Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-04-29

plete floors; and, instead of keeping tribe
OF expensive servants, put washing and
ironing out, and reduce, as far as possible,
the amount OF work to be performed within
the smaller area.
It is our pride Of display that makes living
| so difficult, SO full of anxiety and weariness
We must have large houses, expensively
heated, lighted, and furnished; we must
have servants to keep them clean servants
must have domain of their own, entirely
removed from the Jurisdiction of the mis-
tress; and then comes the tug of war.
All this and much more would be avoided,
and greater comfort secured, If we were
content to live in smaller space, have fewer
servants, and exercise our faculties in the
proper direction in experimenting, at least
the domestic affairs of our own houses, and
promoting the health and happiness of hus-
band md children.
Our principal household needs, then, re-
solves themselves into the following:
First. Good and competent mistresses of
households.
Second. Good wives and mothers, who
are not willing to give the comfort, health,
and happiness of husband and children
wholly over to the tender mcrcies Of ignor-
ant servants.
Third. Good women, who will conscen-
liously perform their part of instructors,
helpers, comforters, and CONSIDERS, and are
willing to do ii in just the way that lies open
before them.
In one word, It is good aud competent
mistresses that households most need, and
who alone can make good servants. Having
these, all the rest would follow as matter
OF coursc--fewer servants, better servants, o
more sensible mode of living less extraya-
lpeu apviaf,t nd i,fn tsol,, 1.
mestic happiness.
| have, moreover enough of faith in
American women to believe that all this
will come in tims. They will soon learn
that there are other uses for wealth than
mere display; that work is one Of the great
est resources of enjoyment; that idleness
and neglect of ones faculties is "A crime, and
brings its punishment; and that cultivating
them and putting them to the best use gives
permanent satisfaction, and brings blessing.
| subjoin three resolutions, which were
written for presentation to Sorosis, in regard
to the question of establishing in New York
City an institute for the training of servants:
Res0tued, That one of the difficulties in
the way of training, or obtaining efficient
household labor, is in the false idea of tlegra-
dation attached to it.
Resolved, That there is no degradation
al thC iuuoi tiut l1lO HcullDlul,
appetiziDg food, the good things that God
has given us; no degradation III labor that
produces order and cleanliness in our humes.
and renders them habitable and attractive to
our husbands and children; no degradation
in the labor that it is in the province of
every woman to perform, or know how to
perform; and that we recommend, as the
first step toward the fultillment oi house
hold needs, the cultivation of public
opinion that shall make household labor re-
specied and appreciated, and render Ameri-
can girls as willing TO work in the kitchens
and nurseries of our houses AS in the public
fatories and workshops
ReS0tUed, That while the efforts Of u
single institute, no matter how large or I'M
portant would be but dro,, in the vast
ocean of family requirements, there is no
reason why this great question of household
training should not form part of our pub
lie school system and that We most earn
estly recommend las the best, most ccunomi-
cal, and most comprehensive way OF meeting
the difficulty, the organization of depart
ments in our normal and public schools
where girls can be thoroughly instructed in
the science of cooking and housekeeping;
where they can be taught, not only how to
cock beeisteak, but also how much of the
best that is in us depends on always having
that, and everything else that we eat, pre-
pared in the best manner, and with the grace
that comes Of love, knowledge, and expc-
rieuce