The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-28

Government without the cooperation
of women. Many lives have been spent,
or rather aliSspept, in the unavailing
effort TO atone bring about this great
disideratum; and the result has been
how could il be otherwise ?-bitter dis
appointment. And thousands are now
engaged in the same discouraging at
tempt, striving 20 convert their beaUti-
ful theories and delightful dreams of
home life into living realities, but alas
from want of cooperation and sympa-
thy, as surely falling in the accomplish
ment Take, for example, one of per-
haps many of your acquaintance, who
from 4 neat, lovely girl has in half a
score of years degenerated into an un-
tidy, unlovely woman. She was, you
say, few years ago as ''ueat as n pin"
Pause n moment before you comment
further and consider the pools of tobacco
juice that she, with averted face and
loathing hands, has washed from her
floor in the unavailing attempt to pre-
serve her native sense Of cleanliness.
Unavailing, did I say? Surely, for
scarcely has the floor become dry from
the recent washing ere it is again
deluged with the offensive stains. And
this is but 4 single one of the many de-
generating influences which, being
brought to bear upon the citadel of neat
ness, have at length compelled uncomdi-
tional surrender. wonder, not because
she is no longer neat, pains-taking and
careful, but because she held out so long
in the breath of so foul an atmosphere.
True, it may be said, and very truth
fully, that there is another side to this
question. This | admit, and might pro-
ceed TO give an instance in which some
man has striven brayely, and i'm the
face Of great obstacles, to make and pre-
serve pleasant home, but whose efforts
have proved unsuccessful from lack Of
interest and cooperation in his fashion
able, ease-loving wife; but as full
share of the pathetic literature of the
day turns upon this point, it is only
! necessary TO refer an anxious incident
seeker TO any bookstore or public IL
brary, where he can be accommodated
to any extent with such instances, duly
labeled, "Hints to Wives" "Advice to
Mothers" Counsel TO Young Women"
etc, etc. Therefore it would seem su-
periluOus to add another line to the
thousands already written. But let us
take 4 home, so-called, the counterpart
of which may be found in more than
one locality, and the original of which
exists not n thousand miles from here.
Established nearly a quarter of CEN
tury ago, it is surrounded by prolific or
chards, well-tillcd fields and luxuriant
pastures. Everything requisite, in n
financial point Of view, for creating a
happy home is here. Look at that
dingy, insignificant structure that seems
trying in vain TO hide behind those
friendly oaks. Yes, that is the house.
Half a score of sons and daughters have
been born and brought up within its
walls. The little dark sitting room is
begrimed with the smoke and SCOT Of
years. The walls are innocent Of paint
or whitewish, and not even enlivened
by q picture. Is it any wonder if the
sons here grow up morose and unman-
ageable, with a restless desire TO get
away from home, and that the daugh-
tiers prove shiftless and untidy amid the
discOuragements of trying TO make such
a home look homelike? The mother is
a literal keeper at home, and tries, with
patience and energy, 10 do her duty by
her children. The father is also desir-
Gus for their welfare, but in strange short
sightedness will year after year invest
his gains i'm land to add to his bread
acres, or in cattle and horses wherewith
TO stock them, thinking thereby to lay
up rich inheritance for his heirs, while
he is depriving them of that best and
dearest heritage, a happy, pleasant and
beautiful home. Such homes as these,
to use q similitude of Pollock, "Cut the
fences down Of virtue, sap her walls, and
open a smooth and easy way TO death. "
The evil resulting thereform can scarce
ly be computed. We see it in the sor-
did, grasping selfishness which we daily
encounter. 1t is written in lines not to
be mistaken upon the brow of that now
/ hardened criminal, who, being worked
like an animal in his boyhood, early es-
capped from his repulsive home to begin
a life OF vice and crime. IL is witnessed
in the utter disregard OF parental admo-
milton and open defiance OF parental au-
thority, which is deplored by thousands
Of parents who having perhaps unwit-
tingly sown the wind, are with bitter
tears reaping the whirlwind. ~ strive
in vain to set these evils forth" II
seems that the mere contemplation Of
them, following as they do in the wake
ol these homes that are no homes, would
cause even the most sordid persons to
earnestly endeavor to provide their chill
dren homes which will stand as a safe
guard between them and evil tempta-
tions-beauteful homes guarded bv love.
about which they will love to Iinger. TO
which they will ever gladly return, and
the memory Of which will hover as
sweet incense forever around them.
Speaking Of the climate of the Argen-
tine Republic, Professor Gould SAYS: "a
bowl of water left uncovered in the
morning is dry at night: ink vanishes