The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-03-24


Gle in the New York Tribune, thus vigorous
ly defends the rights of woman--to have q
parlor:
10 tbe Editor of the New York Trijune:
SIp-It ia fashionable to abuse the raror.
Gentlemen who are IN the habit Of spending
nerhaps three of their fifteen waking hours
NJ home gravely tell their weary wives that
they don't see why the family cannot be per
mitted to use The parlor occasionally, adding
with intense sarcasm that they would not own
such piece of property. Philosophers. look.
ing sercnely down from the airy heights of
contemplation, wisely tell us that this desire
10 have best room finely furnished and held
in reserve for state occasions originates in the
American lady's love of foolish display.
When | ask how to supply the parlor's
place, l am answered. Give rs great, CHEEKY,
beautiful siuing.room. Hang It's walls with
lovely pictures, I'll Its ample bookcase with
the best works of the standard authors, set
poisoning plants in its windows, adorn lis
mantel and brackets with the dainty nothings
which lend such charm to home. Having
made the shrine for your choicest things the
coolest, prettiest room in the house, inform
the members Of the family that, with the ex.
ception of their eating ard sleeping hours,
you expect them to live there.
Oh, most grave and reverend doctors, min
listers and editors, and you, fair ladies, with
all Difference to your wisdom, with deep graf
itude for your kindness, we cannot help sus-
pecting that you are endeavoring TO decide
question Of which you know pfactcaily as
little as the Greeks did Of the Centennial ex-
position of 1876 I will take your sitting
room and locate it in the southeast corner.
Its great bay windows shall be draped with
lace strong enough to resist the friction OF
Bridgets fingers when they come in contact
with the washboard, and yet so dainty as to
throw a soft, nameless grace over every OBJ
iect in the room. will roll over the floor a
CARPET of ingram, the rlch subdued colors of
which shall bid defiance to the kisses of the
sunbeams as they wander amid its leaves and
blossoms That room shall be the sanctuary
of heart affection; every ornament in 1t shall
have its own tender story, every article which
II contains its associations with happy home
life.
Nevertheless, you shall not take my parlor
from me. l shall keep it for the same good
reason that we eat our bread and buter-be'
cause we cannot do without it. Do you
doubt the assertions Then glance over the
situation. Let Mrs. A. represent the hun
dreds of thousands of wives in the comforta.
BILE middle ranks of society," doing their work
with the aid Of single servant. She is the
proud possessor of five OF Dame Cornelia's
Jewels, ranging between the ages of three and
sixteen. A prudent woman, looking well to
the ways Of her HOUSEHOLD, her energetic Ell
forts, combined with those Of the tlreless sew.
ing.machine, clothes the family neatly and
with due regard to the ever-varying arbi-
trary demands of fashion. Shrewd and prac'
tical, her business tact IS often called into re.
oh 10
nancial quagmire, and John gratefully owns
that to his silent partner he owes his greatest
success.
Now to tins lady, whose numerous cares
and weighty responsibilities occupy every
moment of her waking hours, the small, rich
ly.furnished apartment, warmed and lighted
for the reception OF visitors, is not u luxury
but necessity. Her children, though loving
and obedient, like all children out OF story
books, are not Immediately neat and order
". They leave their work, their books and
toys where best suits their convenience Now
il would be well If casual guests. when shown
into q disordered room, would exercise the
virtue of forbearance and kindly overlook de
ficiency, but they rarely do. The needle doe;
not turn more quickly to the pole than the
practical eye detects carelessly arranged
room, and almost invariably the callers res
pect for the owner of that room is scnsibly
diminished. How often, then, has the parlol
proved her haven for refuge? How many
weary steps it has saved her! what calmnes;
il gave to her throbbing nerves! How many
notifications 1t has spared her sensitive spir
it! Yes, how many years o! restiul peace Il
has added to her busy life!
1t is not an extravaganza, for her careful
management has paid for il long ago, but il
is Just as essential to her comfort as Johns
private office is to his Comfort. Neither have
YOU any right 20 CriticIsc n woman tor put
ting her best articles in the rarlOT God, who
made woman lnyclv. who sent The rose &c
blush upon hci cEe>y, who taught her eye &c
Fevel in all delicate and exquisite combina
lions OF form and color, who gave her the fin
est instincts of aesthetics, Will not irown upon
her for desiring Il tapestry carpet or dainty
window drapcry of satin and lace, If she has
The means 10 obtain them honestly withOu
infringing upon 50" So ,hts of others.
The parlOr Car r,,cr be abolished while 3,
many sacred n moies cluster around j,
There, in the low rgo, when the evening
lamps were lighr' IS throwing their rosy radi
ance ovci vase o'f statue and picture, We
held sweet conn .uIOn with friends now sep
arated IRON US 10y Tie rivers and mountains
Of half q cnntln. There, tCO, the magicG
Christmas tree. # with It's hundred tiny
lwInkling stars . fr'm The fairy gloon
while the HAPPY 'fil"cn danced gleefully
around It, Their he tavorite daughter, {
blushing, trembling bride, received her new
name and gave her life into the keeping o
another There lay the darling of the house
hold in her long, sweet sleep with lilies clasp
ed in her waxen hands. All, that room il
boly; il Is haunted by angel forms, and in TIT
twilight We have almost felt the tluttcr o
their Wings.
No, gentlemen, make war if you will upor
our shoes, our dresses, our hats, but let on
parlors alone LYDIA STRAwN.
Ottawa, Ills, Feb |, 1871.
Ina recent holiday lecture at The is0ya