St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-07
PETER EXPOUNDER.
he breaches Short Sermon Applicable
to the Watering-Place
Season.
Wise Words Cleaned From Solomons
Proverbs On an Interesting and
Timely Subject.
An Elaboration BY the Preacher he-
garding Care in the Selection
of Wife.
A Authorization of the Lesson Learn
ed BY Samuel At His Mother
Knee.

Who can find virtuous woman? For ner
priceiis far above rubies.-Proverps XAAi'' IL.
Dearly Beloved: The green trees ana
the bright flowers, the verdant nieauo"o
and the balmy breeZes, the vision OF youIls
men in SeerSucker garments ana stra" halo'
and the beaming advertisements oi w"'oi
ing-place hotels admOnlsh us tnat tno ood
son approaches when the disease Oh loVo-
making is wont to rage in all It's maliSliaiioy'
the result of which, when conSumlhateu,
tends toward depopulating the community
bv that mysterious arithmetical paradox, IN
accordance with which one takes the place
of two. All of which seems to make TIE
present an appropriate occasion 1or your
pastor to bring forth some thoughts ON the
subject indicated by the text, in when, ana
the verses Immediately following, the IN
spired preacher gives his ideas OF the quail
ties of a good wife. And, be it said TO the
credit of humanity, these are the IDEAS OF
good wifehood which have prevailed IN all
ages as far as literature informs us. Ac-
cording to Solomon'S standard good
wife is trustworthy, affectionate healthy,
provident, economical, charitable ana III
dustriouS.
The heart of her husband doth safely
trust in her, so that he shall have no need
of spoil She will do him good and not
evil all the days of her life. She seeketn
wool and flax, and Worketh willingly Wltn
her hands. She is like the merchants shlpS,
she bringeth her food from afar. She rlSetn up
while it is yet night and giveth meat 10 her
household and a portion to her maldens.
She considereth field and buyeth IL WIN
the fruit of her hands. She plant
eth a VINEYARD. She girdeth her
loins with strength, and strengtheneth her
arms. She layeth her hands to the spindle,
and her hands hold the distatf. She
stretcheth out her hands to the poor; yea,
she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her house
hold. for all her household are clothed III
scarlet. Marginal reading-or double gar
ments.) She maketh herself coverings OF
tapestry, her clothing is silk and
purple Her husband is known
in the gates when he sltteth
among the elders of the land. She openeth
her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue
is the law of kindness. She loOketh well
to the ways of her household and eateth
not the bread of idleneSs. Her children
arise up and call her blessed, her husband
also and he praiseth her.
THESE ARE THE MAIN POINTS
in the description by the proverb maker OF
that priceless treasure, a good wife. 1t
was written 5000 years ago and IS Illus
trated by practical references to the duties
Of the household of those primitive days.
Were Solomon alive now, however, and
called upon to rewrite this description and
adapt it the conditions of modern times,
he would not be called upon to change it
much, and we can imagine the result OF his
efforts would appear in about this shape:
The heart of her husband can safely trust
in her so that he shall have no fear, when
he goes down to Chicago for day OF two,
that all will not be right when he gets back.
She seeks wool and flax and works will
ingly with her hands, She is like the mer-
chants ships and tempts her husbands ap-
petite with delicacies brought from all parts
of the earth cooked and served in so dainty
a manner that he will never wish to
drive away from home. She gets up early
in the morning and looks after breakfast
with such scrupulOus care that the temper
of the other members of the household is
not Soured for the remainder of the day by
1ishwatery coffee, underdone beefsteak or
buckwheat cakes which seem to be COM
posed chiefly of saleratus. She advises her
husband about the purchase of real estate
and herself directs the operations of the
kitchen garden. She is an adept with the
needle, and the sewing machine commands
a good deal of her attention. She relieves
the sufferings of the worthy mendicant and
is valuable member of the Dorcas associa
tons and ladies' aid societies. The APP
proach of winter does not find her UMPIRE
pared, for warm suits for her children and
warm quilts for the beds are ready long be-
fore the snow flies.
She is always neatly dressed herself, and
appropriately too, so that whether in the
parlor or the kitchen her appearance is that
of a lady. Her husband is known in the
gates, on change and in the store. His
cuffs are never frayed out at the ends, his
neckwear is never awry, his clothes are
spotleSS and he is not afraid to take off his
coat in the office on hot day for fear of
revealing rip in the gusset of his shirt.
She opens her mouth with wisdom and
keeps well informed ON the topics of the
day, even so far as to be able to discuss in
diligently with her husband the latest
book, the political situation and the effects
Of the Chinese war upon oriental COM
MERGE.
IN HER TONGUE
is the law of kindness, so that her husband
looks first to her for wise and sincere coun-
sci when business crisis comes upon him.
and for tender sympathy when he is in
trouble. She looks carefully after the little
things around the house and the family.
The piano keys are never soiled, there is
never collection of dust in the corner of
the house; the children always appear at
the table neatly washed and brushed and
well trained in the ethics of ''thank you"
and ''if you please" Her children arise
up and call her blessed; her husband also,
and he praiSeth her.
Now if the janitOr will open one of those
ind of
fresh air, shall endeavor to point out some
of the notable omissions made in the list of
characteristics of a good wife given in the
text. For instance, you will notice the alb
sence of any allusion to the personal appear
ance of good wife. So far do the mental
and moral characteristics predominant that
beyond an intimation that she enjoys robust
health and knows how to dress well, there
is no allusion to her physique.
Now, as intimated in the first part of this
discourse. there is to take place shortly the
annual hegira to the watering places.
Many young man of this and other
congregations will meet for the first
time within the next two or three
months the being whom he will after
wards call his wife. The amorons glamour
of life at the lakes is tempting, and is cal
culated to incite a young man to ask ques-
tons and make propositions which, if &C
cepted, in his more deliberate moments he
will regret in the future. Let me caution
you, my friends, to consult the wisdom of
Solomon before making selection of this
kind. Let the things which incite you to
make matrimonial proposition be not a
maiden's sylph-like form, face of Grecian
beauty, nor that winning kittenishness on
which too many women of the latter day
rely to bring them husbands. On the con-
trary, apply the test which Solomon offers:
Let your inquiries be, Is she economical?
instead OF Is she pretty? Has
she good, strong, loyal heart
thaf will SInialu ,-n1, nnnrono in