American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-06-08

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so perfectly causeless that they are
almost overcome with desperation
with encouragement, or indignant
defiance of all rules of justice, oi
right, or of humanity. The aneients
noticing this to occur to some women
for few days in every mouth, gave
it the appellation of ''lunacy," lima
being the Latin name for moon or
monthly Some women, at such times,
are literary insane, without their
right mind, and, as it is an infiction
of nature, far be it from any husband,
with the feelings ofa man, to treat his
wife with the same kind care, and cx-
ira tederness, and plying love that
he would show demented only child.
The skilful physician counseled in
such cases the scrupulous avoidance
Of every word, or action, or even look
which by any possibility could irri-
tate the mind, excite the brain, or
wound the sensibilities, and, as far as
possible, to yield gracefully and good
naturedly to every whim and every
caprice ; to seem to control in moth
ing, to yield in all things. Under
these calming influences the mind
sooner resumes its wonted rule =
the heart gushes out in new loves
and wakes up to warmer affection
than ever was known before. A mis-
understanding of the case and an
impatient resistance at all points has
before now driven women to desper-
alton, to lifelong hate, to suicide,
or to the wretchcdness of peering
through Theron bars of a lunatic's
cell for long and miserable lifetime.
Let every husband who has human
heart consider the subject well.
8. In these and other peculiar
states of the system, arising from
nervous arrangement, women are
sometimes childish, and various curl
Gus phenomena take place. There
Is an inability to speak for moment
or a month, the heart seems to lump
up in the mouth, or there is terri
bic feeling Of impending suffocation.
AT other times there are actual con-
yuisions, or an uncomfortable burst
ing out into tears. These and other
disagreeablc phenomena are derisive-
ly and unfeelingly called ''hysteric"
or nervousness but they are no more
unreal to the sufferer than are the
pains of extraction for "nothing
but the tooth-ache." These svmp-
toms are not unfrequently set down
to the account of perversencss when
1t should no more be done than to
call it peryersity to break out in un-
controllable grief at the sudden in
formation of the death of the dearest
friend on earth. The course of con-
duct to be pursued in cases of this
kind is at once the dictate of science,
Of humanity, and Of common sense ;
it is to sympathize with and soothe
the patient in all ways possible until
the excess of perturbation has passed
away, and the system calms down to
its natural, even action.
10 Unless made otherwise by a
vicious training, woman is as natur-
ally tasteful, tidy, and neat in her
self, and as to all her surroundings, as
the beautiful canary, which bathes itself
every morning, and will not be satisfied
until each rebellious feather is compelled
to take the shape and place which nature
designed. 1t is nothing short of brutali-
ty to war against those pure, elevating
and refining instincts of woman's better
nature, and it is husbands 5 highest du-
ty, his interest, and his pride, to sympa-
thize with his wife in the cultivation of
these instincts, and to cheefullv afford
her the necessary means, as far as he can
do so consistently. No money is better
spent on farm, or anywhere else, than
that which enables the wife to make her
self, her children, her husband, and her
house appear fully up to their circum--
stances. The consciousness of a torn or
buttonless jacket or soiled dress worn at
SN''1D' 80 '"NNS bON VI Sil III tNelf
own estimation, and who that is a man
does not hate to feel that he is wearing
a ragged orflirty shirt? The wife who
Is worthy Of the name will never allow
these things il she is provided with the
means for their prevention, and it is in
the noble endeavor to maintain for her
family respectability ofappearance which
their station demands, with means and
help far too limited, which so irritates
and chafes and annoys her propriety, that
many time the wite's heart and consti- |
tu,ion and health are all broken together
This is the history of multitudes Of far
mers wives, and the niggardy natures
which allow it, after taking an intelE- |
gent view of the subject, are simply be-
meath contempt. What adds to the bet
ter appearance of the person elevates
what adds TO the better appearance of a
farm increases its value and the respecta-
bility Of the occupant; so that it is al |
ways good investment, morally and pc
for farmer to supply his wife
generously and cheerfully, according to
his ability, with the means of making
her family and home neat and tidy. 4 |
bunch of flowers or shilling ribbon for
the dress. or A few nennies' worth of lime