Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-02-06
FASHIONABLE WEDDINGS.

In obedience to fashionable usages, and TO
be esteemed respectable, the bridal tour, oc-
cupying several weeks, perhaps, must be
made among first-class city hotels and pub
| lie places of interest and amusement, and
| by the time the accustomed extravagant
round of honeymoon dissipation has been
completed she is 80 much worn down, and
utterly prostrated by continued exeitements
and excuses that hor changed looks are re-
marked by all her friends, and her anxious,
really distressed mothsr-unmindful of the
sins which have produced this state of af-
fairs, and for which she, more than anybody
else, is justly chargeable-must have the
family doctor called 10 understand and tell
what is the cause of the bad health Of the
daughter. Then comes the weary days and
sleepless nights Of physical suffering that al
most shut her out from society. Her heart
palpitates on the least exertion, and her pale,
sunkon cheeks, cold hands and feet, tell the
poverty of her blood. She cannot bear tight
corssts, and the muscles of her lower limbs
are so weak that she can scarcely stand in
the little narrow high-heeed boots to which
she has been accustomed, much less take an
erect, steady stepi and her appetite, poor at
best, Is now entirely lost. Besides, her ner-
vous system is completely unstrung; she is
impatient and fretful, and sobs and chokes
Historically whenever the thought of her
poor health forces itself upon her attention.
But the picture is not yet complete. Be-
| forO it is finished there is sorrowlul back
ground of domestic and maternal unfitness
to be brought out The fashionable young
wife has been educated in aesthetics, but she
knows nothing whatever of dietetics and
good domestic management. She knows all
about music and painting, and SO skillful arc
her delicate fingers at the keyboard of the
piano and on the canvas that they seem rs il
directed by Divinity; but nevertheless, she
cannot bake loaf of good light bread, nor
distinguish in tho market stall beefsteak
from q roast, pork ribs from mutton chops.
She is, however, thoroughly posted concern
ing the latest style of French dress, and can
distinguish ut glance the imitation of n fine
lace from the genuine article; can make
every variety of crochet-work, as well as
the most beautiful pattern of embroidery,
but withal shc cannot cut and make Tor her.
self even calico frock, or her husband
shirt, much less prepare for him with her
own hands if Bridget should happen to be
absent or on a strike, good meal, and keep
q neat, well-ordored home to sweeten the
labor of his business hours. In other words,
she is exclusively ornamental and expensive
is an entire stranger to tho useful that
would both smooth her own pathway and
aid her husband in his early hardships-
For nothing loveer can be found
In woman than to study household good
And good works in her husband to promote"
By healthy domestic education do not
mean domestic drudgery. Nothing Of the
sort. 1t does not require that the wife, to be
useful to her husband and to society, shall
become common cook, chamber-maid.
|, wash-woman, get up at O'Clock in the
f morning and go to market, burn and blister
her hands with hot irons or sealing cans, or
run the sewing machine six or eight hours
in the day, and nurse cross baby all night.
Such domesticity tends directly to degrade
&. rather than to elevate and ennobls. to de-
stroy health rather than give vigor to the
, body and cheerfulness TO the mind it is
downright cruel and brutal thus to treat a
WIFE, But it is no unreasonable thing to
: claim for woman tho perfect consistency oi
tho common-sense, subtantial virtue Of the
household with II knowledge Of the laws OF
her delicate, marvellous organization, and
. the highest culture and excellence in all the
>. avenues Of wisdom, sentiments, and affection
The majestic gift of maternity requires, as q
condition favorable for the perfect and most
beautiful performance OF its function. Just
e such happy, physical, moral, and intellect
ual balance-just such a rational, harmonious
union of excellence, in order to prevent
weakness or disease if not deformity, from
being entailcd upon innocent offspring
n,