Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-07-23
pomEsrIo PROBLEM.

Mrs. Diaz is the high priestess of
commor. sense. She thinks that pc
great, underlying cause of the state
of things which now exists IS the
want of insight, the unenlighten-
ment, which prevails, not concerning
what woman's mission is, but con
cerning the ways and means BY
which she is to accomplish it. We
say, often enough, that the true mis-
sion of woman is to train up her chill
dren rightly, and to make home
happy. But who considers in what
manner she should be fitted for
these duties? To illustrate the folly
of this disregard of special training,
Mrs. Diaz resorts to the familiar
supposition of visit to this world
by a philosopher from some other
planet. 1t is observable that all these |
philosophers, who come to us from |
sun, moon, or stars, speak the Eng
lish language, and so have no diff
Guilty in exchanging ideas with the
learned or the unlearned of us.
In this instance the philosopher
from other spheres observes the lit
tie children drawn alongin their lit
tie chaises, and inquiries whether |
these beautiful creatures are of any |
use. Oh yes, they are the hope If
the countryside material from |
which our future men and women |
are to be made. Ah,- then there is |
no danger of their growing up any
thing but the right kind of men and
women? Certainly, there is great
danger. In fact, some of them do
grow up treacherous, murderous, re
vengeful. Our drunkards, murderers
and thieves were once such innocent
babies as these. And its only ?
chance, cries out the philosopher,
whether any child turns out saint or
sinner? No, not quite that. 1t de-
pends largely on training. Children
are wax to receive impressions, and
( marble to retain them. All; but at
least they are all pretty much alike;
you can study the matter and make
some general rules? Not at all-theg
differ widely in temperament. even
in the same family, and each child
requires separate and conscientious
study. Who, then, dare make these
early and long-enduring impressions,
of such infinite Importance? Wh9?
| Oh, that is left to the mothers. On
yes; now it is clear. You have "a
specially trained class adapted TO
this work! No; not exactly. But
1 here is one of them, she can tell yOh.
| So the puzzled philosopher is left
alone with the pretty young mother,
who, in answer to his inquiries about
her attainments, begins to-name over
all that She has learned at the ''Ih-
stitute."
"And the training of children+ +
moral, intellectual and physical +
was no doubt made prominent sub
iect of consideration?''
'sTraining of childrenP Oh, no!+
that would have been curious kind
of study"
"Where, then, were you prepared
for the duties of your mission?"
HWhat mission do you mean"
"Your mission of child-training
81 had no preparation.
rsssNo preparation? But are you Ac-
quainted with the different temper
aments a child may have, and the
different combinations of them? Are
you competent to the direction and
! | culture of the intellectual and mora
, nature? HaYe you skill to touch th'
hidden springs of action? Have yOp
! thus uninstructed, the power, th'
knowledge, the wisdom, requst
for guiding that mighty force-f
i, ehild's soul?"
: "Alas! There is hardly day tina
l do not feel my ignorance on all p1
I these points. "
care there no sources from whiel
knowledge may be obtsined-therl
must be some books written on thes
subjects?" 'airar 11 7
POSSIBLY; but have no time :
|; read them" ~
|, "No time2-no time to prepare fO
your chief mission?''
cit is our mission only in P1aat, i
real life it plays an extremely sEbof
dinate part"
"What, then. in real life, is you
mission?" 5sa a o.
! "ChieAy cooking and sewing"
"Your- husband, then, does NO
share the common, belief in regaFt
to woman's chief duty?'
"Oh, yes; I have heard him ek
! press it many a time, though 1 don'
/. think he conprehends what a wo
man needs in order to do her duty
by her Children. But he loves dear
, lY. IF one should die he would B,
/. broken-hearted." /
els it a common thing here 70
children to die?" j
81 am grieved to say that nearl,
one-fourth die in infancy" /
ttAnd those who live, do they groy
up in full health and Vigor?'
I "Oh, indeed, they do not! Why
!, look at our crowded hospitals! Lool
" at the apothecaries' shops at almOs
every corner. Look at the advertise
ments. Don't you think there
= meaning in these, and a meaning j
the long rows of FIVE story, swell
e front houses occupied by physicians
!, and meaning in the people them
I. selves-there's scarcely one of then
- but has some ailment. >"
'But is this matter of health sui
iect to no laws?" N,ss
: "The phrase, flaws of health is
e familiar one, but / don't know whs
; those laws are"
y "Mothers, then are not in the hal
! it teaching them to their childrens
! "They are not themselves aequainl
: ed with them" .r /
= perhaps this astonishing ignor
: anee has something to do with tn
mortality among infants. Do No :,
Is husbands provide their wives WY
e books and other means OF informs
ton on this subject?"
q "Generally speaking, they q
I: nothing of the kind.
.e Il "And does not the subject OF ht
L -. -, nc onnliad IN the raai