The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-03-27

~ -hiAN NthetuNAAAf ANtANc
sheer lack of time to keep up with the
demands Of the age, they go back
ward, losing all the mental ground
they had previously gained, TIL at
length they become scarcely more IN
tellectual than their mop-wriuger or
potato-washer. With men the case is
different, IS a general rule. They
have far more opportunities for, and
far less hindrances TO mental improve
ment besides that, their daily con-
tact with the outside world tends to
keep their ideas fresh and active. And
because these things are so, no man
should ever marry a woman below him
in the intellectual scale, lest, as the
difference widens, they eventually lose
sight of each other. Let him marry
up, as far above him as he may, and
if their lives 90 on as average men 5
and women's lives do go, he steadily
gaining, she rs steadily losing, they
will ore day meet Oh common ground.
From my standpoint, il is q mystery
to me how any married woman ever
achieves literary distinction, or does
anything more in that line than to
make attempts which do her injustice
and disgust herself because they are
SO far below the mark she aimed at.
To the single woman the field of liter
allure has no such gates and bars, and
to how many Of Their we owe our
sweetest Inspirations q poetry, and
charming creations of prose. Think
of the Carey sisters, the Bronte girls,
and the many others whose names can
never grow old. Says lovely Ruth
Garrett in her inimitable fashion,
am an old maid, but my life is not al
together like an empty house, where
there's nothing to do but to put ones
head out out OF the window and watch
the neighbors." All honor to the sin
Gle women of the world, who have
time for self-culture and improvement,
time for sweet and blessed charities,
and time for doing good everywhere,
instead of in one narrow home circle.
You men have the advantage over
us in this particular, that you can
readily hire help when your work is
crowding. Your hoeing or haying
needs to be done at once, and you can
send men into your fields who would
do it just as well as you would, while
you 90 off to political CAUCUS, if you
choose. But our work IS such that we
cannot hire for the day, now and then,
those who will do it as well as We can,
without our oversight and help, or il
we are Obliged to leave it to them, you
do not need to be told that it is both
to your discomfort and pecuniary loss,
We are none of us above the duty OF
economy, though some may be above
the necessity for it, but in whatever
circumstances, it is unpleasant to see
our substance wasted, not sin riotous
living" but by hired servants care
less encouragement. Then, too, la
bor-saving inventions Of the day have
done 50 much more for men than fol
women. The old fashioned farmer
swung the scythc all the forenoon and
welded the rake all the afternoon, but
how is it now? The farmer rides
about on bis moving machine a few
hours, then changes of on to the hay
tedder, coming i'll, perhaps, in season
for half-hour's nap before dinner,
After leisurely incoming he mounts
the wheel-rake, and soon the hay is
ready for drawing in; perhaps horse
pitchfork unloads and mows it away
for him. But no invention has mean.
while enabled the wife to ride about
the house, up chamber and down eel
lar, while she took care Of the butter
made bread and pies, fried doughnuts
ironed and mopped, cooked the dinner
and washed the dishes. To say moth
ing of the sewing machine, and only
count those which tighten domestic la
Dor. inventions have benefited mel
more than women, in the ratio Of tel
to one.
Again, we are assured that our worl
Is made in great measure By our owl
foolish ambition, that 4 desire to outdo
outshine and outruflie our neighbors
adds vastly to our cares and cur stitch
es. 1t may be soin exceptional cases
for, at the risk of making an orgina
assertion, | venture the remark tina
"it takes all sorts Of people to make
world" But that the average Vernon
; woman, be she farmers wife or other
wise, foolishly and needlessly spend
time and strength at the bidding @
fashion, / deny. Woman's innat
fondness or pretty things to ador
both house and person, may lead he
too far, sometimes, but for those ofu
, who do both our own work and on
own sewing, there is little time for eS
travagant action in this respect, w
have neither the time, means, nor in
clnation to follow every absurd whil
! Of Dame Fashion, while, at the sam
time, we will try not to be SO utterl
regardless Of her sensible dictates a
to make ourselves conspicuous.
They sometimes tell us that farmer
would be more successful and bette
, contented, if their wives took MOI
: interest in the outdoor affairs of I'll
} farm-they should enjoy helping d
the milking, take pleasure in feedin
t the pigs and calves, and in gener
9 way, enter into the outside manage
S ment with hearty zeal. But no one
a reminded to say that the farmer shoul
' take deeper interest in the hous
i work, that on rainy days he should E
q over tho housn ond hrush down II