The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-16
IdIeness In women.

MOLher IN n. 1. tribune. .f|
Looking with amother's interest upon
the habits of young people and their rela.
tons together, in this day; and looking
also upon the personal appearance gilmore
than fifty years, am profoundly conyinc.
ed that idleness in women has as much, il
not more, to do with the deep.rooted evil
that is underminingour social and nation.
al virtue SO rapidly and terribly, as any
other influence. The girls OF this genera.
ton are idle, even where families are in
but moderate circumstances, and suffer.
ering must come in somewhere from ex-
penses entailed by necessary work that is
not done by the daughters. House work
is considered degrading-even the light
offices for her own room, which every true
woman ought to feel unwilling should
be done by any hands but her own, and
(which every young girl should make
that place o sanctuary, where her dignity
and purity are TO be recognized and guard
ed by each appointment and arrangement
within it; and sewing is handed over to
the machine-workers as something quite
cut OF the question to be done.
II no more should be said respecting
these points, it is pitiful TO consider how
they are missing their own happiness in
this state Of things. No girl Is fitted for
her future duties and responsibilities as
wife and mother who cannot do these
things, and do them thoroughly well and
her future Is not provided for unless her
present in a steady and organized founda.
ton for it, and that cannot be unless the
mothers train the daughters from baby
hood for the work that is sure TO come to
their womanhood. When this is done
the happiness comes in. Mothers
and daughters have a life together;
a bond Of employment and in
terest that is in constant oper-
alton. Over their household matters,
and especially oyer the work Of their
needles, they have cOmpanionship that
grows with their lives, and brings them
into close intimacy, Of which, alas, the
mothers and daughters OF this day know
very little. They are really strangers to
each other. The steady training which
the character OF the mother ought to be
to the daughter is not known, because
they have no work together. The needle
is part Of woman's dover. will not
dwell upon "the benefits OF the sewing
machine" God means that women should
use their needles, and there is not the
slightest need Of injury from its use, ex-
cepting in cases which correspond with
any other necessity for oyeryork. II is a
great subject, and not easily opened up in
as brief space IS is allowable here; but
believe-as believe In God and his ap.
pointments for us-that il the girls Of this
generation would take up daily duty Of
work, no matter what their position or
means, the world would be happier for it.
Mothers would have their society and
their affection, as they sorely miss it now
fathers would have many q dark hour Of
Encouragement over heavy bills lightened
brothers would have a companionship oil
whose charm. IS well as benefit, very few
have any knowledge now and
young men in other relations
would have q view OF womanhood
that is almost entirely lost In the present
day. Women are never more brilliant or
fascinating land they have q God.giyen
right to be brilliant and fascinating) than
when their hands are occupied. Awk.
wardness and embarrassment disappear,
and perfectly at her ease-a charming
woman becomes mistress Of the position
and, happy herself, makes all around heI
happy.