Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-05-19
INDEPENDENCE IOWA, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1876

than the truth that the maxim, "a
man should marry-a woman mas? ?
is tacitly accepted by all classes az
the embodiment of settled and in
variable principle.
I will guard this point before 90
ing further. 1t is because I believe
in marriage-in the oneness, absoIu
luteness and perpetuity of the sacred
tie uniting the two whom God-not
custom, or necessity, or worldly pol
icy; not the lust for riches and show
and distinction-but God, the loving
Parent and just Judge of us all, has
welded, the one to the other, in the
sight of man and His holy angels
because I know, In every throb and
and yearning of my woman's heat
and in the rush of sweet and dear
memories that throng upon me in
the utterance, that in this estate oul
Heavenly Father means that the
fullest and truest bliss of earth shall
be sought and found; it is because
know, feel and believe all this, that
I would defend the marriage alter
from unholy approach.
Allow me to use great plainess
of speech. We are all women here
together, and this is vital subject
Is it not prudence, instead of virtue,
which makes the difference between
the unloving or Indifferent wife, who
married for a settlement" and the
creature who faunts the fnery
bought with the proceeds of her
shame under the midnight. gaslight
upon our streets? Love, and love
only-the love of one woman for the
one man whom the Lord hath given
to be with her-can sanctify MARI,
age; and that makes of it almost a
sacrament.
We may well shudder, then, at the
thought of shutting ups dcwdrop OF
a girl, who knows nothing common
or unclean, to marriage convent.
ence. And this brings US back to
the question, "What can she do?"
What ought zoe to do to make her a
noble, self-reliant woman, who, if
she maryland l repeat, l hope she
may-will do SO of her deliberate
will and choice, and prove herself
her husbands other and gcntler, not
weaker self; his helppate in all
things-never clog or enfeebling
parasite-who, should Providence
decree that she hold on her way
without such companionship, will
nevertheless make for herself name
and place in life-a woman who
in short, can take care of her
self, aud be respected in so doiug?'
The homely hints, which are all ]
have time to offer in answer.to these
queries, will, l trust, be received by
you, not as dogmas, but as the resul,
of much thought upon this theme
and observation of domestic life
My object in preparing this paper has
been rather to open and invite dis
cussion than to present an ultimatum
| shall have gained my end if l can
set mothers and daughters to think
ing earnestly upon the evils I have
touched upon, and incitc them to
search for a cure. My share of the
debate is to introduce familiar talk
upon the subject; not to write an ex
haustive essay.
First, ten, we will make of oul
girl practical housewife. 1t has
been shrcwdly said-by a man, OF
course, for they appreciate good cook
ing, If we do not-"No woman who
can make bed, broil beefsteak
and make coffee properly, need be
troubled by fears for her future" BY
housewifery, l do not mean the mere
prettiness of cakes, jellies, and trifles
but a thorough acquaintance with
domestic economy, such as is needed
by the mistress of family. She
should learn, at the risk of scorched
face and scalded fingers, how to bake
broil and roast, and to compound
successfully both homely and delicate
dishes; study the cost of raw ma
ter.als and best methods of making
these act well and frugally their part
in the family bill of fare; should
sweep and dust; arrange furniture
make and hang draperies; and-wha,
| am inclined to believe is less un
derstood even by mistresses than any
other branch of housework-learn
how to wash dishes deity and swiftly
so that china may be smooth and
bright, and glasses clear. No con
slderations of present comfort to our
selves or to her-for these are not, all
of them, agreeable things to teach OF
to learn-should hetray us into the
real unklndness Of postponing this
part of her education until the actual
necessity of putting into practice the
knowledge she has never acquired is
upon her. If cooking is ever to at
tain to the dignity of an art in Amer
ica, it will be through the direct, per
sonal efforts of refined and intelli
gent women, the stream cannot rise
higher than its course. So long as
the priestcss of the kitchen as &
rough Celt, or stolld German, or ar
easygoing negress, the duties of hel
sphere will be ranked as menial.
Let me divcrge so far from thl
leading line of thought, as to sugges,
the query whether there may not be
found IN this proposed elevation OF
what is now ranked as servile oc
cupation. at least partial solution
of the question of inducing Ameri
can girls to enter private families as
domestics, instead of wearing out
their lives in factories and sewing
rooms. What is esteemed honorable
and ennobling employment for the
lady and daughters who are undoubt
edly her superiors in rank and edu
cation may well awaken in the mind
Of the young woman who is not
ashamed to be known as an opera
tive or shop-girl, yet scorns the name
of Servant" the doubt whether she
will lower her social status by enter
ing the same sphere Of labor.
Secondly-and this is so closel,
interviewer with my first and third
"hints," that can hardly separate il
from either-let us begin now, il
the good work has been thus long