The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-02-24
From iIarl'cr'S llazar.l
Nothing to DO.

Nothing to DO.
/, il not crcditablc to our women
that they alone supply the class OF pro-
tc>>cd idlrr> IN this country. None IN
America but the Young ladies, IA they
choose to DC called. dare to acknowl-
edge that they have nothing TO do.
The few male youth born heirs TO for
tune, who are without occupation, be.
in. equally insignificant in number aud
character. are not worth. taking INTO
account. Ii is i fact that our rich men
are generally among the busiest OF pro-
Die; aud although their work may not
rlwars be OF the more noble Kind, still
il is not less true that they scorm to be
idl-rS. 1t i. impossible Tor men to
live a> dronrS in this country. The!
nrr either driven out OF the American
-hiv. or arc smnihrrcd in its sweets.
Our cuunirymrn who arc men uf for
tune and have nnthin" 70 do. either ="
to Europe. or il they stay u, home. de-
s,ror them selves with ih" rust OF in
dn;cncr or safety OF indulgence.
Our wumru-ot course We speak o!
those who ara beyond the necessity "l
earning their .Mily bread by their dali!
labor--arc deliberately educated L"
i,llrnr>>. Their nomby-p"n'by school,
ing, with it's frivolous accomplish
mrn,S. rs they are termed. has no other
purpose and no other result than to
Five ,hcm thin varni>h OF learning.
TO conceal from the casual observer
their real ignorance. Bryond the pas>a.
hc facility OF reading and writing.
which they acquire in common with
tho humhlr>t American. they have
merely the manners. or rather The pre-.
tension, OF cluratium. This consists in
nuihin" more than such u familiarity
with lh,. terms and names oi -clrnrr
and literature IL not to be very much
startled III their mention III polite so
rir;v. Thr only difference. Tor exam.
pie between Bridget. the maid. and
Miss Arnhri!a. upon whom she attcnq-.
j. probably that the servant. il not
Ion" in the country, n"rcr-and the
mistress often has heard. Tor example.
the name OF Shakespeare. Both are
equally ignorant OF what he has writ
ten. 1t is not likely that there are
many Young la,lics who would tee!
themselves. like DR.. johnson fisher
woman. grossly inSuItrd by being
termed philolugi$tS; but most oi them.
VIC fear. would have TO turn to
their dictionaries before they could
measure the size Of the compliment
rcw. very few, we are sorry to confess
ut the occupants Of our parlorS know
tho poets, philoSuph crS. and historians
intimately; more have merely II
spcakin. acquaintance but most bare
l.. l,aN lInN
their names Or hear them spoken OF.
That an education with such result
should terminate 80 soon Is perhaps
no, TO be regretted; but it is lamcntn-
Bile that the finished damScls OF our
"Fe.malc Institutes and fashionable
schools do not lind something more
serious than the frivolitics OF dress
and social dissipation tn a;rnpy their
adul, energies,
Some. With 4 suitable preliminary
NdIcation. would find L sympathetic
Ulirsuit In science or literature, but Il
capacity or taste Tor these il not given
to all. Mere household duty, how
ever incumbent upon every woman III
. certain positions, is not enough. eS'
rpecially where her means will allow
,:ut the xcvrrcr labOrs being imposed
1 upon servants, to engage the iul! men'
: tai energy of sound female intellect:
|! No property constituted aud developed
Z !uiud Gun ever DO satisfied with an in
.::I.ht Into the mysteries Of raspberry
lam, or knowledge OF the construction
OF an apple dumping. There is, more
over, no necessity for an exclusive de-
'votion to the details OF household Iu-
~. These. Of course, must not DO neg
icctctl. but their fullest performance is
entirely consistent with other more
!. Eerious occupation. .s
, There seems to be no reason why
|. most women, even those who aro, 50
fortunate rs to possess male relations
!, capable and willing to support them,
!, should not hare in common with men
!, u vocation. TheiY usefulness, and their
4 happiness too, would be greatly in
!; creased il they took ~ larger share in
8 the business Of the world. Why should
! they not tit themselves to become part
sr,ncrS with their future husbands III their
!, various callings! Why should they
not. like their brother, learn to do
,soiucthins by which They might lessen
their burden upon society, or secure,
in case OF necessity, their entire indie.
pcndcncc: .,
Our young women should 50. rid, in
the first place, OF the idea tina, Tho
great object oflifc is to become merely
iinrly dressed female idirrs, or what
they are so fond Of being called, ladies.
It would DC well that this term were
abolished altogether, or kept to use
exclusively with the prefix OF "hne,