New-York tribune., 1880-06-27
WOMEN IN THE FAR WEST.
Loliec o. .Lones inLippfnoO

Beginning life in anew country with small capt.
tai involves many years Of hard work and strict
ECONOMY, perhaps prlvatiOn and loneliness. This
comes especially hard on tho farmers wives, many OF
whom have grown up in homes OF comfort ana plenty
in the older States Ask the what they think OF
Iowa. aud they will say that 1t IS fine States 1t nas
many resources and advantages; there Is room fOr
development here; the avenues to positions OF
profit and honor not 40 crowded as they are IN
the older States good class OF emigrants are set"
Ting up the State that, on the whoic, Iowa mas
bright future before it, But the women do not
deal in such generalities. Their own home ana
individual life is all the world to them, and u that
is encompassed with toll and hardship, IT all thtlT
cherished lOnglngs and ambitions are denied ana
their hearts sick with hope deferred this talk ABOUT
the undeveloped resources of Iowa and its tuture
greatness has no interest or meaning lor tneli; al
their isolated homes on the bleak prairie they
have few social Oppor unities, and their strait
ened means do not allow them to buy books or PIC
lures, to take papers or magazines, OF TO lndulgc IN
MANY of tho little household ornaments dear to the
feminine heart. What wOndOr, then, II their eyes
have weary questioning look, as II they were al
ways searching the flat prairie-horiZon Tor some
promise or hope of better days, something fresh ana
stimulating to vary the dull mOnotOny Of toll
"There's o better time coming" the farmer says.
"When we get the farm paid for we will build q
new house and send the children to town to schooF;
is not actually fertized with the hearts blood of
women, the settling and development of it none the
less require the sacrifice of their lives
sec many women who have thus sacrificed, and
are sacrificing their lives Their faces are wrinkled,
their hands hard will rough, coarse work, they
have long ago ceased to have any personal anoi-
dren: Their self -abnegaton is pathetic beyond
words.
After foothold has been gained in a new coun-
try and a homo established, generation, perhaps
two, must pass away before q fine type OF humanity
is produced. The fathers and mothers have tolled
for the actual necessaries of life and gained item.
The children are supplied with physical comforts.
Plenty of food and exercise IN tue pure air give
them stalwart frames, good blood and perfect AMI
NAL health but there IS a bovine stOdty OF express
SION in their faces suggestion of klnship with the
ciod. They are honest-hearted and well-meanng-
stupid, not naturally but because their minds have
never been quickened and stimulated. Iney Rrope
in blind way for better things aud wOndern lie
means no more than to plough and SOW ana reap, 10
wash and cook and sew PERHAPS one OUT OIL eVerv -
hundred will break from the slOwly-stepplDR ranks
and run ahead to taste of the springs OF knowledge
reserved for the next generation. bnt the vast ma
jorty will go down to their graves without ever At
tanning to the ripenesS and symmetry OF fully
developed life. Their children, perhaps-certanly
their grandchildren will attain tne physical and
mental type.
Not the occupant of the largo brick house with tall
evergTeens in front which meets my sight when
ever look toward the country. An Old woman
lives there alone except for servant or two, nav
ing buried her husband and ten children. She is
worth 100000, but can neither read nor write.
Her strong common-sense and deep fund of ex-
perience supply her lack of education, and
would not think while listening to her that sho
was ignorant Of letters. Her life has been one or
toll and sorrow hut her expression ls ono OF brave
cheer fulness She and her husband came to this
place forty years ago They were the hrst white
settlers, and for neRhbOrs they had Indians and
wolves. They entered most of the land gu which
the town now stands, and when other settlers
came In and the town was laid out their land
became valuable. and thus the foundation
Of their fortune was laid. But as riches increased,
cares also increased the husband was so weighed
down by responsibility and anxiety that his mind
gave way, and in a fit of dependency he committed
suicide. The sons and daughters who died, with
the exception of two or three, were taken away IN
childhood. 50 the large mansion, with its richly
furnished 1ns, is shut up from the sunlight and
rarely echoes to the patter of childish feet. The
mistress lives In the back part but exercises caro-
over the whole house, which Is kept in a state Of
perfect order and neatuess. Though she has lived
OH the pralr1e for forty years. yet tho expressions
that SAVIOR of her early life in a densely- wooded
State still cling to her. and il you find her Ill her
workinG-dre among her flowers. she Will beg YOU
to excuse her appearance: adding look as II l
was just out Of the timber"