Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-08-20
Huntington Center, Vt.
For the VERMONT FAaNRn.
Right, Duties and Improvements.

Right, Duties and Improvements.
MRs EDITREss Much has been written of
late, not only in the columns Of the FARMER
but every printing house in the country has
been flooded with manuscripts in regard to
womans rights, woman's duties and as
Betsey Babbct has it 1.-THE filling of woman 5
speah." Each AMI every writer couteuding
for his or her theory. Some that wome
should vote, that they should be driven to
the polls, like flock Of sheep 10 the shambles,
no matter in what circumstances they are
surrounded or what may have been their pre-
vious education, whether they have been
reared in the lap Of luxury and received that
education of mind and body that surrounds
those that come within her entwiniag arms,
or had their lives been spent in rags and
filth aud their homes in the cellar or garnet
of our great commercial towns without cast.
ing one thought Of what has been in the past
or what will be in store for the future gener.
atious Woman must vote. These writers
would have you believe that the ladies Of
this enlightened period are to be deprived
Of Just privilege that has been accorded to
the sterner sex for ages and in all enllght-
ened countries. They ask you 10 all serious.
ness, why she is not, in thought and mind
as capable Of casting her vote and voice for
the cause Of justice and right as a man of
the same educational advantages, aud while
the wife and mother executes the duties that
devolve upon her. to the entire satisfaction
of her husband aud mother-in-law and Mad
am Gossip. Why should she be cut of from
this one great ambition aud desire OF her
life.
Many philanthropic writers have burned
the "miduight oil" porting over dress reform,
advocating the speedy return to the plain
style Of our grandmotbers, picturiug in
painful vividness all of the horrors Of u pre-
mature grave caused by the present style of
dress and living as followed by hundreds of
thousands OF our American women Of to-day
There is another style Of writer whose COM
position when boiled down aud skinned, can
be summed up in the words Of that singul ar
poetess Betsey Babbet
Tits matrifony. II is mAtrirlony.
Tis-sas "S..s~a's sPeah."
OF late there has been column after col
umn in tho FGRMER, in regard to womans
duties. Some contending that it is woman's
duty 10 assist about the farm out Of doors,
such as raking hay, raking after the cart,
husking corn, binding grain, feeding the pigs,
calves, geese, turkeys, chickens &c, &c.
While some writer's admit those things to be
the wile's aud maids duties on certain &C.
easiOns, and under certain circumstances, not
a few Of them deny the assertion aud con.
tend that woman's duties lie ouly within
doors, aud ii she is able to perform the
household duties devolving upon her, even
with the help Of those oublesome articles
known as the kitchen girl aud the chamber
maid, to say nothing OF the seamstress, that
her knowledge of what was being accom-
plished on the farm should not extend be-
You'd the latch string aud window casing.
These same writers tell us that it has been
for years the study oil man to tighten the la
Dor Of woman within doors by the invention
OF the sewing machine, the washing machine
aud the thousand and one new aud Im.
proved appliances that are to be found in
every we'll regulated aud well kept house,
hold, and that they enjoy all Of these advan.
tages and that the time so gained should be
spent 10 cultivatiUg the mind, and not by
labor far beyond their strength.
But our idea is, that lady who has every
thing ut her command in the house can in
short time after dinner be seated at her sew.
ing machine il, while 10 seated, distant
rumbing is heard that foretels her that the
new mown hay" in the lot adjoining the
house with that which was cut yesterday aud
not suitably cured to be housed the same
day, was in danger of being wet, involving
the loss OF tens Of dollars 10 damage to the
hay, that it would be no disgrace for lady |,
under these circumstances, to don her shade
hat and hasten to the field and to follow the
cart with the "drag rake" or do whatever
else lay in her power to secure what hay she
could from getting wet. Would this be
disgrace to any lady 10 the land We do
not 80 consider it, yet there are thousands of
farmers wives who would be mortified TO
death it some Of their friends should catch
them with hay rake in their hands, let tho
impending damage to the hay be ever so
great. There are times when low in the
western horizon there lies stretched dark
line of thunder-heads that are frequently cut
in all directions by vivid flashes Of lightning,
and the distant murmur Of the thunder grows
nOIe huu more ulhLlucL 10 tue ear, as the
fresh wind is slowly but with increased speed
forcing those dark watery clouds over that
part OF your husbands favorite crop that only
remains 70 be housed in its present condition
TO secure to him the reward of his labors I;
aud as be is putting forth every nerve aud
muscle dertemined to secure what he can be-
fore that torrent of water reaches him, that
is seen In the distance marching over hill
AMI vale with increased rapidly, sending
down its copious bath upon both the Just
aud unjust alike, will you stand at your
chamber window without lifting one finger
to ASSIST For shame
There are thousands Of instances ia Yer.
moUt every season when shower has
sprung into existence without a moments
warning, that a lady who is thoroughly
awake 10 the interests of her husband or ia.
Their can in twenty minutes time save the la.
Dor Of one man tho entire next day, to say
nothing Of the amount Of damage that would
have been done to the hay. Aud the man
who has wife or daughter that 30 considers
il her duty TO assist her husband or father,
and brave the scorn and scott Of her cOmpan.
ions, that man has a jewel Of priceless value.
There are but few ladies who have under
their charge household that have not now
more or less Of the improved implements and