Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-05-19

bestows another. When will we
learn this truth-we women, who OF
all people should be the best econo-
mists of the golden elixir? I am
sometimes driven to dispair when !
note how Widespread and incorrigi.
BILE is our habit of wasting time for
ourselves and others, and then run.
ming ourselves out of breath and in
to early graves in quest of minutes
and hours in which to accomplish
tasks that must be performed. Our
husbands have business hours; so
have our washerwomen; we ladies
have none. The most important de-
tails Of household work are laid aside
to receive visitors, who knows her
self to be unreasonable, and ought
likewise to comprehend that she is
unwelcome. We catch up our sew
ing when we are too tired to stand
any longer; lay it down before a
dozen stitches are set, remembering
some forgotten order for cook or
housemaid; read by snatches; walk
when we must, and ride when we
can; hear a child's lesson now aud
then; dive into the kitchen when the
thought of dessert, pickles or pre-
serves rushes upon us; soar into the
attic at the haunting suggestion that
moth and rust are busy with our hid
den treasures; visit and receive by fits
and starts, to get society claims, like
Mrs. Bagnet's screens" "off our
minds;;" enjoying nothing heartily,
and resting-never!
freely admit that as class, our
American housekeepers are the most
notable In the world; but the wear
and tear of nerve and temper with
us are appalling. We will teach our
daughter to use her brain more and
her nervous forces less; to hang side
by side with the excellent motto, ga
place for everything and everything
in its place." one as good and safer,
"a time for everything and every
thing in its season."
Thirdly and lastly-and here is
where the need of moral courage is
greatest-we will have her taught
some useful trade, to be selected with
wise regard to her taste and aptitude.
l say trade, not accomplishment. 1
made rough computation the other
day of the number of music teachers
in the city in which I live. My con-
clusion was, that there was at least
one for every block of the streets
which are built up with dwelling
houses; and l had in one month ten
applications for the privilege of
teaching my ten-year,old daughter,
who "has no car for music" the
rudiments of the divine art.
The Jews of old were on the high
road to individual and national pros
perity when their laws ordained that
every man should serve an appren,
ticship in some handicraft. l like to
remember that our Savior was a car
penter, and that Paul wrought at his
trade of tentmaking with Aquila and
Priscilla his aoje during the week,
while every Sabbath he reasoned with
the Jews and persuaded the Greeks.
l like to believe that it was with
meaning the record was made that
Lydia was a seller of purple.
Our daughter, having acquired
business habits, should now begin to
think earnestly IN what sphere she
will exercise them. She leads off,
if you will pardon the comparison,
with winning card. Brains will
tell in any station, and if we add to
the qualification of the skilful design,
er, or engraver, or telegraph operator,
or stenographer, or dressmaker or
milliner, or book-keeper, the active
intelligence, tact and personal graces
of the genuine lady, the fortunate
posscssor will take her stand at once
as leader, not subordinate. Her
knowledge of her chosen profession
should be gained as soon as her aca.
demic course is completed, and her
pursuit of it to be no playwork,
Should we shrink from the com.
Partnerships of the Office or work
room, and can afford to pay for our
fastidiousness, we can easily have
her instructed privately. The course
will be less expensive than the same
number of lessons in monochromatic
drawing, decclcomanie or potichima
ME.
There are few spectaclcs more
sickening to one who knows what
life's needs are, and what is earnest
reality, than the inanities and senti
mentalitics of the newly-emanc;patcd
schoolgirl, who, finding time and
thought hang heavy upon hands and
mind now that the discipline of en-
forced study is over, becomes an
easy prey to morbid musings and
longings, and spends half her days
in wondering who the coming man
will be-the other half in sighing
for mission in life. What else is
there for her to do-unless, indeed
she be enterprising and imaginative
enough to diversity her yearning by
wishing she had been born boy:
Give our daughter something definite
to do; set her about it. and she will
be as free from -vapors, and low
spirited whims as her brother who
goes whistling down town every
morning to the college, Office or store
where he is learning has trade. II
sounds horribly prosaic and unfeel
ing, but 1t may we'll be doubted il
three-quarters of the pining and
whining about the strong necessity
of loving in women, and the pangs
of unrequited affection, are not sim
ply the lack of steady occupation tol
head and hands. Excuse me again
if my illustration seems inelegant;
but a woman who is call heart" re.
minds me irresistibly of the poor
Strasburg goose, shut up in dark,
narrow coop, and fed with over-rich,
heating food, until his liver is larger
than all the other organs put together.
We will feed our darling's soul, mind
and body, with food convenient for
her-make her a "perfect woman
"nobly developed" as well rs "nobly
planned" Once mistress of Graf,
she likes, and estimates Alright rs a
n