Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-24
gaOies' department.
For the VERMONT FARMER.
"WOMAN'S DUTIES" AGAIN.

do not know but this subject has been
pursued about as far as is profitable. 1t has
certainly been pretty thoroughly discussed on
both sides, and for one have been an inter-
ested reader of the several articles pro and
con. But what pleased me most of all, has
been to see the number of farmers wives
and daughters who can WELD the pen as vig-
orously as the broom. Nearly every article
has been as readable as half of the corres-
pondehce of the city journals.
Now this certainly argues we'll for the in
telligence of our state, for with such wives
and mothers and daughters, what may we
not expect of husbands and sons 2
l may be little egotistic in respect to my
native state, but am firm to believe that in
no other state of an equal number Of nhab-
itants will be found such large majority
of intelligent, thinking people of both sexes.
have noticed in reading the Ne,o En-
gland Farmer and Boston CultiUator, both of
which papers have large circulation in
Vermont, that u goodly number Of their
contributions were from Vermont, 50 our wit
aud wisdom are not all exhausted on our home
papers.
But pardon mel am not quite "sticking
to my text.
l have noticed in this discussion n promi-
nent trait of human nature. Each writer
has been inclined to view the subject from
her own standpoint, though your Lincoln
correspondent seems to look very sensibly on
both sides of the subject. We are apt to
think that what zoe can do, all other women
may do, if they try, or have the necessary
"iaculty," when, if our situations were re-
verscd, we should probably do about SO ur-
der the same circumstances.
This subject has more than one side to it
in fact, about as many sides as there are
wives and homes-and what may be my du-
ty to do, may not be the duty of my neigh
Dor, who is very differently situated.
But hold this to be a truth, that what
ever must be done for the comfort of my
family, that ought to do, if am able,
provided there is no one else better able to
do it, and l am not afraid of soiling my
hands or reputation by so doing.
wish the idea that labor is any more de-
grading for woman than for man was
thoroughly exploded, not that women do not
work, but the idea seems to prevail to some
extent that it degrades woman to do any
thing out of what is generally considered her
legitimate sphere. Now do not consider
that it detracts one whit from my dignity to
dig the potatoes for dinner, or rake hay, ifI
have the time and strength to do it. If l
had small family and small farm, l should
be far happier to help my husband in such
light work as l might be able to do, than to
havd strange hired man invade our domes.
tic privacy. But such has never been my
lot for have always, or nearly always, had
a large family, large dairy and weighty
cares, and as is usual in su ehcases, especial
ly when there are children to make and mend
for, have more need to have my husband
help me indoors than ability to help him
without.
As to the question, "does it pay" to dor
the light print in the afternoon2 l would
say, Certainly it pays, if one can do it, fol-
every true woman loves to look as we'll as
possible, and for one like to be dressed
nicely, both morning, noon and night, if
had no dirty work to do, but alas, | an
forced to confess that am glad to don any
sort of clean dress when my dirtiest work is
done, which is sometimes pretty late in the
afternoon, for like Noah's dove, in man,
days find no rest for the sole of the foo
from early morn till late in the afternoon
and have usually had as efficient help n
most families are ableto obtain, but every
farmers wife knows that there are a thou
sand and one things that need her own su
pervisiOn.
So though think the light print pays fo
my noighbor, who has time to enjoy it in thu
afternoon, it does not pay for me only Occa
sionly. But am glad that others can en-
Joy things that | am debarred from by cir
cumstanoes.
1t is pet theory of Gail Hamilton that
in our natural order of things, men were
created to do the work and women to bt
worked for like our parlor ornaments. Sh
was designed to be simply ornamental.
Now cannot say that this is not a tru
theory, but have observed that the neare
people live to the state Of nature, the les
woman is exalted. In fact, among the say
age races the women have usually done tn
work and the men tried the role of bein
ornamental. While as the races advance
in civilization and refinement woman rises
mans estimation, and is more aud more ex
alted as man receds from the primitive state
Whether her premises are true or falls,
the fact remains the same, that while we live i
houses and have families to care for, somebO
must do the work aud it will be some tim
I after the millennium before the men will d
it, and it seems to me both natural aud fit
ting that the wife should bear up her "end o
tho yoke" as the saying is.
would not be understood that ma
should not hire help to assist in the labor
the household if he can, but we all kno'