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


izing will change human nature so
much that we shall find perfect homes,
tree from care or annovances, 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 in comfort and
improvement. The fault with our best
writers on domestic arrangements has
been that thev have started from
foundation, where large house, two
or more servants, a nurse Tor children,
and various Injuries 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
left 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. 4
list Of what sums can be allowed each
week for fuel, food or clothing, shouldi
be made with care and then adhered
to closely. On the husband and father
devolves 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
ly understands, and which will bring
to the wife sufficient for the family
necessities. The woman IS often a
mere apprentice, just commencing a
busine 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 woman's filing the
duties already hers before she de-
Inands add ional ones.
The life-work 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 degrada-
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
to hear young ladies discourse with
pride on their utter ignorance ofany-
thing belonging to the care OF house
hold. This IS not as surprising from
the daughter as it is to see the mother
listen without disapproval, and even
with complacency.
Women would revolutionize the
world speedily, SO tar as domestic
happiness and comfort is concerned, il
they would add to their school educa-
ton and accomplishments thorough
knowledge oil housewifery in all its
branches. 1t would bring order ont
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 can
be faithfully performed without bring
ING its own satisfaction and reward.
That the fault rests somewhat on
the masculine sex is true, for If men
chose only for wives those fitted to
fill that position through knowledge
OF it's duties, there would become a
nccessi y Of making them astudy. But,
at present, the lover takes to his home
an imaginary angel, to be kept from
the Sha.lnW even of care OF toll and