The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-07-31


enjoy an elegant leisure. But if the
husbands of these women can afford
them this leisure, it is not for me TO
cavil at it; and If other women can pro-
vide themselves this leisure, to be en-
ployed usefully and profitably, see no
Just reason why any one should object.
am violating none of my duties as
wife and mother when leave Bridget
at home doing the family washing,
Mary to cook the family dinner, and
Kate to make the beds and look after
the family mending, while l take a
pleasure excursion, or go out shopping,
or sit comfortably in my parlor, enter
tanning callers, or glancing through the
last new novel. Are the facts of the
case altered if go to my own Office in
stead of my neighbor's store, or if re-
tire to a sanctum fitted up beneath my
own root, which is designated library,
studio, or shop, according to the use l
put it to?
But we have been told, and we will
be told over and over again, woman
cannot do this without neglecting her
children-that, in fact, the whole thing
is impossible TO a woman with family
of small children.
The thing is not impossible, because
when necessity compelled It. And the
woman who is freed from the constant
and wearing care and presence of her
children during a few hours of the day,
is far better fitted to be their compan-
ion, guide and Instructor during the re-
naming hours. She does not become so
utterly exhausted; she does not become
fretted, and nervous, and irritable: she
will not be half so liable TO scold them
and punish them unjustly. Her temper
is not so easily ruiIled, her patience.
from not being Oyertasked, holds out
the better, and her Judgment is more
clear-seeing and just. Ii will be found
in the end gain for both mother and
children.
We have just referred TO cases where
a woman's tastes and inclinatiOns lead
her TO engage in other than domestic
pursuits. There are other cases where
it seems n wOman's duty to do this.
There are women of rare business tai
ents, women of genius, women of un-
common literary endowments, whom to
confine to the narrow limits of the
kitchen, nursery and parlor, would be a
positive loss to the world. Imagine
Mrs. Stowe being forbidden to write i'm
her early married days, because in so
doing she stole time which belonged to
her family-time in which she ought TO
have been rocking the cradle or making
her husbands shirts Think of Mrs
Lily Martin Spencer being desired by
her husband and n carping public to
close her studio aud lay aside her brushes
for good and all because she las home
and children to claim her undivided
carei Consider the reasonableness of
expecting our scores of successful lady
physicians, who are in the receipt of
liberal incomes derived from their prac-
tiee, to take down their signs and devote
their whole minds and intellects to the
eompounding of puddings and the proper
busting of furniturei
i wish it were possible to convince
women more generally that il would be
an advantage to delegate the minutie
of housekeeping into other hands, and
give portion of their time and thoughts
TO other matters. \ woman is not nee
essarily neglectful of home duties, even
though she does not perform all the
trifilng details herself; and there is
really no greater impropriety in sending
her washing and ironing away from
home to be done, or entrusting the
sweeping, dusting and cooking to other
hands, than there is in buying bread at
the bakers, getting her butter i'm mar
ket ready churned and printed, putting
out the family sewing, or sending her
children to school to be educated. And
/ If doing these things, or rather not do
ing them, leaves her at leisure to pursue
more congenial employment, to widen
her mental horizon, add to her stock of
knowledge and experience, and perhaps
at the same time add to the finances of
the family, who shall say it is wrong?
There is nothing in itself noble or ele-
waiting in the drudgery of the kitchen;
there is nothing improving to the morals
or strengthening to the affections in a
basket of mending; and l for one would
rather earn pair of stockings than
darn pair-I think could do it quicker
and easier. A woman whose only and
constant companions are young chill
dren, whose unremitting employment
is to provide for their wants, will, in
course of time, become incapacitated to
be the companion of an intelligent man,
and as her children grow up they too
will out-grow her. Her range of vision,
bounded by the walls of her own home.
unknowing or forgetful of interests out-
side of domestic ones, she naturally be-
comes narrow and selfish i'm her views
of. life, unfit to be the adviser of her
husband and the educator of her chill
dren.
A wife's duties may end in the faith
ful performance OF domestic affairs. but
there her privileges begin. Supposing
that she has no business or profession OF
her own to take up her spare moments.
her greatest pleasure should be TO ae-
quaint herself with all the particulars
of her husband occupation, and prepare
herself to render him any assistance he
may need. II he is business man, she
is the most faithful and trustworthy
confidential clerk he can have. II he
be literary man, a woman of ordinary
intelligence can soon learn 10 sit grace
fully in the editorial chair, and use pen
and scissors as readily as he. If he is a
farmer, Of all the ramifications of his
business, there are none beyond her
apprehension, and great deal of it is
of such nature, as to afford her the
greatest pleasure. Though she cannot
hold the plough, or swing the scythe, she
can learn enough OF these matters TO take
up the reins of government when sick
ness or death causes her husband 20 Law
them down, and intelligently guide and
direct others.
There is no pleasanter sight than TO
see husband and wife working in uni
son-his profession her profession, his
interests her interests. 1t is a partner
ship IN which neither need have fears
concerning the honor or honesty of the
other. | wish women could be con-
WINGED Of this, and, while still exercis-
ing a supervision over all their home
affairs, delegate the drudgery to less in
tellectual but stronger and quite as
capable parties, give more time and at
tention to their husbands and their in
terests, and, by their wisdom and faith