Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-04
slnipn and Ameritall.
WHAT Shall WE DO ron sERv.
ANTS -

From the New orleans ltncs.l
This question, which is constantly propoun-
ded in our midst, and asyet hasreceived nosat-
isfactory reply, must soon present itself for
q general and prompt decision. The seryi-
ocs Of freedmen and women are so uncertain,
and even grudgingly given. and their wages
So increasingly high, that in another year,
nnless marked change takes place. few will
be willing. or able, 10 submit 10 their extor-
tions aud unlhrift The altered relations,
TOO. the removal Of all restraint upon an ig-
norsint and credulous race, who are entirely
rnder the control OF vicious and unprinel-
Piled men, render them unsafe and undeslra-
BE inmates In the households Of their former
owners. There may be instances Of rare
attachment and fidelity among them, but the
subversive element has been 50 powerfully
insiilled into their minds, that in many in
stances they look upon Southerner as a
natural enemy, 10 be spoiled and hated.
tn cities, or even large towns, German and
Irish emigrants can be procured at reasonable
rates. but they are too unwilling 70 leave the
neighborhood Of towns where they can COM
rnand the companionship OF their own peo-
pe. TO make them a reliable dependence
throughout the country.
We are not dealing with the important
question Of free labor in extensive agricul-
tural operations, but in the narrow sphere
Of domestic households. We believe, too,
the answer to the question we have asked
must be sought and found in the good sense
and CAREFUL forethought Of each family.
As a general rule, Southern women have
accepted the strange and onerous duties i'm
posed upon them by a new condition Of
things, with quiet, accomplishing dignity,
which their countrymen would do well TO
emulate. There has been little cutlery and
complaint, no impotent railing against an
adverse destiny, no eating dust and rending
Of garments under the feet Of the conquer
orr, nor any act, hidden or overt which
could cast the remOtest TepToach upon the
memory Of those whose dust they delight TO
honor No, their moan was made, and they
accept the restrictions Of an altered condition.
To them our question addresses itself with
peculiar force.
The Southern households, where the fe-
males Of a family have taken entirely upon
themselves the burden Of domestic duty, are
marked by a degree Of neatness and order
utterly impossible under the careless super
vision and labor Of negro servants. Every
one knows of their surprising dust holes for
slowing away filth Of every description, and
their maxim that dirt never kills." which
they carry religiously into practice. The
mere superintendence Of their careless la
bors was a greater drudgery than to do it
oneself
Where there is health, moderate degree
Of energy and good will, and several in
family the work is no heavy burden upon
any one Of them II is on Y surprising, in
a short time, what can be done, and done
well, Of the labor which six or seven ser
wants in eternal hustle and confusion were
striving to accomplish in the twelve hours.
In these DAYS Of labor-saviug Inventions,
work has been rendered as light as work
can well be. a good kitchen and cooking
stove will hardly injure the hands or COM
plexiOn Of the fairest BELLE whose heaviest
task work had hitherto been to master the
difficulties Of an opera Of ''Meyerbeer," or
10 paint a landscape from Poussin. The
new washing leaves little 10 be de-
sired in the way Of lightning that heaviest
Of all domestic drudgery; division of labor
there converts a toll, il not into n pleasure,
at least into n very bearable necessity and
an ultimate benefit.
We believe that in year the amount of
money saved, and Of comfort gained, If ev-
cry woman in a Southern household should
resolutely set her face toward the discharge
OF duties which will be ultimately forced
upon her, would promote the happiness,
energy, and usefulness Of the whole land.
A spirit of Independence would take the
place Of that inertness which has hitherto
paralyzed all our efforts, and we would be-
come a stronger and better people. She
might, perhaps find less time for the require
ments Of fashion, but quite as much for
the management Of her family, the culuva-
ton Of her mind, and a practice Of all
those social virtues and accomplishments
which oonduee 50 much 10 the happiness Of
a Preside.
Ladies, there were heroines among you in
the crowded hospitals, on the bloody battle
fields, wherever there was pain to be allevi-
ated, or fainting hearts to be strengthened.
Your countrymen "rise up and call you
blessed and we feel assured that there is no
emergency you cannot meet, no exigency for
which you are not provided.