Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-18

society mas always slernly eGacCeu 90
mesticity and housewifeliness Of wom-
J en-. 1t has presumed on their incapa-
bility for public affairs and has lauded
clinging vine-hke nature and the
masses of women Of the past have been
exactly what society wished them to
be. Some assert this clinging; depen-
| dent character is natural to women.
How do you know it is natural? How
eau we know what is natural for any
creature unless all restraints are re-
moved and 1t has unhounded liberty to
be what it will. What is natural ought
to remain g characteristic during a
whole life, but | observe that women
who have been charming ly dependent
and devoid of energy in their romantic
girlhood and early married years, have
frequently in mature life become reso-
lutte and independent in thought and
action. Indeed, sometimes when a
woman has awakened to the conscious
ness that she has married a weak man,
she has assumed the generalship of af-
fairs and succeeded admirably, and
has proved it was quite as natural for
her to lead as to lean.
How can any one in the face Of his
tory, and especially the history wom-
en- are making to-day, assert that ma
ture designed women TO be weak and
dependent? Semiramis was a wom:n
who did not twin4 Deborah was Ger
tainly not q vine Maria Theresa
showed no indication to lean, yet she
was as grand a wife and mother as
queen. Catherine Of Russia, Chris
tai N Of Sweden, Elizabeth of England,
Isabella Of Spain, managed kingdoms
with the success Of great men, but be
ing queens they were not taught that
dependence and mild stupidity were
| feminine characteristics.
When | remember Charlotte Corday,
Joan Of Aac, and Saragossa 5 maid, |
am certain my sex has in it some ele-
ment beside housewifeliness, and some
power beside the power to lean. When
[ remember Mary SomeryiIle, Caro-
line Herschell, and our own Maria
Mitchell, / will not believe my sex il
incapable Of forgetting houseworE
when a great astronomical event i
transpiring. When | remember Flor
ance Nightingale, with a courage a
sublime AS her philanthropy, demand
ing in the face OF a military commanC
that the hospital stores should be open
cd Tor the relief of the wounded men
when | remember Rosa Bonheur Will
that Promethean artist fire, at which
even gifted men have lighted thei
torches when [ remember the womel
, who have written are to-da7
writing, painting, scuLpturing, lectur
lng, acting, slnglng--and the heroi
women who are battling with the bar
+ barism Of the world IN the interests o
a better civilization, / will not consen
to believe that women prefer to be onl
= houSekeepers and are incapable Of in
terest in large subjects. But the un
f iyersal requirement made of wome
has been domesticity- that the
should be educated or public spirited
f but silAply domestic, and SO perfectI
have women fulfilled this requiremen
r it is no wonder they care less abou
. the transit Of Venus than for a goo
= wash-day. 1t is greater wonder ths
: they have preserved any trace of il
+ tellectuaiity. do not undervalu
housewifely care Iwould not dispars
] sc the Marthas, though the Saviour r(
) buked them. Housekeeping, with it
!, various departments of washing, iror
e ing, baking, cooking, house-cleanins
Y house-decorating, making and repai
e ing of wardrobe, entertaining Of guests
d purchasing of stores, training Of chi
: dren, managing Of servants -involvin
d diplomacy, sagacity, economy-is a
II important part of life. I fully unde
e stand and value all this, but the que
e ton is, shall we insist that woman
e a housekeeper to the starvation Of he
: intellect and the qualification of he
e soul? Shall we insist that our wome
n shall all be Marthas, or shall we Ell
It courage them to sometimes step in thI
/ ''better path 2" / think it were be
IS ter to let the tea things lie unwashe(
$ even let the supper go unpreparec
0 when there is an opportunity to sit
J the feet of a great teacher in the e
d fulgence of divine light. But publ
r sentiment says women must be Ma
a thas.
&c A gentleman once said to me when
n suggested that his daughter ought
r continue her school education:
e 'lt is not necessary; she will mari
Ie some time and take charge of hous
4 and all this education will be of no a
4 count. Indeed he added, "a WON:
D makes better wife if she has not t.
E. much sducation''
IS This gentleman gave utterance to
l. sentiment which is powerful to-day
N 'most portions of society ; though it
ly seldom put in words. It is in obedien