The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-25
THE MODEL WIFE.
lecture by Rev. A. a. Willis. Of
BROOKLYN, Delivered Last Even
ing, at the First Baptist
Church, Corner Of Broad
and Arch Streets.

ING TELEoRAPHl
The church was filed with an attentive and
appreciative audience. The pastor of the church
came forward at precisely o'clock, and said:-
Friends, our respected friend aud revered
brother wishes, as a solid foundation for his lee
ture, that should read the thirty-frst chapter
Of the book of Proverbs" He then proceeded
10 read the chapter, which was listened to with
profound silence. He then said:-"It gives me
great pleasure to reintroduce to you, ladies and
gentlemen, one of your old Philadelphia friends,
reverend DR.. Willitts, of Brooklyn" Mr. Will
lets then spoke in substance as follows:-
Ladies and Conference.-The modest woman's
nature and the unobtruslveness of her sphere of
action, cause us too often to overlook the
almost omnipotent power of her influence over
the character and destiny OF man. What does
not the world owe to woman's influence? The
happy home has ever been, and ever will be,
the best place on earth for man. She is the
guiding star of his destiny; and that sweet
spirit which presdes as guardian angel,
making his home happy and holy spot / do
not think can do better in these noisy days,
when public matters are so attractive, tbanIto
call your attention for an hour to quiet pic
ture of domestic life-a picture of model
wife. It is well worth while to notice that the
best character in the Holy Scriptures is that of
the model vile. We challenge the world to bring
forth from any and all the mausoleums of ancient
art a picture of woman worthy to be compared
u
have heard read from this impershable page of
antiquity. This chapter consists of twenty-five
verses, each verse in succession beginning with
an additional letter of the Hebrew alphabet
1t is an able delineation of female character
and one feels delight in closely contemplating it,
How can l present portraiture OF model
wife better than by calling your attention to
the striking features OF this Divine portraiture?
First of all, let me call your attention to that
which strikes me the most-l refer to the good
wiie's industry. ldieness Is the author Of the
most cruel diseases and of all mischief. There
rs not part In all the good wife's household or
character which is pernicious. The whole pic
ture is lighted up with attractive industry; she
maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her
clothing is silk and purple; she maketh fine
linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles
unto the merchant. She is not only to
superintend all the activities OF her household,
but she is to take a personal, systematic, and
daily look at things in general, to see that all
goes orderly and harmoniously, so that her
activity will bring her health and strength, as
we'll as happiness. Now my friends might not
some Of the refined, delicate members of our
modern society find useful note here? The
idea seems to prevail in these enlightened days
that anything like work in woman is vulgar and
degradlng-that it belongs to the common peo-
pie. Do not these people eat and drink the
sense; and if there was a little more of it,
then these ideas would die out. This
notion about work being vulgar is as
pernicious as it is ridiculous. Instead of doing
as the Bible says ought to be done 'She girdeth
her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her
arms" the ladies nowadays grid their loins with
Whalebone and lengtheneth their forms with
cotton. My friends, the notions that have
crept into modern society are prejudcal to in
dustry, and deserve the severest rebuke. The
speaker then made comparison between the
women of the present day and those in the times
Of fAleXander the Great. Then they were accus-
toned to make their own garments, but
now it is the the =, custom to have
them made. Then the women spun and
III hO W no linn
Alexander the Greats garments were made by
his own sisters. The Industrious wife is no
slave. She superintends her domestic circle,
and, if need be, lends helping hand. Her
husband is known in the gates when he stitch
among the elders of the lands" 1t is not difficult
to tell the husband OF good wife, not only by
his felicttous manner, but you may know him
by the very color of his shirt. When you see
married man whose garments are torn or soiled,
you may be pretty sure that he has at home not
one of those whom Solomon says cometh from
mage says comes from the other side.
The good wife takes goods OF do
mestic manufacture, and then has the salts
faction of saying, l made them myself, and
didn't import them at my husbands expense
Some persons may think that 1t is a
triAing matter; we do not so consider
it. These little matters in dress have much to
do with the happiness of domestic life. The
neglect of little things like the above are sure
10 disturb domestic peace. OF course you will
not understand me as saying anything in de-
Tense OF tnOse VINO hunere TO all the fancy con-
trivances of modern construction. We do not
advocate any extravaganza in dress, but think
it is an odious sight to see a woman arrayed
in all the paraphernalia of modern
days. The good wife studies to be economical
in her domestic arrangements. There is such a
thing as industry without good management
Work, work, work. trudge, trudge, trudge, and
yet no order, are the effects of mismanagement
There is a word not in the dictionary which Ii
applicable to this case, and that is 'gumption.'
1t plans well, and it manages well. Some work
but it never amounts to anything; they have
no faculty. A woman may speak French
German, or Spanish, andiunderstand all the mys
teries of music, and not understand domestic
economy and yet, if she has not mission, l
prohteth her nothing Now, everything by tn
picture this good one says that she was an ,ad
mirable manager. She is not only an economis
of time, but everything else that true ant
noble woman ought to be. She evidently die
not go to midnight balls, etc. She gave he
orders and everything was settled admirably
She is like the merchant ships she bringet
her food from afar. The heart OF her husban
doth safely trust in her, so that he snail hav
no need of spoil" Because of so much wisdom
and prudence that she displays, there is so mucl
economy and tranquility in her domesti
affairs. There are many men who would under
stand this expression about spoil without mucl
eXegesis. How many, because of the want @
prudence, because of the love of attractive dis
play, have been led into unnatural stimulation
of business, to hazardous speculation and ute
ruin! But many man has been saved from al
this by the good management of the guardian
angel of his household. Many O man on tn
verge OF ruin has been, by the cheerful word
of his wife, stimulated 10 new eXertions, an
pressed onward with renewed Vigor Thus th
heart OF the husband again fully trusts in th
good wife, not only for good management, bu
for good counsel. We do not mean that til
husband should initiate his wife into all the dC
tails OF his commercial affairs, any more tina