The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-08-24
SELF-RELIANCE.
From an essay read by Miss Ellen M
Strague in Chicago.

from an essay TSd>A ny i'AAoo A1A1SAA 1sA.
Strague in Chicago.
fl could reach the mothers OF the
land, [ would tell them to let their
daughters follow out the 'mud-ple I'M
pulse, and as the next step give them
dough for real pies, though they were
not the very hest. Whether rich or poor
no young lady should consider her edu
cation complete until she understands all
WAYS and by ways of house keeping. 1t
will serve her we'll, whether she directs
servants or serves herself Then she
should perfect herself in some employ
ment, whereby she could, if necessary,
gain her support. Mothers, see to it
that your daughters are not allowed to
fritter time away on foolish, vapory no
things, but teach them Life is real, life
is earnest, and all too short to spend in
studying the fashion plates and the look
ing glass. Then if they marry, their
husbands will find they have a help
meet for them, instead of weak, silly
woman. that must be petted and humor-
ed and kept for parfor ornament.
Most emphatically [ say-let every
young lady learn some trade or occupa-
ton, SO if she has no house to keep, she
can earn good living by her own exer-
tons. But mind, my sisters, if you
chance to learn any branch heretofore
occupied by our brothers, see to it you
are equal to the best, and then do 20 r
whole work indepe ndent Of them, unless
assistance is given as pleasur merely
| was talking with the proprietor of one
of our largest printing establishments.
not long since, who told me they had a
few girls freeding presses, but they pre-
ferred boys, and why? Because they
could not tell the girls to wash and clean
the presses. Now, if my work was fee
ding presses, when they needed washing
[ should roll up my sleeves and wash
them. [ might prefer other work; new
ertheless, should do that if it came in
my way. He told me at the East he
worked with lady type settlers, and at
first, the gentlemen moved the heavy
cases of type for the ladies' After lit
tie while 1t became an old story, and the
galIantry of the gentlemen died out |
think | would have lifted my own case or
that being impossible, would have had
one made in two parts. and then lifted
one half at time. 1t Is q very good
rule never to ask or expect another to
do for you what you can do for your
self.
Another had taken young lady to
learn engraving thinking to help her,
and see what would be the result. She
did very well for two or three years, and
then, to use his own words, he had to
blow her up once in three or four months
and then she would do very well again
But now, she has determined to get mar
ried whether or not and consequently has
no thought for her work When a
young lady reaches that point, the soon
err she gives up any work she may be
doing for another, the better, for hus-
band catching as science, must demand
all her time and efforts to set the snares
and watch the traps. One thing at a
time, remember.
Many ladies are now filling good and
lucrative positions in this city,. They
have prepared themselves for them, with
out waiting for the reformers to solve
the problem of their existence, and so
long as they do their work conscientious
ly their employers will not discharge
them for the purpose Of employing men
in their places. But If their work is
made subservient to other things, then
the employer is dissatisfied and justly
80.
I have addressed myself almost exclus-
lively to single women, for married ..wo-
man is supposed to have some one upon
whom she can learn, and yet 1 have seen
those who needed so much more to be
self reliant than those who have no hus-
band. How many do we know who have
Eleaned on weak and worthless ones and
now find themselves compelled to labor
not only for the one who promised to
love and cherish, but also for little plead
ing faces which, in their helplessness
turn to her. Will such woman regret
that she learned self reliance?
[ would that our American women a.
a " hole might awake to the realization
of their utter uselessness when brought
to meet the stern duties of life. The
mothers are greatly in fault, for many o
them teach their daug hters that the chic
end and aim Of woman is, to catch bus
band and be petted and hattered by hin
forever
What, [ ask. does a young man VIII.
has his fortune to make, want of such a
wife?
My sisters, married or single, let eacl
One of Us take this in hand See to it
that We have some aim, some purpose il
life. 1t is true, one person may not b.
able to do mach. but every one has som,
influence, and let that be ON the side O
the truth and right.