The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-14

iuenl SuOulu lucy De dllOMtu W dOdiiuoiE ohC
study. do not wonder that young men
hesitate before they marry. l consider them
brave to select any of the majority of ordi-
nary women as their wives. They must
earn the money. They have right to ex-
pect the home to be properly cared for and
the money judiciously expended Few
young women can do this, until better ex-
.perience has taught the lessons the
mothers neglected or disliked to teach.
Every girl should know how to make her
own clothing nicely, neatly; yes, fashiona-
bly,. There is no need fora woman to be
dressed like fright, nor is it proper for her
to attire herself in the extremes of the day.
She should know how to use to the best adj
vantage the material she has Let these les
sons be taught day by day from the hour the
child is old enough to take care of box,
drawer. room. The tuition should begin,
and should cease only when the girl, the
woman, is mistress Of the situation, able to
take, manage and keep in order her home,
select, cut, fit, make her own clothing and
that of her family.
These women who learn to serve may never
have to serve others, but they may them
selves have the government of homes, and
here their sphere of usefulness and labor,
though perhaps not so large as that of
man VIII comprise the interests and happi-
ness of all who may dwell under the roof.
Is one woman in every twenty competent to
overlook the work and manage the servants
of her house? Let the stories of the scores
answer. How can they expect to exercise
discrimination, nice judgment analytical
knowledge in the public affairs in which
they are so anxious to participate in, when
they can not in their domestic relations pre-
serve order and steady progress? 1t is well
enough for women, married or single, ar
rived at years of discretion, to have complete
control of their money, their income the
wages of their labor, but doubt If women
either can sensibly or thoroughly under
stand public affairs, and in the face of the
incoming tide 1 dare protest against the
clamor for more power to rest in the hands
of women. When they are able to take care
of the trusts and privileges they have had
for years, then and not until then should
they venture to ask for more.
Now, and with this foundation sure, the
life work can be reared day by day. If a
woman shows an inclination, a constant
turning towards trade or a profession, be-
lieve then and only then will she succeed in
that direction. Certainly not all are born
teachers, physicians, clerks, seamstresSes; for
proof witness the absolute failures in life of
these who persistently try to accomplish
what they dislike or do not understand.
Nothing should be allowed to prevent pro-
gress in the chosen work. The highest point
should be eyer in view, and there should be
no cessation of effort until the mastery of
the trade or profession is achieved; then the
battle is won.
We point with pride to the women who
have achieved success, and their lives illus
trate the very fact of which have spoken.
They understood, in the minutest detail and
completest design the work they intended
to accomplish and triumphed be-
cause they were neither perplexed
nor trammeled by the difficulties
and intricacies of their employment
Should we have industrial schools, public
training separate and apart, or should we
teach the girls trades and professions as
young men receive them? incline to the
latter method If a woman intends to be a
book-keeper or a clerk, or a writer or an
artist or an actress, let her pursue her studies
for the vocation, steadily mastering every
difficulty, overcoming every obstacle, never
expecting ripe fruit until after the maturity
of genius and labor has brought the time for
its production. Immaturity, the plucking
of blossoms, the gathering of imperfect
fruit have proved more ruinous than
almost any other cause. The age is too
advanced for woman to appeal to chivalry.
manly honor and stalwart protection when
her work is condemned as not being UT to
the standard. She must stand or fall on her
own merits, and these who accomplish any
thing ask nothing of the world but place
to stand, a foothold, and that is given freely
to men and women alike. The superfluous
women, as they have been called, are not
those for whom there are no place in the
world. Thank God there can be none such,
but there are those who are not willing
to accept the places they can fill,
or who are striving for positions
too high for their strength or knowledge.
And the woman who is fitted for advance
ment will secure it sooner or later. There
is in my mind no possibility of keeping
down positive talent and knowledge. There
is no iron hand to crush a woman because
she is a woman who desires to rise in her
trade or profession, and who can prove to
the world that she is competent and able to
elevate herself. Those who are always beg.
ging sympathy and pity because they are
women would fail if they were men, with
the imagined advantages and opportunities