The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-04-23
fURSPIKRs.

We were surprised in reading the
fret paragraph Of the letter from
BIaom VILE. in theissus Of the TRI-
BUNE. Of April 9th, on this sabjsct.
The writer seemed to be HfulI to over,
flowing" and must needs OF express
himself concerning tue Wonen's
TemPeranee Movement, even though
bis subject led Us TO expect sOms-
thing far different. It sounded to Us
very much as II he had been tAkiHs -
Rip Van WInkIe sleep Of few
hundred years and had just been
awakened by the songs Of the crusad-
ers A. they marched by on their noble
mission.
Perhaps it does seem strange to
him how women can leave their
homes for few hours each day, for
In the long ago ysaIs when be fell
asleep they used to spin and, weave
and make up the tow linen by hand,
and 1t did take the most Of their time
to attend to domestic affairs under
that dispensatiOn. Perhaps when he
learns that our country is netted all
over with railroads he will care less
for turnpikes. Far be 1t from Us to
say that woman has any duties more
sacred than those Of home. Next to,
and included in her duties to God, are
her O0ligations to her family. But
are these all done when she sees that
the buttery shelves are cleen, that the
linen Is white and smooth, ths silver-
ware polished and shiuIng2 Has she
nothing todo toward helping = hns-
band o- brother to keep pure from the
many Vices Of society ? Nothing 70
do in training, her children IN the
"Rurturs and admonition OF the
lLOrt?P shalf she TeJt satisded when
she ministers TO the physical wants
Of her family o. should she look also
to theIf mental and moral needs ?
Many spheres have been marked Out
for women by the men OF this gsasra-
ton but none have We seen so narrow
as this would b Ners We to sxsiads
all these last named dutlss. 80 -,
. Wonder 10 woman sitting sewing
by the window Of that old dIIapIdatsd
tenement. She sta there from morn
Ing until the last streak Of light fades
from the sky In the vest, trying to |
earn enough to keep herself and chill
dren from suffering II four bare
walls make home, thas b her home,
her sphere. Her husband sits In the
grog shop In rags and nth. She Is |
negiecting her domestic dutiesl WHAT
right has she TO sit there sewing for
that Hch lady over the way while her
houss Is disorderiy, her husband and
children ragged? Bot we forget. She
sews to keep life In herself and chill
dren while her husbands IoaGs IN the
doggeFy drinking All bis sarnings and
often her own. She l. not perform
Ing any public work and no one, viii
think Of eensuring her for not keep
ing her house in order. Overshadov.
ing that hovel stands the msusion Of
wealth. 1t Is filed with ali the pleas
ant and beautifnl things. Surely, that
Ia . home thst might well claim the
attention Of any woman. But the
temptsr has entered even that Eden
There stands the mistress pale aud
sad, worn with watching by the bed
side Of her husband once manly and
strong, now weak and almost idiotIc,
sufferingfFom hopeless disease con-
tracted through "moderats" drinking.
As she watches there, day after day
and night after night Is made hideous
By the delirious rawlings OF her Only
son ruined BY the exsmpis and prAe-
tices Of hia father. She does not do
the part OF . woman nOss In keeping
her hOass IN order. Once she did this
and aimed to perform her moral du-
ties toward these loved ones, but her
husband would not heed her words Of
H1G1fB8- L1o lc9lco ~ oN1A AOt niAA-
self or one Of bis blood, and 80 taught
his scn 70 love the seeursed thing. He
was weak and society pressed him TO
PartAks. and hald the sparkling Glass
70 his lips, and he fsfl. Shall We cen
sure her SoF neglectIng household az
fAirs2 ,-s-.,
Home duties Ars binding upon wo-
men. Home makes sccIsEy and socf-
ETY. Innnenees home. uWomen owe
anything to their families they eve
sonsshinE 70 soesety alsO They are
powerIesa TO protsct their loved ones
from this great temptation 20 long -
It is offered on every hand. II they
have any moral duties TO perform to-
ward thoss whom God has given
them they nuust do all In theIT power
to do away with this mOnstrOns evil.
God only can know the depths Of ag-
ony In 3 true womAn's heart when