The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-16
MAY Attn, 1873.


F0T %&N tGbE tth1 a. $500 49,
Ladies Department with interest and
pleasure. 1 see there. a promise OF
something bright and honorable for
II dearly loved Carolina.
All calmly thinking men and wo-
men must realize 4 woeful deficiency
in our people in one respect. refer
to our carelessness in matters concern
ing mental culture. How often do
We meet with the sons and daughters-
alas more frequently the latter-of our
land. SO utterly without mental attain
ments. that they see no cause, on &C
count of it, for shame an regret.
know, and love, girls who are "a
pable of great achievements mentally;
lovely in heart and person; thoroughly
versed in domestic matters; V
SAINT with the fashions who W tn
small means appear always wei
dressed; and are models of u
Southern womanhood in many, nay
most Of its higher attributes; yet
when | have watched these girls in a
Of gentlemen, who were
discussing matters OF history or litera-
turc, my heart has been made sad to
observe the blank look; the uninter-
ested expression, perhaps | should say.
on their sweet faces. So long as the
masculine kindly condescends, |
- - 49, I.--J|
in the pretty wall pockets, brackets,
.spatter work &c, which is the artistic
work of the fairy fingers" or wishes
TO know about the love affairs of the
community; if he has a sigh and a
pensive look when speaking of the
apparently favored devoted Of the
sweet girl, he is a social success. If
he compliments his lady-friend, by
assuming that she Is familiar with the
facts of history, or ever of the present
transactions of the world beyond her
town or county-pity the tact-less
mortal, You Will hear our girls saying:
Il can't talk to him, he is too smart
Does that sound vulgar Mrs. Spencer:
Do you, and my sisters who may read
this. think | am ill-natured? | only re-
peat what | have heard from young
ladies brought up in the best circles of
our society.
Twas in New England last summer.
| naturally compared that section
with own more blessed, more
beautiful South. | was made sorrow
full however III comparing the mental
requirements of the Northern and
Southern women. There, every far
mers' wife and daughters read the pa
pers. How few of our women do.
Most of them can write easily, and do
write for the press. With us, a women
is consider a creature to be feared,
who has seen herself in print" We
look upon her as SO extraordinary that
we must speak little and cautiously in
her presence, lest she score us for our
ignorance.
Now If the Department" will be
sustained by our maidens, and mat
rons, there will come a time. when an
ambitious girl will find a more easy
path made for her fattering feet to
tread. If she has talent, and realizes
it, she need not fear to be looked upon
as a ''blue," when she gives her
thoughts to the public, as a treasure
which she may not keep locked among
those of ner inner life.
Shall l be considered presumiDg if |
beg that you will call for letters on
other topics, as we'll as those on fancy
work, and culinary recipes? l do not
mean that those should be curtailed by
any means. Few admire the pretty
delicate articles of home adjoining, or
like the goodies, which our genero.s
housewives %concoct, more than L.
Fancy work, which is in fashion now,
will lose some OF its charm when the
rage" for it passes away; and we
know that Mrs. Elliott, Mrs. Mason,
and Mrs. Barringer together, can not
1urnlSl recipes SuillcleHt " MAKE our
department varied and thoroughly in
teresting: Moreover, there are so many
of us, who are not in the home nest,
as motherbird or fedgeling, who can
not with any reason anticipate a quiet
rest in a spot SO ''love-lighted." Shall
these be shut out from the pleasant
circle!
If this is to be a Mutual Aid Soci-
ETY." as your hearty pleasant CORES
pendent Pandora suggests, won't YOU
take in the old maids:
Ishould like SO much to know what
YOU. and others Of u women think
about that great unsolved question of
..woman's work Now l don't
mean the duty of the mother or
daughter, who finds a tangible task at