The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-05-21
Talks with women.
BY JENNIE JUNE.
THE MODERN WIFE.

THE MODERN WTFE.
There is a general opinion abroad,
among men at least, that marriage
is less desirabl than formerly ; that
a wife is an lncumbrancc rather than
an assistance f.; that the loss Of
companionship and family ties is
more than compensated by the
avoidance Of all family difficulties;
that, in short, matrimony does not
pay.
It does not come within the PROV
ince of this article to inquire if the
men themselves are not partly at
fault if they have not grown more
selishly fond of their own pleasure,
and less willing to make the sacri-
fees which arc necessary to the ac-
complishment of "a mans or woman S
highest duties. Our business at
present is simply to discover how
much of the blame, if any, is
chargeable upon women, and in
what respect they have fallen away
from the standard of wifely duty.
The object Of marriage so far as
we are capable of judging Of it, is
the creation of the home ana the
family if it fails ia this, it fails
in it's purpose.
Amy two people can live together
and separate, if they wish to do so,
without the consequences becoming
wholly dcplorab|e. But the safety,
comfort, and happiness of the family
depend on the permanency of the
ties formed by men and women; and
this involves mutual duties. mutual
obligations and responsibilities,
which each must be satisfied to meet
and perform.
At present (whatevcr change
may take place in the futurc) to
the man is assigned the task Of pro-
wider !; to the woman that of care
taker at home /; and it is quite as
requisite that one line Of duty
should be fulfilled as the other.
Does the modern wife understand
this ? Is she trained to it =? Does
she recognize her own share in the
promises made at the altar? And
is she willing to sacrifice her incli-
nations and previous habits to
them !? -. ...... ..E...
To all these questions VIC are
constrained to answer. No. The mod
ern wife has 10 conception Of duty.
To her it is disagreeable "low "
word, which is proper enough for
the servants in the kitchen, but
has nothing to do with the mistress
in the parlor. She has been train
ed to dress and display, to flirting
and coquctry, to a little music, a
little French, dancing, perhaps lit
tie drawing and Italian, but, above
all, to an extravagant conception
of her own claims to attention and
consideration. But she knows moth
ing of her business as a wife. She
is not acquainted with the names or
uses of half the articles with which
her own kitchen - stocked. Her
husband really "keeps house. I"
He does the marketing, Bridget the
cooking Norah the upstairs work,
and Susan the sewing. The wife is
purely ornamental
Supposing the husband cannot
afford this style Of living, then they
must board !; for it is out of the
question that a young lady, trained
to nothing in her own home, should
be expected to work in that Of her
husbands.
IN this way have sprung up the
numberless boarding--houses that
have taken the place of homes in
our large cities /; and in this way
thousands of women have drifted
out weary barren lives, deprived Of
every stimulus to every effort, lost
to every instinct Of noble, active,
vigorous womanhoed. SD.
It is not women who are altogeth.
or to blame for this but it is upon
them that the severest consequen.
ces fall. Times have greatly chang
ed within the past half century,
and women have been forced along
with the current, and in many in
stances compelled to the idlo, use
less parts they have had to play
New social necessities, or what
seemed to be necessities, have ia.
ken the place of old domestic du-
ties; and where women have ceas-
ed to be drudges, they have become
nero toys and ornaments.
This deteriorates the whole na.
ture Of women, and, through her.
that Of man also for ono sex can.
not exist independent Of tho other.
and what exerts bad influence up.
on one must necessarily effect the
other. Human nature, whether il
exists in man or woman. requires te
be put to it's highest use and any
use is. hstter than the inactior
vhich tarn;shes and cnrpndca. with.