The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-13
AMERICAN WOMEN.
An Austrian Lady Passes Some Criticisms
T1pon Them.


Nine. Catherine Magerka, Of Vienna.
who accompanied her husband, one of
the Austrian commissioners to the Phil
adelphia Exhibition, has published
since her return q very entertaining &C.
| count of her journey. Her first and
most interesting letter relates to he1
Impressions Of American women, in
| whom she saw much to admire, but
does not altogether approve. She had
been told they were handsome, and she
was not disappointed. They dressed
richly, those whom she saw, but were
too fond Of snowy ornaments. She was
pleased with the Embarrassing, espe-
cially Of young ladies. which was more
simple, natural, and becoming than
that Of the Vienna ladies. She saw
much splendor and elegance In Phila-
delphia and elsewhere, and went home
with the impression that to many wo-
men the toilet was the sun around
which their existence turned, for whom
no other stars had radiance but dia-
monds and pearls, and to whom there
was no ambition higher than to be nd
mired.
1t is evident that Nine. Magerka did
not see enough of American domestic
life to make her congratulations Of much
value. But she has definite opinions
about it. and states them with great
frankness. Her impression is that the
American does not find in his house
the coy home, the tender care which
the German wife secures to her husband.
Husband and wife live, rs rule. more
next to each other than with each other.
The wife has full liberty to follow her
own inclinations. to arrange the house
hold according to her own tastes; in
fact, her will has sway even to the
counting room door. Women are to be
blamed for this. but not they alone !;
and the men have their full share of the
fault. The American works too hard,
and Ia Obliged to do it to keep up
with his competitors in the race for
money, so that he is tempted to sac
rifice leisure and quiet household life
to business. This spirit acts upon the
American women. and gives them dis
taste for the better kind Of domestic life,
in which their husbands take no salts
faction. She thinks the wife too indie
pendent and the husband too subser-
Went. sit strikes us strangers as very
Comical to sec him in fine clothes
and shining cylinder on his head. com
ing from market with his small or large
basketful. What would our German
married men say to such an importation
among us, where even the gymnast is
ashamed to be seen in the streets with q
basket?" There is, however, brighter
side to American female society. girls
learning under our customs to become
self-reliant. and take care Of themselves
with discretion.
But she found few girls in America,
only children and women. The girl is
impatient to be the woman, and with
long dresses she begins to be the lady"
and to be ambitious to do without her
mothers supervision. She heard
young Frenchman say that he more
than year visited in house, and often
conversed with the daughter till mid
night, without ever having seen the
motherl The author is not blind to the
higher aspects of American society, and
she cordially mentions the various
forms of female benevolence and devo-
ton. such as the Flower mission to the
sick. seaside aud rural homes in sum
mer for poor and sick children. mid
night missions to the fallen women,
Women Christian associations, and
other noble charities. She is earnest
that the nobler side OF American life
should be known in Europe as the best
commentary upon the working of our
national idea, Equal rights to all"