Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05

groups, to be presently mentioned, since u
woman's work is rs ndivisiblo ms her life.
Thus, her physical dexterity may be used in the
practice of trade for the earning of n live
lihood; or her mental ability be exercised rs
brilliant conversationalst or successful
authorizes. But these are things which the
average man can TO us easily aud well rs
the average woman. Therefore, we draw
the boundary between the organic and all
other groups Of womnn's probable work
though the points where that natural apt
ness, which is rooted aud grows perennially
out Of the distinctive structure and strength
Of womanhood, ceases to be greater than the
natural aptncss of man.
Such II classification may conflict with pro-
vailing views, and meet the consequent OPP
position. Nevertheless, the principle upon
which ii is made seems TO be natural. logical
and correct, since II is II recognized truth of
political economy MS old and vigorous ms the
! plans Of God and men, MS will be seen If pre-
sented in this form. Here is n certain amount
Of world work to be done; here arc laborers
with different powers; which of them can
perform certain parts of this work with the
least waste of strength and timer 1t may al
so be found that the logical application of
this classification will ultimatly award to
women some vocations, both literary and
| industrial, which are commonly pursued by
men; aud objection be made to it according
". Women receive lower wages then men,
not because they do less or poorer work, but
because the vocations now open to them are
densely crowded by those who must labor Mt
any price or starvc. And he is very much of
brute who would rather seq pure women
driven by impending starvation into the
ranks Of cancerous prostitution than to see
this pressure relieved by the opening of new
avenues to their virtuous selfsupport, even
though such II measure should offend his per-
sonal prejudice or subject him to personal
competition in business. But, aside from
this consideration, the world has moneyed
interest in the matter Perfumers initiate
the fragance Of the flowers, and musicians
the notes of the birds; still rs question OF
| cost and success. the violet and canary, be-
cause of their distinctive structure, work en-.
sier and better than their copyist, giving &c
the world greater pleasure at cheaper rates
And, while the perfumes of the druggist are,
perhaps, better than none, tho world cannot
afford to abolish Gods originals Tor the prof
of the imitators. No more can it afford tc
| ignore the womanly power of woman. MOI
until druggists will, with their essential oils
| perfume the air of n county rs generously
week freight the air of II state can the worc
afford to pass by the superior ability of wo
man to do many needed things, just ms bird,
sing and flowers distil fragrance. So that
on the ground of personal interest, humani-
| ty cannot afford, either through thoughtless.
ness or because OF the traditions of an alb
normal education, to withhold from the CIR
which belongs to all women, be they married
or single, intelligent or illitente, queens o
fortune or queens of industry.
Whether such an education can be provd-
ed is II question which fairly admits wide diff
ference of opinion. While the operations
classed in this group, rs distinguished from
others, necessiate the use of both mind ant
body, they require II greater exercise Of
physical skill than of mental ability; and the
education must proportion its manual drill
and mental instruction accordingly. So that
the question reduces itself to this: Can the
truths of science which bear upon womans
organic work be arranged and taught to the
| girl with direct reference to the use which
the woman makes of them, and can tn,
practice by which skill is acquired be gwen !?
So far rs the simpler operations are con-
cerned, all will concedc that such an cduca
ton is practicable. There is no greater diff
ticulty in shaping knowledge for the benefit
of the housekecper than for that of the farmer
or surgeon. In fact, some of the more es-
sontial sciences and arts are so shaped and
taught in this institution quite AS successful /
| ly ms for any other purpose, such rs physiolo
| gy and hygiene; sewing and dress-making
bookkeeping and business law; physics and
chemistry, us applied to household economy
and botany, us used in vegetable, flower and
landscape gardening. At the earliest prac-
ticable date, instruction and drill will bt
| given in cookery, housowifeTy, butter anC
cheese making, poultry and bee keeping.
Most of these will be taught, not simply rs
means of earning livelihood by the woman,
but rs matters which deserve to be part o
every girls education quite as much as dc
algebra, Latin or music. TO this extent tin
question is evidently only one of determine
ton, money and time.
But the definition made of woman's organ
ic work embraces other and mrer operation.
than those just Indicated; so that the CORE
spending education must ultimately include
other instruction and practice. Nor can any
one precisely determine all the vacations fol
which woman has u greater aptness than
man, or now designate all the pursuits which
she would successfully follow were she prop
erly prepared, and unforbidden by the voice
of society. These points can only he scttlcC
10y actual trial under circumstances different
from those now existing. So that If tho sub
ject be viewed from this standpoint, and i
the question be whether an education cor
responding TO the whole of u woman's organ
ic work, rs defined, can now be given to tn,
outer line of its possible extent, all will con
cede that it cannot. Not only are competent
teachers wanting and text hooks lacking
but some of the paths logically indicated M,
yet to be surveyed and made passibe. TIN,
| tlsh DclollsS W luluIc tNucNlOIst llnpelltt
by the demands of their day, But while
shrinking from none of the legitimate oonse
quences of the position taken, it is certainly
unwise in us to turn deaf ear to the vote,
of common sense, and to the demands Of tho
present, because of confessed inability tC
trace all the wants and supply every possible
demand of the future. 1t may yet bo many
yenrs before even the best ends to be attain
ed by woman's education shall have been
finally determined or the best methods o
securing these ends perfectly adjusted Still
nothing can be lost, and much may be gain
ed, both in the present and for the future, by
seeking clearly to define the line of n wo-
mans nature; by endeavoring to develop
her powers and capabilities along that line
so far rs now feasible; and by shaping the