Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-01-14
AGRICULTURE, HakTECUL
EURE AND DOMESTIC
ECONOMY.
OUR HOMES.

izing will change human nature SO
much that we shall find perfect homes,
tree from care or annovauces, any
more than we find such completeness
in other relations OF life. The best
we can do is to make as good use rs
possible OF the material in our hands,
and scontent ourselves until We can
take step forward i'll comfort and
improvement. The fault with our best
writers on domestic arrangements has
been that the. have started from a
foundation, where large house, two
or more servants, nurse for children,
and various luxuries were considered
indispensable. The reality is that
these are the peopleleast needing adj
vice, for they have moneyto command
skilled labor, while the larger class
that attend to their households with
the help OF but one girl or none at all,
have found little counsel appropriate
to their position. The management
Of a house where one only needs to
give an order to command every
variety OF service, is very different
from one where much Of the physical
labor is PERFORMED by the mistress.
1t is easy to tel people in ordinary
circumstances to possess themselye Of
books and music and pictures. 1t is
easy to say do without fine clothes or
table luxuries and obtain the means of
cultivating the higher qualities; but If
the circumstances and expenditures
impossible to avoid are looked into.
it will be found that apart from the
absolute necessities required to keep
the body comfortable, there is little
LETT for the ornamental or luxurious
The first determination of every
family should be to live within their
income. The matter OF saving little
each month or year is secondary one.
If the income IS small, every expense
should be carefully reviewed to see
what can best be spared or left out. \
list Of what sums can be allowed each
week for fuel, food or clothing, should
be made with care and then adhered
to closely. On the husband and father
deyolves the duty Of furnishing the
means for the support Of the family
To the wife and mother belongs the
duty Of carefully and faithfully using
this income for the best good of her
household. This is part Of woman's
education that is sadly neglected, and
is too often learned with unhapp;ness
and modification TO. the surroundings,
when the necessity is actually forced
upon her. Usually, when people COM
mence housekeeping, the man has a
trade or business which he thorough
| ~ understands, and which will bring
to the wife sufficient for the family
necessities. The woman IS often a
mere apprentice, just commencing a
busine 5 she knows nothing about, and
with no way OF learning, except by
experience. 1t is not strange, in view
OF these facts, that great cry should
be raised about womans filing the
duties already hers before she de-
mands addi ional ones.
The litework OF woman-with ex-
ceptions, of course-is the care of her
family. The present system Of edu-
cation fits her Tor anything better than
this which she is to follow, and, in
addition, throws over household edu-
cation or practice sense OF degrade
ton, however slight it may be, suffici-
ent to deter girls from acknowledging
any degree OF success or skill in this
department, SO that it is very common
fn In 4 ~
pride on their utter ignorance of any.
thing belonging to the care OF house
hold. This IS not as surprising from
the daughter as it is 10 see the mother
listen without disapproval, and even
with complacency.
Women would. revo!utionize the
world speedily, SO tar as domestic
happiness and comfort is concerned, il
they would add to their school cduca
ton and accomplishments thorough
knowledge oil housewitery in all it,
branches. 1t would bring order out
OF chaos and settle more social prob
lens than the addresses OF all the ora
tors combined. Beside this, it would
add to her happiness, for no duty car
be faithfully performed without bring
ing It's own satisfaction and reward.
That the fault rests somewhat or
the masculine sex is true, for If mer
chose only for wives those fitted tc
fl! that position through knowledge
| Of its duties, there would become 8
necessi y Of making them astudy. But
at present, the lover takes to his home
an imaginary angel, to be kept from