Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1880-11-24

A model wife and mother whom we
know used to say that OF all common
phrases, she disliked most the one
which declared half done work to be
"near enough" 1t is, she declar ed,
the gospel of the shiftless, and strenu-
ously did she teach and practice that
nothing was ever ''near enough" right
that could be made better. A writer in
the Ereni,.g Post deplores a kindred
lack in women's training-thc lack of
exactness. She says: One of tho
greatest difficulties 1 had when begin
ming to keep house was the utter i'm
possibility of getting definite directions.
How often an earnest, almost despair
ing question was met with this rcply:
"Oh, about--this-you must use your
judgmentr' How seldom in the coun-
try, at least, can dressmaker be found
whom you may reasonably hope will
make both sides of your dress waist
alike and both sleeves OF the same
length! In every department in life we
meet with it, and are annoyed by it.
How many notifications would q
woman be spared did she but culti-
vate the habit OF, seeing what she looks
at; l have known women OF more
than ordinary intelligence in certain
directions who when lamp chimneys
were held in place by screw, q very
simple arrangement, never even at
tempted to put chimney ON the lamp.
If thinking without words were posi-
BILE, should say they thought without
words--that it was something quite be-
yond them, and they always took lamp
and chimney to some male member of
the household to be adjusted. It is
often said that the excess OF imagina.
tion. upon which some women seem to
pride themselves, accounts for the ten
dency 10 inaccuracy. For my part
am ashamed of it. II it is this which go
often causes wife and mother to BE-
looked upon, even by those who love
her, as an amiable sort of incapable,
whom they are fond Of without being
able to respect much. There is a ter.
rible mistake somewhere in the educa-
ton of women, both ut home and in
school. We are not taught that one Of
the most important things in the world
to US is the ability to observe with
something like accuracy. II strikes me
that about the poorest preparation .
girl can have for the grave responsible
ties which sooner or later are certain
to rest upon her shoulders, what
ever her position anil surroundings
may be, is a smattering Of ancient and
modern languages, little music and
the discipline to be derived from these.
l have often thought ii more attention
were paid by her TO any OF the natural
sciences there would be some hope OF
her acquiring habits of close and COR
rect observation. and that tendency
toward exactness and trnthfuiness Of
mind would be produced. But what
can be done by those of us whose edu-
cation so far AZ the schools are con-
cerned il indeed " iinished'! Only by
studying our failures can we hope to
find out why they were not successes,
and % correct bad habits. We may
help ourselves BY cultivating . taste Tor
conquering difficulties. not because
any body 10 ever to know anythin0
about Il, but because It is good to over.
come. Above al other help - that
which comes from the intense convic-
tion thst whatever ID anyway mjnistere
p the health and happiness d the
homo. whether II is great or small, q
worthy 0f our earnest thought. hAve
ott6A gained grace md strength ~ aoy-
Ing ovar 70 myself that BIT frosn holy
George Herber
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