, 1873-07-06
WOMEN'S WORK.
Much Of It a Sheer Waste Of
Time.
A Practical knowledge Of Useful
Labor Desirable. =

But Exercise and Reading Preferable to
Purely Ornamental Work.
We have never lad much to say upon tho sut-
3oot Of women'n work, because It LAS always
eeomod to us that most OF It was
A suEEn WAITE OF TIME,
ruinous to tho hoalth, both physically and intol-
loctually. That mitch Of it is fascinating from
Its prottiness; that 1t eome timea produces pleas
ing objccta,-wo aro vol aware; but that in
many cases, 1t Ia rathor a detrimental ocoupa-
ton, we certainly boliovo. We nro not referring
to genuine labor OF any kind. by which numbers
Of women aro Obliged to support themselves, but
to tho trinos Of fancy-work to Which idle womon
dovoto many hours with scarcely apprcoiablc
results.
This is not go apt to be tho case with young
girls As with thoso to whom life, ono would
think, should hnvo brought arhvo duties
and thoughtful words. The former are
too full Of Ito and vivaoity
to caro- much for monotonous sowing OF any
kind and prefer to "gad tho streets" as Puri-
tan spinstor, with donunciatory oppression and
emphasis. would Observe. Hnppy eirlnl In
whom nature atill claims her rights sufficiently
to aisko proper demand for supply Of o1g-
gen, and opportunity for necessary muscular
development. II tho artificial atmosphere in
which they havo boon brought up, tho high
pressure system upon which theyha been edit
cated, nakos this Batne "gadding tho atreots"
open to consure, 1t mood not DO 40 under
proper conditions and supervision. Dottar that
than yards OF embroidery or hugo piecos Of Ber-
ln-wool work, which tell Of ruined oye-sight,
aching back, and wasted time.
An Houn A DAY
is sufficient for my girl to devote to her needle
and in that time she can learn, unler proper In
struction, all OF the necessary WORK WMch may
perhaps full to hor ahnre later In lifo. While
she is in school, It will bo scarcely possible for
hor to givo even this amount OF time to
tho requirement Of such knowledge. That 1t Is
vol for her to DO thua taught We admit, adding
to it. ns aho grown o}dor, practical study of
dross-m making, millinery, aud other womon's
trados; not necessarily learned in shops,
through regular appronticoslips, but at home,
from special artist, as slo learns music, draw
ing, or othor accomplishments.
But, If every woman were thus made inde-
rcndont OF tho trados-poople, what would be-
como OF tho poor girls who aro dependent upon
such knowledge for tho abaoluto means Of kcop-
ing lilo within their oyerworked bodies ? Be-
cause each young lady nowadays plays "Yankee
Doodle" "Monastory Dells," or Doethovon'a
uoausae, does 1t follow that nluaic-teachcra hnye
censod to 1ud market for thoir talents Be-
causo these Same schoolgirls may draw little,
paint littlo, or Ounce littlo, hayo those who
toach those artB lost their occupation ? BY no
means. But, II n reverse Of circumstances
mikes AL application Of this knowledge neceB-
oary, then they can, If thoroughly competent,
ENTER THE L1Brs WITH THE woRKEns.
So ,; IL regard to tho ether practical knowledge
would do any Of thoir OWL sowing from choice;
but, il Aphonso was not rich, and there waa
tlnt pretty gronadine dress, costing mere song,
that could 10 bought il it dia not cost SO much
charming in it after it was done, what then?
This is case in which knowledge Of tho man-
tuamaker's art would be worth quito as much us
smattering Of very bad perspective, or capa-
woman who has largo means, and who iB tho
nodiBto's best customer, has hor time sulflcient-
ly occupied by tho dutias OF her station to pre-
vent hor from thug robbing her trates-pooplo Of
strain Of aVaree or Gonnriouanoss might prompt
her to do go. But, il hIadamo'B husband should
auddenly fail, and she DO obliged, with her
daughters, to circnmscribe their lives, theh, with
knowledge OF evory variety Of woman's work
It would remodel tho old dresses. and mako
them suitable for tho present condition !; it
would evoke loves Of bonnots out OF eoraps OF
ribbon and laco it would help to make poverty
endurable, respectable, all but desirable,
The latter We cannot conaceutiouuly sav wo
think it could ever become. We always thonrht
the old proyerb, that "Tho love Of money is fhe
Tor the word which represents positive deerao
Of Affection another should be substitufe1.
which, defined, would moan want, or absencs
rathor, Of the circulating modln1n. We arc by
Poverty: but merely Lint ut aids towartla thn:
better Endurance of it, We beliuye. thar. in n
knowledge Of ali useful arts for a woman, and
that technical acquiroment which shall mako It
aposeibility for hor to dress aud appear we'll on
very limited means.
Eho who takes y nice dress, and rolls 1t into q
wad, wrinAling it irrotrjoyably. aaacrtin1 thut
"she cannot fold 1t properly that she never
had such thing to do.