The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-01-24
solid Accomplishments for Girls.

The proper education Of young girls
is one Of the most important subjects
which ean engage the attention Of re-
formers and philosophers. Is not too
much Of their time taken mp in acquir-
ing fancy accomplishments, while solid
learning is neglected. Is not the old
fashioned notion, that 4 girl, should be
SO trained as TO enable her 10 perform
the part OF a housewife when she gets
married, as sound now as il WAS in the
days Of our grandmothers
These reflections necessarily occupy us
as we read the following letter
"SR: Feeling little uneasy in my
mind in regard 10 what consider very
serious matter, take the liberty Of ask
ing you for little advice. am a young
man of twenty-five years, work at my
trade, and Can earn fifteen dollars q
week; engaged TO be married 10 very
nice, and, may say, accomplished
young lady. She is we'll educated, q
good singer, fair performer on the piano.
etc. but, ] am sorry to say, no house
keeper. She has never cooked a meal
of vituals, cannot iron a shirt, or do any
thing in that line And, as j viii not be
able TO hire a servant 30 DO these things,
which think q poor mechanics wife
ought to be able 10 do, am sorely dis
tressed. Advise me IL you can, and you
will greatly oblge J. W. d."
We sympnthiZe with our troubled cor
respondent, and agree with him that no
woman is fit TO be the wife Of mechanic
on fifteen dollars q week who cannot
cook his meals and iron his shirts
Though she may sing melodiously and
get good deal of music ont of piano,
these accomplishments DO not supply
the place OF domestic knowledge and
experience. She is too expensive an
ornament for n poor man 10 possess.
Her parents have brought this girl up
unwisely, if they have not taken pains
TO fit her for the duties she was likely 30
be called on TO perform. II was all very
well 10 teach her to sing and to play the
piano, but her mother should have seen
to IL that she also learned TO cook and
TO iron. Properly pursued, the art OF
cookery may occupy the finest minds,
and girl situated rs we Judge our cor
respondents sweetheart is should be
early inducted into its mysteries. A
great deal of domestic unhappiuess is
caused by bad cookery. and neatly
laid table with appetizing viAnds will
usually bring peace and harmony into n
home.
A poor mans wife ought 20 know how
10 make his household comfortable, and
she cannot do that by drumming on the
piano or singing at the window, while
the pot boils over on the stove, and the
meat burns on the gridiron. So far
from deeming the offices of housewife
beneath her, she should rejoice ut the
opportunity her marriage gives her 10
perform them. While her husband is
off at work, earning the bread for her
and their children, she should be con.
cocting the dishes which their means
allow and which appeal to his taste, aud
setting the domestic establishment in
order against his coming. II, when he
gets home tired and hungry, he finds
everything at SKIES and sevens, and the
table provided only with soggy potatoes
and iuiceless meat, while his wife is
hammering the piano, he is apt to say
cross things, and all reasonable people
will make excuses for him, though hus.
bands should always do their best TO
keep their tempers. .-Net0 York SIn.