The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-04-05
Concerning Common Things.


Whoever would be tranquil, let him
not investigate. Ever since / began in
quiring into household affairs, my mind
has been disturbed by a doubt-not
quite a doubt; call 10 uneasiness-as TO
the mental superiority OF the dominant
sex. No, 10 cannot amount to positive
doubling. That would be to fly in the
face Of facts. History proves that the
greatest philosophers, the greatest art
lists, the greatest writers, the greatest
thinkers, have been men. If woman
has the ability to be as great in these
directions, why has she not been as
great? There has certainly been time
enough-six thousand years at the low
est calculation.
Well, then, since facts cannot be dis
puted, there can be no reasonable doubt
upon this subject; but-nO, ] won't say
but; / won't admit the possibility of a
but. / will only say that il is very puz-
zling and very annoying to have ones
daily observations tend 10 undermine
not undermine, conflict with ones be-
lief And it may happen that, if man
watch too closely what goes on indoors,
the idea will be suggested to him that,
while be prides himself, very likely, on
working well at one trade, a woman
may work well at half a dozen, and not
pride herself at all.
Mr.. Fennel is a carpenter. Mr.. Me-
lendy is a shoemaker. Each is a mas
ter Of one trade, and only one, aud works
at that all day. Mr.. Fennel doesn't
stop 10 mend his shoes. Mr.. Melendy
doesn't leave of pegging to make ? new
front door.
Mrs Fennel is mistress cf many trades.
Mrs. Fennel is cock, tailoress, dress
maker millineF, dyer, housemaid, doc
tor and boy $ cap-maker; also, at times,
sehool1aster, lawyer, and minister.
Eor she hears the children's lessons; she
adjusts their quarrels with the judg-
ment Of a judge; and she gives them
sermons on morals which contain the
gist of the whole matter.
OF sll these occupations, cooking, I
observe, ranks the highest. That is
sure of attention; the others take the
chance. That is cut out OF the whole
cloth; the others get the odds and ends.
/ have observed also, in this connection,
that the day indoors resolves itself into
three grand crises, called the three
meals. 10 is surprising, it is really won
derful, the way these are brought about
with everything else going on beside.
Indeed, this prying into domestic affairs
has made me surprised twice. First, at
the amount Of physical labor a woman
has to perform second, that she can
carry so many things on her mind at
one time, or rather that her mind can
act IN so many directions at one time. .
and so quickly. This indoors work
seems commonplace enough; to the fas- .
tidious, repugnant even. The same NAV
be said Of a mud-puddle. But din IN a
dipperful Of the mud, examine il closely. +
and you will find it teeming with life
So examine an hourful Of household
work, and you will find 10 all alive with
plans, cOntrivances, fOrethoughts, after
thoughts, happy thoughts, aud countless
trifling experiences, minute, 10 NAV ba.
but full Of animation. The puddle is
often set in commotion by a passing
breeze, or by stone dropping in. Well. /
household work, too, has its breezes Of
hurry and furry, besides its regular
trade winds, which blow morning, noon,
and night. And If company unexpected .
isn't like the stone dropping IN, then
what is il like?
This Is written, as the scientific peo-
PIE say, from observations taken on the .
spot One day spent an bourfn watch
ing MIS-. tennel at her work, and an
nsur IN watching Mr.. FenpeI at his
% &Dslug I'D humorous, as we'll as a scien-
tlnc frame Of mind, PLAYED tbev ,ver,
my specimens, aud that matter unJsr
consideration really did belong IN so1,a
branch OF science, unknown. Of conr-e
TO country sehoolMaster. eonv 80
my notebook: ~ "o"l
Time forenoon; place, kitchen -
Fly, my pencil, fly, like Mrs Fen
nel's feet! Dinner is getting. IN searos
now as II every moment wer. a crisis
What's that she is dropping mo b,,
water? Oh . turnip, sliced aud t,raisI
Meat, pudding, potatoes, squash. hens
etc, require, 1 see, different lengths .f
time in cooking. But they must be on
the table at twelve o'clock, done inst
right; some Of them mashed. and ali Of
them hot. Think of the calculation
necessary to bring this about! Mean F.
while, in the intervals Of lifting the
pot-lid, Gussy's new suit is being 'cut
out of DID, And here, again calcula- /.
tiOn-that is, minds required in cut
ting the cloth to advantage.
"Now Mrs. Fennel drops down to take I
a long breath. How much sugar must
be put into this gooseberry pie p Martha
asks. Rising one cupful.' Now lit I
tie girl comes Of an errand: Mother