The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-11-21
American Homes.
From Our Lady Correspondent.

From Our Lady Correspondent.
F.! November Is, 1889.
The mistress Ut our American home
bas often been poetically styled the
Queen Of HOme'
: 1t is very pretty idea, but in the
majority Of cases far from true. Too
often the wife dees not know how to
govern her home, her children, or
even herself. An educated girl who
has taken care of herself for time
Ia, however, worthy the title and will
wear it right royalty. Objections
have been made to higher education
for women ON the ground that it will
make her discontented with her mar
row round of duties, and, as a conse.
quence. unhappy.
That would be true If women were
necessarily restricted to the narrow
round of duties, but the fact is wom-
ans sphere Is widening and at the
same time the real value and respon-
sib'lity of woman,s work at home is
much better understood, and she re-
alizes 1t and is content to do it in the
best possible manner. The hcme is
where future citizens are trained, and
as it Is a recognized and established
fact that the mother has the greatest
influence. both by heredity and early
training, it follows that intelligent
citizens require intelligent, quick
witted mothers.
This, Of itself. is proof sufficient
that the best and highest in education
Is needed for our girls.
The mothers Of boys should be
trained in the companionship of the
opposite sex, in order to understand
and be prepared to train them. This
is an argument in favor of coeduca-
,ion, though not often used.
While I heartily concur In the
sentiments expressed in recent
contribution to this paper. where
the writer advocated woman's suf-
frage, and while think the day is
not far distant when it will he gen.
eral in our country, and that the
women have pushed their way and
preserved their womanliness, and
are worthy the highest praise, I still
regard home as woman's highest
place. Every true woman so regards
it. The women of to-day, because of
higher education and outside inter-
ests, are happier in their ONES than
those of a century ago, or less. whose
energies and mental activities were
confined within four walls and GEN.
tered on cooking, washing dishes.
keeping house and clothes in spotless
condition, etc.
These are all laudahle, and neces-
sary to the well-beibg Of abousehold,
but is not bread making a more
interesting process to the
woman who learned its chemistry in
her school days: The bread may be |
no whittier nor no lighter, but the
thoughts of the one who made 1t are
to be taken into account, as they re-
act on her disposition and help !
mould her children's ideas.
One woman says, with an impa-
tient jerk and frown. "Here is an
other big batch of bread to mould! !
How it does make my arm ache!
Strange, how much bread We do !
manage to consume. Over and over, |
two or three time a week. for life !
time, l must make and bake six |
loaves of bread.'
By this time the frown Is very |
dark, aud the pounding that bread
gets adds to its lightness, but warn
children and cats to keep out Of the
way.
Our educated "queen' lifts her
bread tray and kneads firmly and
evenly while she muses. On the |
wonderful growth that causes
bread to rise. She admires tho fine |
white -four which makes such sweet |
nice bread; she reflects with smile
how her growing children eat, and if |
she is wise, will substitute graham or
oat meal for the fine -four. and hers |
becomes a labor Of love, as she shapes /!
the loaves and puts them in a warm
place to rise.
What Is true of bread making is |
true of every part of the monotonous
housework. 1t becomes drudgery !
only when the mind, having nothing
better to occnpy it, descends to de-
tails and grumbling over what the |
hands have to do. While there are
small things that require the mind to
superintend the hands. A great |
many parts of housework are me
chanical and the mird, stimulated |
by some outside interest or by a
breezy article lately read keeps ur a
train of thought, entirely above the
work. Toa trained mind 40 many !
things become forced for thought. |
A weary, discouraged housekeepor
sees nothing attractive in table full
of dirty, dishes, but grumbles over
the inevitable washing of dishes
three times day, for life time. To |
cheerful, thoughtful woman, there
is pleasure iu making clean what is !
so unsightly.
The mark on the china suggests |
manufacture aud the different styles |
of ware. The French motto on the |
backs of her plates recalls school days !
and pleasant studies in that language.
She il able to translate 1t for her cu-
rious little girl, and also to satisfy her
in regard to the glazing of stone
ware.