Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-06-16
BELLOWS FALLS, VT. FRIDAY,

even he, with the veneer and polish of
gentleman upon him, may sometimes for
get the poor homage which is due to the
weakness Of woman.
Men who are themselves sufficiently
mindful of their duties are often curious
4 to know what sort of homes such men
can have, and how far they are mindful
of their first duty Of providing for the
household expenses. Is there, for exam
pie, struggling and poverty in the home
while the head of it is enjoying himself
abroad? He dresses well and even fash
ionably has the poor neglected wife
anything to wear becoming her station,
or is she obliged to be contented with
such scanty garments as she can wiring
from her meagre housekeeping? Per-
haps he keeps mis- address profound Sc
| cret, and you know no one who is on Wis
ting terms with them, or vague rumors
reach you of the squallid children, Of
the once trim and neat woman reduced
! to careworn slattern, and all trace Of
style and station banished from the den
in which he now lives. You have seen
him on rare occasions called from the
office during business hours to speak 10
some sad and sombre-clad woman
and the suspicion that she is the paragon
I of wife of whom he boasts does not
cross your mind until some inquisitive
busybody hints the probability Of the
fact. You surmise a score of reasons for
the vista child lying sick at home, and
no cash in the house for necessaries; or
he has been out all night, and the poor
timid creature has ventured to town to
assure herself of his safety.
A man of this stamp often passes for
a good fellow among his friends he may
be kindly and even humane in disposi-
ton, his chief failing being that the best
side of his future is always reserved for
the world. His charity never begins at
home. For tale of distress he has
ready sympathy at command, and per-
haps renders substantial help while the
little ones at home are dining on bread
and cheese. He can be SO jolly over a
glass of wine and among his boon COM
panions, that one would think him NOR
al failure-a man who had begun his ca
reer with fair prospects, and made ship
wreck of substantial happiness in the
pursuit of mere ignjs fatus. He has Ell
ther become what he is from foolish sense
of the importance of freedom, sincere,
but absurd dislike of the restraints of
social life, or from an actual love of low
and sensual pleasures. He has bis fits
of repentance, but puts off serious re-
forms until the habits Of early life have
become confirmed. He is not rake in
the strict sense of the term, but lounger
about town; he is happy anywhere but
at home, and can sit out the dull speech
es of the Judge and jury" or listen
with apparent interest to the fooleries Of
the comic singers at music hall. He
can endure anything but the dullness of
the home he has neglected, and perhaps
the reflections which the presence of his
wife and children call up are sufficiently
unpleasant to render escape from him
self desirable. His children grow up
with few advantages beyond the culture
they have acquired from their mother.
If they are unable to take their proper
place in life, but are prematurely sent in
to the world ill-educated and untitled for
the struggle and competition of the in
! tellectual labor market, he alone is to
blame. can Epic of Woman" with
the real trials and difficulties of life as
the subject of the poem, would afford
scope for the talent of master hand.
The poet, however, would be compelled
to draw largely upon his inner conscien-
tiousness for materials. Women do not
usually tell their domestic trials, and
perhaps the most sublime spectacle in
the world is the example Of heroic pa
tience and fortitude which the sex so
often display. The world is commonly
rugged and difficult enough for men who
honestly attempt to adhere to the path
of duty, but we know of no lot so dis
NAL and so hopeless as that of the wife
who, with none to utter word of SYM
pathy, yet strives to perform her share
of the social contract in the face of the
most reckless disregard on the part of
the husband Of the responsibilities which
he has assumed.
An old lady hearing of a pedestrians
great feat," wondered why they didn't
interfere with his fast walking.
Conundrum for circus goers Why is
an elephant the most sagacious of trav-
elers? Because he never takes his eye
off his trunk.