Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-06-17

knowledge possess an impeachment to my
domestic duties. An intimacy with Ger
man literature has not prevented my knit
ting socks by dozens for my brother; the
study of music and counterpoint has never
been in my way when making linseed
poultice; and slight acquaintance with
anatomy has materially aided me when
making rag dolls for the ecstatic gratitca-
tion of poor children.
You being converted to the Female
Cretinism Theory are quite justified IN
launching thunderbolt at Mary Cowden
Clarke's head for troubling itself about
Shakespeare; you are convinced, doubt
less, that an intellect exercised in profound
research cannot possibly suffice to the con-
coction of an apple dumpling; nay, could
not comprehend any better than could the
brain of George L., how the apple managed
to get inside the paste, the surface of
which is completely closed in, leaving no
orifce through which to insert the apple.
Yet though your argument would seem
conclusive, | must own that my sister,
Mrs. Cowden Clarke is the most domestic
woman alive, and for months daily cooked
a mutton chop for her husbands lunch,
when his health required dainty food nor
did 1 ever hear him complain that her
Shakspearian studies (she was then writing
the Concordance,) ever caused her to burn
or smoke his chop. And as to Mrs. Somer-
vile, l should agree with you in conJur-
ing her to leave off mathematical calcula-
tions and abstruse reasoning (star gazing
must unfit woman for common sense
l. = xlox e. @f
calling on her, found her writing out a
washing bill-and, incredible as it may
appear, quite correctly.
All these little facts make me waver in
my resolution to join the cretinism sect.
Other communications add qualms to my
conscience if we all take to bed-making
and shirt-stitching, what will become of
poor housemaids and needewomen Hon
est Betseys and Sukeys will be deprived of
their hard-earned wages, unless, indeed, we
beg our husbands to eat two dinners daily
and sleep in two beds nightly, in order that
by ministering personally to their creature
comforts we do not cruelty injure large and
worthy portion of our sex. But methinks
Mr.. Crum-Ewing pays but poor compli-
ment to his own sex by imagining that wo-
men cannot mind their husbands if they at
tend to politics A little mental cosseting
comforts some men wonderfully. 10 a
man returning home with an incipient cold,
a basin of Cruel and warmed slippers near
a cosy fire are charming, especially when
prepared by smiling wife. But cases oc-
cur when a husband returns home well in
health, but harrassed by anxieties or soured
by disappointment then Cruel is insane
and slippers are Intellectual Then wo-
man best minds her husband who can fully
enter into even knotty points of law or
politics, can sympathize with his plans of
great enterprise or philanthropic social re-
form, leaving stocking-darning and bed
making to the Betties of this world.
Many gifted woman may and does
combine the Minerva and the Phillis-can
on the same evening read to her husband
poem written by herself, and reach him
posset prepared by the same fair hand
can toast him his muffin and play him
Mendelssohn while he eats it. Happy am
| To know that thousands of wonaon thus
mind their husbands, and would continue
to do so though they became Independent
voters of Great Britain. By my letter
you will perceive that | am not yet con-
verted to the female cretinism theory
though duly edited by your remonstrance.
| feel still in helpless state of exasperat-
ing vacillation. However, as favorite
maxim of Noodledom, says, a woman
should hold no strong opinion of her own,
| hope this confession of my imbeciity
will commend me to your good opinion :;
in which [ hope | remain, dear madam,
yours admiringly."
SABILLA NovELLo.
" Villa Novello, Via S Giacomo, Ge-
noa, December 16, 1867"