goes to bed
l thoroughly ovcr-worked and exhausted, te
begin, in five hours the routine Of the pre-
y,ous day.
j Take time by the forelock" as she may
''simplify" as she may "don't fret" as sh'
may flor such is the language of her adviser)
: still no cleaning oasis of rest ever open
. upon her dusty way. "Refresh your mind
!, with good literature, and seek out door recre
I ations," goes on this subduer of lunacy bu
O when there is dinner to get the baby follow
ing her with his eyes and direful screeches'
= the pudding lying uudeveloped in hens nests
II the sugar box and flour barrel, and the 'son
of the reaper" coming suggcstively in fror
70 the south field HOW, let me ask, in all car
u dor, is she to refresh her mind with good Ii
= erature? "But there are times" Onl
:. rarely and then the physical woman is to
Q exhausted to undertake any mental gymna
! tics. Smother beneath this slaves life an
Il vigorous intellect, and if in ten years she
as taken to an asylum, nobody need wonder
The wonder is that she should not go thel
ID in five yearsl
ID People talk of the "pressure" on grei
le men, but should much prefer leading a f1e
I'd up to the death-hurling forts of Charleston
l" writing a proclamation for the nation,
n editing the daily -, to the never ceasir
AZ pressure on our hard-working farmers wive
~ Another thing; they are not loved! Oh
- may live among ordinary farmers six yea
:, which is long enough to form pretty ia
- estimate-and never see in the husband al
- acts of selfsacrifce, endearment or solicitut
it toward the pale, drudging woman, who. n
IT many years agone, stepped. beaming al
| hopeful, into his life-path, and wove h
youth and loveliness into crown for hin
It is shame that Heaven shall make hi
blush for that he exhibits moro care for
horses than for his toiling mate indoors; tn
= ~ he has for them affeetionate pats and ehee
'n' words of greeting, but never anything of {
sort for the silently starving heart viii
might be made so happy by them.
With rare exceptions, no conversation eS
takes place except upon some question OF
farm or the wants of the house. Indeed, Q
would be puzzled to know if the conjugal
existed, were il not for the abandon" wi
which the wife land sometimes the husbar
rs ''soOided." r 60