Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-11-21
Social T0pics-The Family Purse and the
Education of Girls.

Social T0pics-The Family Purse and the
Education of Girls.
At the quarterly meeting of the Bucks
County, Pa, Agricultural Society, on the
10Th inst, number of essays were read,
giving rise to subsequent verbal discussion,
on agricultural, household, and social top
les. From the Intelligencer''s report we ex-
tract the following
WHO SHALL KEEP THE FAMILY PURSE
The first essay read was one by Mrs. Lew
is 8. Ely, of Upper Wakefield, in reply to
the question whether the family purse
should be equally at the command OF the
farmer and his wife, or be kept entirely in
the hands of one of them; her opinion was
that equal access to it was not practicable,
and that the welfare and interests of the
family require that the family funds should
be in the care of the wife. She is much
| less apt to waste money than the man, and
| if she is prudent and economical her man.
agement will be for the advantage, OF the
whole family. Capt Wynkoop spoke of a
case in his knowledge where husband
frequently drew the wife's money and used
| it improperly before reaching home. There
| is a good deal to be said on both sides;
there are circumstances whore it is
impossible to lay down rules. Much
depends upon the pecuniary OBJ
| p rtnership the responsibility Of paying
money must rest upon one of them. But
between man and wife there should always
be full understanding as to the expendi-
| ture. Robert K. Tomlinson said that the
rules OF business could not apply to the re-
/ lations of man and wife, who should be
| free to use what is required for personal
| objects and the common benefit. Joseph
/ Flowers thought that in many cases the
family funds should be in the care of the
wife. He knew of an instance where
| man had been saved from drunkenness and
ruin by the firm management OF his wife.
II. r. Darlington said that when clrcum-
stances admit there should be a regular al
lowance for the wife's own expenditure,
without question or interference by the
husband. Mrs. Heston cited an instance
where request for money by the wife was
always met with an iu-natured answer
Isaac 81. Hillborn said that VIM. WYnkoop
had satisfactorily shown that in business
sense there can be no family purse.
PRACTICAL EDUCATION FOR GIRLS.
Mrs. Mary Buckman read paper in re-
gard to the growth of young people in in
dustrial and practical knowledge, as COM
pared with their intellectual progress. She
thought that there was disposition to pro-
mote the latter aG the expense of the for
mer. She referred to the disastrous ef-
fects of idleness in young people of both
sexes. Parents are mistaken in thinking
that industrious habits can be formed after
the school education has been finished
Mothers should teach their daughters to
become familiar with home labors and du-
ties. Girls must have something to do
regularly as soon as they are able. They
must be taught to help themselves. AS
girls grow up special duties may be as
signed them. Teach them habits of physi-
cal industry. Keep body and mind both in
exercise give them motive and set them
to work Make home the scene of person
al duty and usefulness, but also bright and
cheerful. Household duties should be reg
ularly undertaken and performed. The
American people are inclined to des-
pse manual labor. The ''dressed up
occupations are over-crowded while
the mechanic arts are monopolized
by foreigners. Well would it be il
every man and woman would engage in
honest, active work, with no stain upon it.
The business of teaching is sadly overdone
Over-education adds to the professions and
takes away from the productive classes to
the immense injury of the public interests.
These people set the example of idleness
to the humble and illiterate, and the whole
J J community is led to look upon labor as dis
j creditable This superficial system breeds
3 innumerable ills in every direction. Oultl
vation of the mind without usefulness oi
body is an injury instead of beneficial to the
5 progress of our race. The essay was ad
, mirably written and read, and commanded
the universal attention and approval of the
audience.