The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-02-13
DOES HER OWN WORK.

OOSo ollG! w huO VI ~! Id IL u
disgrace to her? Is she the less a
true woman, less worthy of respect
than she who sits in silk and satin,
and is vain Of fingers which never
knew labor? We heard this sneer q
few days ago, and the tone in which
it was uttered has been a nuisance
ever since. It betokens narrow,
selfish, ignoble mind, better fit for
any place than u Democratic country,
whose institutions rest on honorable
labor as one of the chief corner
stones. It evinces false idea Of
the true basis of society, of true wo-
manhood, of genuine nobility-it
shows the detestable spirit Of caste,
of rank, which certain class among
us one striving to establish caste
whose sole foundation is money, and
is the meanest kind of rank known
to civilization. Mind, manners,
morals, and all that enter into a
grand character, are of no account
with these social snobs, position in
their stilted ranks is bought with
gold, and each additional dollar is
another round in the ladder by which
elevation is gained.
In matter of fact, is it more dis
honorable for the merchants wife to
do her work, than for the merchant
to do his? for her to look after her
house, than for him to look after his
store? Or is u woman nothing only
to be tickled with feather and
pleased with straw? 1t seems to be
the highest ambition in some circles
to be, or profess to be, not only
"above" work, but even Ignorant"
of how work is to be done; and if
the table is poorly spread, if the
houselleeper is at skies and sevens,
the "help" receives maledictions
without stint, but the Gladly" takes
none of the responsibility upon her
self. She looks into the kitchen
she knows how bread should be
made, or steak broiled-she knows
when the flour is out, OF the sugar
in? Absurd "Help" may be bad
enough, but what interest cNn the
girl in the kitchen feel in the house
hold economy, if the lady in the
parlor has none? If the mistress
neglects all domestic duties, will the
maid be thoroughly conscientious?
Will the husbands business so on
well if he neglects it? And why
should that of the wife prosper un-
der lack of responsibility.
An aristocracy of wealth is the
most inexcusable, the silliest Of any
social distinction, and yet it is that
which many of our citizens, many of
our otherwise sensible young people
are fostering and trying to establish.
It is quite too fashionable to sneer at
labor, and to give the cold shoulder
to those who are not ashamed to do
their own work, or whose circum-
stances compel them to do it. If we
are to have aristocracy at all, let it
be one of brains and character, and
not of purse and dancing school
politeness. When that happy day
Shall dawn, when the true woman
and the true man are in their proper
position in the social world, in the
highest scale will be thousands who
know how to work, and, when
necessary, are willing to work, while
the brainless and purseful snobs of
both sexes will sink by the weight of
their own coppers.
Ii man or u woman, q "gentle-
man" or Gladly" is able to live
without actual manual labor, let them
be thankful; it is a pleasant position
to occupy; but to be ashamed of the
knowledge sufficient to manage the
shop or the kitchen, the store or the
house. to be ashamed to work, and
to sneer at those who do work--this
is evil, and only evil, and to-day is
an abomination in ''our best society"
Vain woman, was your mother
ashamed of work, and are you
ashamed Of her that she did work?
And young man in kids and clover,
did your father get his competency
on which you live, by idleness? We
honor the woman who, when necessa-
ry, "does her own work, and de-
spise those who "sneer. - WatcL-
man and Reflector.