The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-09-21
Mrs. Garfield.

President and his family has brought
its various members more distinctly be-
fore the Nation than was ever the case
before, and a warm sympathy has nat
urally been aroused for the faithful
wife and mother. who almost arose
from her own sick-bed to watch over
her husbands. No doubt there is many
wife and mother watching with equal
devotion the sick and su ufering husband
or son, through all the breadth of our
lsnd: the duties of family life are mo-
where more faithfully performed than
with US; the devoted wife, sister or
mother is the rule rather than the ex-
eeption. But all these are lost in OBJ
scurity in the silent round of private
life. Their examples live only in the
memory of their friends, and it is at
least a source of consolation and in
struction when we discover by the stern
light affiiction throws upon the family
of Mr.. Garfield that he is sustained and
watched over in his sufferings by one
worthy the name of wife. 1t is on the
virtues of private life that all our insti-
tutions rest. The sacred ties of family
and home give strength to the Consti-
and mother educates us all to deserve
AS the farmers daughter, the pupil.
and afterward the teacher in public
school, as the wife of poor man Ia
boring at his profession, Mrs. Garfield
early learned to practice the virtues
that form good wives and mothers
Frugality, simplicity and quiet study
filed up her early life. She shared
with her husband love of books and
knowledge; together they read, re-
fiected, gathered facts and studied to
be of use. Their minds advanced equal
ly, and sustained each other, and il
would be well for all American women
could they pursue career not dissimi-
lar. How often is the intellect dead
ened amidst the early influence of lux
ury, and the finer feelings lost in a fatal
sel6shness! In nothing is the future
of American women so doubtful as in
its intellectual aspect. Are they rising
in intelligence? are they cultivating
their moral and mental natures? In
many cases, no doubt, they are: hap
py training of the intellect and the
affections prepares them to become
faithful wives and useful mothers. But
for some there is no such fortunate in
iuence. They grow up without re-
straint, and cannot teach what they
have never learned. Happy had they
been born upon a farm, trained in a
public school. and had brought into
early use their intellects and their
hearts.
1t is because she has been faithful
wife, studious. intelligent, refined by
the love of knowledge, that in the mo-
ment of her sorrow all hearts have soft
ened and sympathized with Mrs Gar
field as she watches at her husbands
side. The scene is one that was seldom
or never paralleled- The whole Ma
ton. almost the whole world. watch
with her, enter the silent chamber, and
share her grief. 1t is no idle curiosity,
no transient interest, that leads our
people to this eager sympathy; it is the
impulse of commonwealth; the feel
ing that as a family and Nation we are
one, our officials are parts of ourselves,
and we share their Joys and sorrows.
Something of this feeling may prevail
in monarchical countries where loyalty
still fingers, but the barrier OF caste
shuts out the real depth of sympathy.
1t is only in a commonwealth, repub-
lie. where all are equal, that every wife
can feel almost as her own the anxious
cares of Mrs. Garfield as she performs
her sacred duty, and every patriot re-
ioice in the midst of his grief that in
the painful light so suddenly thrown
upon the Presidents family is wit
messed the tender affection, the perfect
unity, that should crown every Ameri.
can home. The aged mother. who
watches from distance the fate of heI
dutiful son, lends a tender interest tc
the scene. Her energy and intelligence
have sustained him, it is said, in all his
useful career 1t is the American wife,
the American mother, who stands be-
fore US.
"From scenes like these" sang
Burns, ''old Scotia grandeur springs"
and whether in a palace or a cottage,
true love and unity are the sources o
National prosperity. The educated, in
telligent woman is often the savior ot
the State. In republic she is, of all
most useful. She forms the citizen
and guides the family. No doubt we
are still living in the infancy of gov
ernments and politics. No doubt the
imperfections of our social life will a
last be amended; equality in knowl
edge, more general industry anc
thought. will soften much and altel
much. We are far from being as wis
as will be our descendants. But in NJ
period of the future will the tender
cares of the sick-room cease to viii
sympathy. or the influence of the intel
lipent wife and mother fail to deserv,
the popular esteem. The people offe
their sympathy to Mrs Garfield becaus'
she has shown those virtues which the,
most prize. They would Tighten. j
possible, her heavy cares, and breath
peace to the home of sorrow. The,
sympathize with every form of af1ic
ton, and would heal it They respec
the sacred duties of the family an
home.-Eugene Laurence, in Harper
Weekly.