The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-11-17
noes Her Own Work.

Does she? What Of It? Is IL q
dis9rsce TO her? Is she the less a
true woman, less worthy Of respect
Than she who sits in silk and satin,
and is vain of fingers which never
knew labor? We heard this sneer a
few days ago, and the tone in which il
was uttered has been an annoyance
ever since. II betOkened q narrow,
selfish, ignoble mind, better fitted for
any place than q democratic country,
whose institutions rest on honorable
labor as one Of the chief corner
stones. Il evinced false idea Of the
true basis Of society, 81 true woman
mood, Of genuine nObiiity-it showed
the detestable spirit % caste, 81 rank,
which a certain class among lls u
striving to establish caste whose
sole sole foundation il money, and 50
the meanest kind Of rank known 10
civilization Mind, MANNER, morals,
al that enter into a grand character,
ar Of no account with these social
snobs: position ia their Stiited rank
i bought with gold, and each addi-
tiOnal dollar il another round in the
ladder by which elevation is gained.
In matter Of fact, Is it more dishon-
Orable for the merchants wife to do
her work, than for tie merchant TO
do his ?-for her to look after her
house, than for him to look after his
store? Or Is q woman nothing only
10 be tjckled with a feather and pleas
ed with q straw? II seems to be the
height Of ambition in some circles TO
be. or profess 70 be, not only "above"
work. but even ignorant Of how work
Is to be done; and IL the table is poor
ly spread, If the housekeeping is at
skies and sevens, the help" receives
maledictiOns without stint, but the
nladyJ takes none Of the responsible.
fty upon herself She look into kitch-
en- !-she know how bread should be
made. or a steak hroiled l--she know
when the aour is out, or the sugar in
Absurd "Help" enough may be had
but what interest can the girl in the
kitchen feel in the household econO-
nv, II the lady in the parlor has
none? If the mistress neglects all
domestic duties, will the maid be
thoroughly conscientious VIII the
husbands business 90 on well, IL he
neglects it? And why should that OF
the wife prosper under her lack Of re-
spOnsibility?
An aristocracy of wealth is the
most inexeusable, the silliest OF any
social distinction, and yet it is that
which many of our citizens, many of
our otherwise sensible young people
are fostering and trying to establish.
1t Is quite too fashionable to sneer at
labor, and to give the cold shoulder
20 those who are not ashamed to dc
their own work, OF whose circum-
stances compel them to DO il. If we
are to have an aristOcracy at all, let il
he one Of brains and character, and
not Of purse and dancing school pO.
Iiteness. When that happy day shall
dawn, when the true woman and the
true man are in their proper position
in the social world, IN the highest
scele will be thousands who know
how to work, and, when necessary
are willing to work, while the brain
less and purseful snobs of both sexei
will sink by the weight of their Owl
coppers.
II a man or a woman, a "gentle
man" or q "lady,n is able to livi
without actual manual labor, let then
he thankful it is a pleasant position
90 occupy; but to be ashamed of tn
knowledge sufficient to manage thr
shop or the kitchen, the store or tn,
house, 20 be ashamed to work, and t
sneer st those who do work-this i
abominRtion in % our best society,"
evil and not only evil, but to-day is al
Vain woman, wasyour mother asham
ed Of work, and are you ashamed 0
her shat she did work? And younl
man In kids and clover, did you
father get his competence, on whicl
you live, BY idleness? We honor thu
woman, who, when necessary, ''dOe,
her own work. and despise those
who sneer.- HTtchDldn and Rettec-
Sor