New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-31
DLENESS IN WONEN.
A GREAT EVIL WHICH Is UNDERMINING SOCIAL AMI
NATIONAL vIRTUE-A MOTHERS APPEAL
m Tie Edito r OF The Tri Oune.


NATIONAL vIRTUE--A MOTHERS APPEAL
To the EdttO r Of The Tribune.
SIR: Anxious mothers all over the land
will thank THE TRIBUNE for the steady help OF such
strong refreshing words to in your editorial
columns" Texts for Tomorrow" TEXTS OF the
Week." and many others-where the lives and habits OF
the sons and daughters of the present day are held up
with rebuke warning and questioning which arrest the
attention of among them, as we know "a theory
will exist in the of men and wOmen-more OF less
satisfactory to each ito what are the causes of
the sin" which develops in suicides, murders, eope-
ments divorces the changing about restaurants and
gambling bells" by young men, and the "dawdllng over
nnery and impure Irritation" by grs-but still the ques-
ton of The TRIBUNE comes up: Now. where is the
cure for II ~ Looking with mothers interest upon the
habits of young people, and their relations together, in
Ibis day. and looking also upon the personal experience
of more than if,y years, am profoundly convinced
that dleness in women has much Of not more TO do
with the deep-rooted evil that is undermining our social
and national virtue rapidly and terribly any other
influence The girls of this generation are idle. even
where families in but moderate circumstances, and
suffering must come in somewhere from expenses en-
tailed by necessary work that IL not done by the
daughters HOusewoIk is considered dcgrading-even
the light Offices for her room, which every true
woman ought 10 feel unwilling should be done by
hands but her own, and by which every young glrl
should make that place sanctuary, where htr dignity
and nuIty are 10 be recognized ana guarded by each
aDpontlnent and arrangement within IT. and sewing Is
handed over the machne-wOrkerS as something quite
out OF the question TO be done. -
no more should he said respecting these points it
ptifu consider how they are missing their own nap
1ness i'm this state Of things No girl is fitted for her
future duties and responsibilities wife and mother
who cannot do these things, and do them thoroughly
well: and her future is not provided for unless her
present a steady and organized foundation for it, and
that cannot be unless the mothers train the daughters
babynOOd work that is come To their
womanhoOd When this is dOnc the happiness comes in.
Mothers and daughters have life together; bond of
employment ana interest tha Is III eosat Cd
Over their household matters ana especially over the
work of their needles they have eOmpanl0nshp that
grows with their lives and brings them INTO close III
tmacy, OF which, alas, the mothers and daughters
this day know little. They are really strangers
to each other The steady training which the character
ought to be TO the daughter Is not known,
o. Woman COD means thar women sbomld
use their needles aud there not the slightest need OF
injury IT'S excepting IN cases which correspond
win any other necessity Tor over-work II is a great
subject. and not easily opened up IN as brief
space as is allowable here; but belieyc-as
/ believe in God and his appointments for
us-that if the girls of this generation would
take up a daily duty of work. no matter what
their position their means, the world would be nap
nier for IT, Mothers would have their society and Their
affection, they soTey miss II now fathers would
have many a dark hour OF disbursement over heavy
hills ightened brothers would have cOmpaniOnship
OF whose charm. well a. benefit very Few nave
knowledge now andy Dung me mn otIer reiaon- W9ua
have view Of wOmanhOod that Is almost entirely lost
IN the present day Women are never more brilliant or
fascinating land they nave GOdlNeh llsht 20 De pIl
liant and fscinan) than wheD their hands are occu,
pied. Awkwardness and embarrassment dspp9ar anu
-perfscty at her ease-a charming woman becomes
mistress of the position, ana happy herself makes al
around her happy. -,
girl readersi wish could paint for them picture
mat is vydly before my memory OF one who took mp
he care-fOT her sick mOtefOi large eslaDIshIbch
m the age Of fifteen and that time until she died
M seventy wears of age the most admirable house
keeper and the most Ovabc mother that one cOuld u
ogiue In the DAYS when "surigntly Bcsey BInapdtie
was winning her French Prince this Ncw-Engiand girl
was the oele her circle, IN winch were Young mcn
VINO became the most distinguished men OF their day,
and who were her lifelong friends and admirers. she
wos said TO beautiful dancer OF the elegant
sorietV I'M which she moved and the life and charm
of fbe gry parties that went 5eighing over the New
England hills. Yet nothing was reelected IN the many
INCONSISTENCIES of her life and when she became Wie
and mother, she began, when her bdDy-danghleI was
hre wears old 10 teach her the nOwespised fine art OF
sewing smiling away the tears that fell over the Labor
ions ltte seams of the patchwork, ana giving an
The sunshine Of her own happy, industrious spirit 10
lead her little daughter day by day. 10 love lhe
work ana lie hours the mothers side; ana lhs was
Wrought out habit OF industry that has Deen delslt
and blcs.Iug 20 years OF pain and trials when WOuIu
early training for the love passed out from the noeFs
ewes and her head was Laid 10 rest beneath the dastra
auarter OF a century ago, But such a memory j. pre-
ris.Iy The living mower that brings form such hea-
stirlnQ ana noble words those OF IRE TRIBUNE III
TEXTS for the Week" last Saturday, "hicA aPl1 -
girls lust much 10 boys: IL every motut ENc
10 her child icOrk for his life. Ii is she alf al VINO
teaches MIN what To worship aud respect Tor MS "hoe
ne IL is she who. day by day and hour by nOnI eau
40 nm his soul with lofty thoughts aud purposes thht
money or appetite will be rated by hun III MS MANHOOD
AZ lis real value" Words should be written III
letters OF gOd daughters be trained 10 become
sucl mothers for the coming generation.
Very respectfully yours A MOIhth
orange, NJ. d., May z, 1879.