Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-04-29
A Word TO Mothers on the Woman
Question.
ny MRS. A. 3. PORTER.

Every newspaper at the present time has
an article on the "woman question: most Of
them written by men with the design Of de-
iniug womaus position, and teaching her
what she ought or ought not to do. These
article. are so various and contradictory that
o woman, looking TO them for instruction,
would be as much puzzled, as the traveller
whore three roads meet and no guide board.
One simple command Of Scripture Is worth
them all d" Do with thy might what thy
hand fndcth to do"
Good old DR.. Todd writes as IT. every wo-
man had in possession or progressively, good
husband, upon whom She could lean IN all
difiicuties, who would do her thinking, her
voting, and who would assume an her pecu-
mary responsibilities. while the happy wife
should bear children. mind the house, and be
as amiable and yielding as the tanned -hrcw
and for the reward Of her conjugll devotion
have inscribed upon her tombstone, if She ever
dies q widow" Here lies the beloved relct,
etc." Bolict a widow is nothing but a
relicf-rclilg3l0. reiictUS, relicfa-somothing
left Why always applied to woman I'm
fortunately tor DIR. Todds philosophy, there
are many thousand, who must rely upon them
selves. who have neither husbands nor broth
crs to act for them, and thousands Of others
who are bound TO sckly, weak, or bad mon,
whom they must support, Or they will become
paupcT.
In each State OF our luion there are from
two hundred to a thousand prisoner. whose
labor is taken from their families aud given
20 the Stale Where are their wives, moth
ers and sistorsl
The number Of women who must maintain
themselves is large and constantly increasing.
Some Of them struggle on, holding to virtue
as the sheet anchor Of sltety-othcrs, less
strong, fall In the contest and after brief
life of shame, are carried forth to the Potters
field To lill nameless graves The statistics
Of our great cities tell fearful story ofcrime
and suffering among women. Now, setting
aside all question Of woman's rights or wrongs,
cannot mothers, loreseeiug evil, prevent it?
There is no safeguard like employment
that is congenial and remuneratiye. The
education Of young ladies at present in nine
eases out of ten, is so superficial that they sell
dom aim higher than to become teachers of
the common elementary studies which they
have pursued at school, and such teachers are
SO numerous that the supply is greater than
the demand.
Now if mothers would study the tastes and
proclivities Of girls, as they do of boys, and
allow them to pursue those employments which
arc congenial, might they not open to them
avenues of enjoyment, and if netd be, of
wealth?
Has a girl fine ear and voice for music
ffulffv4fn II ftoroftaflIt L.. i
time and as good chance as you do your
boy to learn a mechanical trade.
Has she decided genius for drawing or
modcling2 Cultivate it, not by allowing her
to spend few hours under an incompetent
teacher in making caricaturcs with which to
deform your paror, but make some sacrifice
if need be, to procure her admission to Schools
Of Design, where, if she cannot model ike
Canova, or sketch like Michael Angelo. she
can at least make graceful designs for calico
and delane, or draft for the glass-makcr and
upholsterer.
In the teeniing population of our cities it is |
Incompetence that makes wretchedness. Skill |
ed workwomen are scarce. How few dress
makers understand their art An accom-
plished one, trained to business, who has an
artistic taste and an eye for harmony in col
ors, can win competence in ten years.
| know of one woman who has already
made a fortune by her culinary skill. Her
pastry and cakes were wrought with great
care and nicely, and money flowed in upon
her till she had enough to retire and set up
her carriage
Mothers, do not be averse to any employ
ment for which your daughters have a taste.