Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-09-21
To Our Young Ladies.


WHILE the Western Rural has mani
tested deep interest in the welfare
of the young men of the country, and
has taken pains to point out to them
their responsibility in the future, it
has never forgotten the young of the
other sex, and the important relations
which they are to sustain to our Re
public and the world. 1t is quite IN
necessary to remind the budding wom-
anhOod of America that it is theirs to
brighten or cloud the future of our
beautiful country. Upon their fitness
for the varied duties of life depends
really the perpetuity Of the Republic.
1t is women that mold the character
of a nation. Pure and noble woman
hood will make a pure and noble citi-
Zenship. And while the accomplish
ments Of education are desirable, and,
if rightly used, adorn the female char
acter, it should never be forgotten
that life is practical, and that in bein g
useful woman fills her Hottest mission.
There is no happiness in idleness or
fashionable frivolity. Man or woman
is happy only when the mind is being
developed, the virtues of the soul Gull
tivated, or he or she feels that they are
doing something for the adj
vancement Of mankind. There are
thousands of living dolls, who
wear out their lives in unceas-
ing Worriment over new fashions
and the claims of society upon them.
Their lives are utterly useless-not
even adjoining to the world. 1t is a
mistake that our girls often make to
suppose that ignorance of the practi-
cal duties of life and a familiarity only
with its embellishments recommend
them to any one whose good opinion is
worth having. 1t is the daughter or
wife who can leave the piano and en-
ter the kitchen, when necessary, and
feel that she is at home there, that SEN
Sible people admire. The sweetest,
prettiest home the writer ever entered
is presided over by a young wife who
is as often found in the kitchen as at
her piano or in her library. She is
equally at home in the discussion of
music and the best authors or of the
best method Of making bread or pies.
The home Of such a lady cannot help
being charming spot Of ea1th--a gar
den-a paradise. The husband of
such a wife cannot help being
happy, and her friends are rich
in her acquaintance. And yet while
this would be the general estimate
OF this lady's character, there are thou
sands Of our young ladies who seem to
think that idleness and fashionable
gayety are the grand objects of life
But while this is unfortunately true it
is pleasant for the patriot, who knows
how much depends upon the future
women OF the country, to contemplate
that there are thousands upon thou
sands who are more sensible. Espe-
cially is this true Of our country girls
the maidens of the farm. 1t is from
the farm that come the women best
fitted for the important duties of life,
and it is to be hoped that this source
of magnificent womanhood will never
fail the republic-that the foolish no
tons of society will never find lodg-
ment in the minds OF any considerable
number of those promises of the pres
ent to the future. May every young
lady who reads this remember how
much the future will expect of her,
and strive to be truly good and truly
useful. Western Rural