The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-02-27

So sungScott in his Marmion, present
poetical fiction. Labor is needed to
give healthful development to human
character. Responsibility and care
Muscle must lCorE, if it would ever have
power; mind must ,cork, if it would ever
attain strength. Each must have its
appropriate exercise, to give marked
worth and dignity of character.
If muscle does not work it becomes
weak, faccid, and is soon tenanted by |
those numberless indescribable sensa-
tions which spring UP where there is de- |
bility of animal tissue. If mind lacks |
employment, it wearies itself in vain |
effort to make existence a pleasure. |
While "Satan always finds some work
for idle hands to do," this is equally
true of idle minds. If their energies are
not called out to some useful purpose,
they are expended in idle dreaming, sell
fish fretting, or foolish fancies.
There are many maiden ladies who
are not oldmaidish, and there are many
married women gho are. Those who
live and labor to please themselves only,
are not likely either to find pleasure or
to impart it to others. Truly, says
| Upper, " happiness is way-side flower,
growing along the walks of usefulness"
But aside from theories and mOrali-
ties, let us look at woman's life as it is.
First, our girls come forward so
rapidly under the fastening processes of
the present order of society, that the
transition is speedy from babyhood to
womanhood. To see the tiny, half-de-
veloped frame taking on the arts, airs,
and accomplishments Of young ladies,
seems at first ludicrous; but when,
little after, We find the sick, sad, ineffi
cient, irritable mother, it is pitiful.
First, then, let female children Ito
say nothing here of the other sex) have
.fuJttength OF childhood and girlhood,
and let them have attained unto the
mental and muscular development of
womanhood, before entering upon the
conjugal relation. Then let them
marry with a willingness-yea, with a
wish-to be worthy mothers, excellent
wives, and movers to good works among
those with whom they are surrounded; !;
not with vague dreams of being always
petted brides, fancy parlor ornaments,
the admired Of every fashionable circle
creating q sensation wherever their
silks rustic, ribbons futter, or Jewels
glitter.
The married coquette shows sad wa,at
of womanly worth.
"Mistress of house" should mean
something more than the making OF
, choice preserves, nice cake, and fancy
, articles of food, with no ability to pre-
, pare the substantial eatables of tie
, table. To rule well a house requires
something more than scolding servants
! making splendid parties and entertain
!. ing company in the most approved style
q The true mother does not welcome te
= her house the little ones" grudgingly
a because they interfere with her round
= of pleasurable dissipation: but with 6
p "glad heart" as so many "choice well
!. springs of pleasure"
. When our women gather for socia
a chat, they should have better topic
4 than the trials of housekeeping, tn,
q vexations of boarding, the unfaithful
a ness of servants, and scarcity of goot
a help, the weariness of confinement in
IS the care of children, the hope that they
" shall have no more, and the who'll
r. seasoned with ill-natured gossip abou
=. their absent friends, or foolish fatter,
of those present.
An elder lady of intelligence an
rank, residing in Rochester, after enter
tanning at her house party of youn
wives, said, We'll [ believe the womel
10 nowadays would be natural fools, if the,
Y did not have better advantages tha
e. when I was young" In the senseless
IF selfish chat of her genteel guests, tina
IF clear mental eye saw that lack of hear
a of intellect, which ever exists anon
e. those VINO live solely for their own an
ID their friends amusement.
Among those to whom wealth ha
- seemingly brought ease, as well as th
= = elegancies of life, the word from lip t
u 4 lip is, fatigue" "weariness." One
=, worn out with care; another is sick frol
~ ~ "over-doing."
70 Is Poor creatures-their lily hands, thei
n soft muscles, their feeble respiration
tell the plain truth that they have unde
vs. done rather than "oUer-done.'
OF With the literal housewife, bakin,
9. washing, house-cleaning, are not seein
Ut these things done, and worrying abor
" them, but doing them.
10 Such an one often says, " am goin
so to take it easy to-day, because l worke
so hard yesterday" but still she keeI
u the domestic machinery moving wit
ed her own hands, and has nerves quiete
a without anodynes. No doubt many
of New England housewife may find q
at early grave because she has been cool
OF chambermaid, washwoman, and nurs
BIT while becoming the mother of too mar
a children. But among this class we fiji
ITS much less complaint of nervous affe
he tions, female diseases, prostration fro
,e. over-exertion, than among those who
ss- health has placed beyond the need
ze, work.
N Among many of the latter class, the
in ife-power is being rapidly expended
ry the ceaseless round of effort and excit
I'm ment to attain or retain rank, popul
lr- standing, etc. More vitality is e
Ito pended by many a woman in ankle
,ur about the shade of ribbon, the fit OF
led dress, the fashion of a bonnet, tn
to would be required to do washing, ba
batch of bread, or walk several mile
for In one case, the muscles are strengt
rk, ened by healthful activity; in the 9TH
,ur the nervous energy is expended witho
ali that bodily exertion which is useful
nd generate more. If one doubts this,
hit. her notice for once the flushed face, t
,ut anxious look, the excited manner, of
the nervous woman, when such momento
,sp- matters as the above are on the tapis.
hes I am sorry that much observatio
ily and record of the health and physit
ual habits of many women who come und
my care, bring me to the sad conclusio
No that the leisure which luxury brings
his our countrywomen is by many of the
ftv turned to so i'll an account. To be su
ire our land is blessed with many woms
no whose body and brain are consecrat
md to "every good word and work. with
oct the range of her ability. Of such /.
roo not forgetful, and would that their nu
ave ber were greatly multiplied, that th
The could be reinforced from the ranks
Of those who live to eat, dress, and drea
SOW El''!e vi Vhe ieaulns VI our you