Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-04-13
not. she honestly return the sentiment,
and say that woman never fnds her true
sphere until, in some relation Of life, ard

uot' she honestly return the sentiment,
and say that n woman never finds her true
sphere until, in some relation Of life, ard
chief Of all her own home, true inan's
wisdom and strength harmonize with her
trusting affections and quick perception.
She will own this truth, and she is too
sagacious not to see that she looses her
hold on man the moment she attempts to
rival him by speech Or manner. Although
not agreeing with the ascetic or the radi
cal, as to the means Of emancipating wo-
man from the yoke of marriage. we do be-
ieye that much may and should be done
to secure to her larger self reliance and
usefulness, to train her to be energetic
without being masculine, and so to rule
her education as to give her trner dignity
and freedom, whether married or single
The same social progress that will make
marriage more practicable and hopeful
will make single life more dignlied, and
without believing in any social rostrums
that shall at once cure all domestic ills, We
are convinced that due thought on the part
of earnest parents and teachers, preachers
and authors. can work out d better day for
the destiny Of our daughters. We need to
apply the FIRST principles of good sense to
the current modes of living, and demand
some other sanction than mcre fashion for
the st, le Of expense which we think au-
thoritativc. The matter of dress, farni-
ture. house building, servants. entertain
ments, and all the house hold economies
that have so much to do With the destiny
Of woman, need to be thoroughly revised,
and substantial check put 10 the extrav-
agance that is putting the yoke Of noni-
nal poverty upon young women Of moder
ate means, and shutting them out ir9m the
comforts of Il true home, while it burdens
t e nomiuaily rich with constantly iucreas.
ing competitions and dseontents. Good
taste may do much towards checking ex-
trayagancc and we seriously believe that
Il more artistic eve. would often lessen by
one half the cost of dress and furniture,
and save our daughters from the barber
Gus folly that sacrifices true beauty to mere
expensiveness. 1t will be a day worth no.
ting in the calander when woman emanci-
pates herself from the yoke of Vulgar fash
ion, and when good taste and true beauty
preside over wardrobe and drawing room
The basis of all true reforn, however,
must be deeper than taste or sentimcnt.-
1t must be III character that finds its best
treasure not in the accidents but the sub
stance Of being. and believes with the Mas
ter that life does not consist in the abun-
dance of things possessed. The good old
Christianity that has stood by the daugh-
tiers of the Church through so many strug-
giles is to stand by them still in the pecul-
lar crisis OF our new ages. The problem
once was to save woman from the hand Of
i barlarie Inst and place her unde. the pro
lection Of .hc sanctuary, and the problem
was solved. The problem now is how to
save her from the Yoke of modern materia-
ism, and to secure to pure character and
spiritual faith a respect and influence that
the world is now eager to monOp lize foi
wealth and ostentation This problem.
too, will he solved, and they who solve it
under Gods law, and with Chist's grace,
will be the best benefactors Of our daurl
tprS.