Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-07-30
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
Woman In the Grange and in the HON,

Woman In the Grange and in the Home.
At the recent State Grange reception held
in Salem, Oregon, Mrs. G. f. Shipley, i'd
swering for the ladies of the State Grange to
the welcoming address delivered by Daniel
Clark on behalf of Salem Grange, said
Worthy Brother In behalf of my sister
Patrons thank you for the kind and inter
estng welcome you have given the ladies Of
the Oregon State Grange.
The founders of our Order, desiring the ell
ovation of farmers and their families, and Soc
ing that the success of the great work which
they hoped to inaugurate would depend upon
the appreciation and assistance of both men
and women, gave them equal privileges in
the Grange, making it possible and even
necessary that each should share the respons-
Utility, the labor and the reward How far
the sisters have fulfilled tho trust accorded to
them, l will not attempt to say, but can only
hope that in the future they may be more
worthy the commentator of their brothers
than they have been in the past
The Grange particularly recommended it.
self to women because they suffer most from
the evils incident to farm life. Its advent
found thousands of them in isolation over
worked, health shattered, hope almost gone;
and yet it needed only the magic influence Of
good society, of loving, hopeful sympathy to
start the life blood anew, and bring bloom to
the cheek, and cheerfulness to the droop-
ing spirit. Many of these hailed the Grange
with Joy, believing il to be an institution sent
from God for their relief, and avniling them
selves of the advantages which it Affords re-
joice to-day at the new-found health and hap
piness. Returning health has brought increas-
ed activity of mind, and we are becoming
painfully conscious of the many evils which
beset us on every side in fact, we are troub-
1a1 Nbi,,eg VI fao
ing too much time and money on things
unessental and which will perish, and too
. little on those things which are eternal. We
give too much thought to clothing and feed
ing the body, and the accumulation of wealth
which we cannot take down into the Dark
Valley with us, and leave our immortal minds
unclothed and unfed.
Our children are not receiving that educa-
ton which should fit them for the practical
duties of life. Many of them are learning
little which will be of utility, or which will as
sist in the symmetrical development of their
mental faculties or lead them to q higher
life. Instead of teaching our daughters how
to guide and even paddle their own domestic
canoe into the quiet waters of industry, econ
omy and thrift, we are permitting them to
thoughtessy drift on the shoals Of Incidence,
extravaganza and folly, and many of them
will eventually be hopelessly engulfed in the
breakers of inefficient and helpless &ife and
motherhood. Too many Of our sons are be-
coming victims to the many temptations
which beset them on every side, and from
which we are powerless to protect them. The
idea is fast gaining ground that If the ballot
were given to women they could and would
speedily find means to aid good men in re-
moving many Of these temptations, hence
they are knocking for admission into the
halls which have hitherto been sacred to the
footsteps of their brotherS alone not clam
orously as few years ago, but earnestly and
persistently, because it is their right, and if
permitted to exercise it, they would have an
other powerful means of protecting their
loved ones from harm. They have the salts
faction of seeing the doors slowly but surely
opening, and many look to the Grange for
guidance that they may enter with prudence
and dignity, and help to sweep the bribery,
corruption and intemperance which now rule
this country, into the ocean of oblivion.
No woman whom God has given talent
should seek to hide il under a napkin, or
nurse the sickly idea of inferiority, but step
boldly to the front in defence of those princi-
pies of honor, virtue and temperance calculat-
ed to lead her children to useful and happy
man and womanhood. We realize the fact
that reforms are needed in our homes. We are
apt to forget that we are helping to manu-
facture public opinion, and that we are in n
measure to blame for the evils with which we
are surrounded. Injudicious reading is a
fruitful source of mischief. Sensational
stories are giving our children false ideas of
life, and placing them in sympathy with the
wicked and abandoned of both sexes And
political papers, calculated to prejudice and
mislead, are warping the judgment of all who
read them A reform is greatly needed here
We should furnish more and better reading
for ourselves and families. Biography and
travels are interesting TO most people, and ag-
ricultural newspapers are interesting to old
and young, besides being faultless in morals
and devoted to our interests. No farmers
family can afford to be without one or more
of them We pay too little attention TO the
amusement of our children. A party which
is unfit for us to attend is surely no place for
them. little money judiciously spent in
making home attractive in procuring good
and interesting reading, musical instruments,
etc, will often keep young people from seek
ing improper associates, and be really saw
ing of money in the end. To cultivate love
of nature and unfold the wondrous beauty TO
the awakening mind should be the loving
task of every intelligent mother; for by SO
doing an innocent source of pleasuse is de-
yeloped which nothing can take away.
Brother and Patrons have mentioned a
few of the needed reforms which present
themselves TO my mind, trusting that others
quite as essential will suggest themselves to
you, and that through the medium of the
dered which shall never rest until farmers
and their families are elevated to their true
position in life.