Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-02-09
DOES nER OWN WORK.

a disgrace to herY is she less
true woman; less worthy of re-
spect than she who sits in silks
and satin, and is vain of fingers
that never knew laborp We,heard
this sneer few days ago, and the
tone IN which it was uttered, has
been a nuisance ever since. 1t be-
tokened a narrow, selfish, ignoble
mind better fitted for any place
than a democratic country, whose
institutions rest on honorable la.
Dor, as one Of the chief corner
stones 1t evinces a false idea Of
the true basis of society; Of true
womanhood; Of genuine nobility,
1t shows the detestable spirit Of
caste, of rank, which a certain
class among us are striving to es-
tablish. A caste whose sole foun-
dation is money, and so the mean
est kind Of rank known to civiliza.
ton. Mind, manners, morals, all
that enter into q grand character,
are of no consequence with these
social snobs; position in their stilt-
ed rank is bought with gold, and
each individual dollar is another
round in the ladder by which ele-
vation is gained.
In matter Of fact, is it less hon
orable for. the merchants wife to
do her work, than for the merchant
to do his !? For her to look after
her house, than for him TO look af-
ter his store? Or is a woman moth
ing, only to be tickIed with a straw
and pleased with a feather? 1t ap-
pears to be the height of ambition
in some circles, to be, not only
"above work, " but oven ignorant of
bow work is done; and il the table
is poorly spread if the housekeep.
ing is at skies and sevens, the help
receives maledctions without stint,
but the lady takes none of the re-
sponsibility upon herself. She
look into the kitchen? She know
how bread should be made or a
steak broiled? She know when the
-four is out or the sugar in? Alb
surd The help may be bad enough,
but what interest can the girl in
the kitchen feel in the houshold
economy, if the lady in the parlor
has none? II the mistress nsglects
all domestic duties, will the maid
be thoroughly conscientious win
the husbands business go on If lie
neglects it? And why should that
)f the wife prosper under lack Of
An aristocracy Of wealth is the
most inexcusable, and the siIIiest of
my social distinction, and vet it is
hat which many Of our citizens, and :
many Of our otherwise sensible !
,oung people are fostering and try
NO to establish. 1t is quito too
to sneer at labor and
0 give the cold shoulder to those
Who are not ashamed 10 do their
,wn work, or whose circumstances
compel them to do it. If We are 4
0 have an arstocracy at all, let it
,e one of brains and character,
nd not of purse and dancing
chool politeness. When that hap
" day shall dawn, when the true
gomen and the true men are in
heir proper position in the social '
World, in the highest scale will be
who know how to work,
1hile the brainless and purseful
nobs of both sexes, will sink by .
he weight OF their own coppers. !,
II a man or woman, a gentle !
nan or q lady, are able to live with i
ut actual manual labor, let them
c thankful it is a pleasant posi- I
on to occupy; but to be ashamed j
I the knowledge sufficient to man
&c the shop or the kitchen, the y
tore or the house; to be ashamed '
, work. and to sneer at those who
0 work this is evil and only evil,
nd to day Is an abomination in
ur "bcst society" Y
Vain woman, was your mother
shamed of work, and are you
lhamed Of her that she did work.
nd young man in kids and clover,
ID your father get his competence,
a which you live, by ideness
q honor the woman who, when
,cessary, "does her own work." Y
ID despise those who sneer--
'atchmaa and Reflector,