The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-12-08

tDS uDuu, tudn tO Uc iOIeVef Ouby OvoI
your fancy work."
Don't get excited, husband" said
Mrs. James as soon as she had an ops
portupity to speak, "what has come over
you that are laying down the Law 80 en-
pha,icaly p
.,Nothins new hss.occurted,. !. replied
her husband. "But have been thinking
OF this nat,erfor somo time. The other
evening when was getting to the most
interesting part otsThe Merchant Of Ve-
nice. in comes Bridget with some inqui-
ries about breakfast, and telling on that
the grocer had not sent certain things
ordered Then you called for the account
hook and from that we 'hegun 10 talk OF
expenses, until Venice aud its people
drifted away into misty distance to give
place to butter, eggs and 80 forth. Now,
all these practical matters can be attend
ed 10 at other times, and do not wish
to have my evenings spoiled in that way.
II really seems If good mspy of you
ladies have such crszs OF late for ma.
king tsncy things tba, you feel as il your
hanhs must he busy every moment, and
You have given up many more important
occupations, your reading and your mu.
sic, for instance, TO take ali these stitch.
es and make these pretty things"
"You recall talk OF Miss Lymau's
years ago ehen I was at Vsssar," rejoin-
Ell bis wife. I'VE girls were in the habit
Of doing ell sorts OF fancy work between
dinner and desert, as it took some time
to remove the plates for the company Of
four hundred or more who sal at tables.
Some OF Us would take our crotcheting,
others made tattine, others embroidered,
and as ] think of it now it was ridicu.
loCs way for Us to do. Miss LYMAN, who
was lady principal then, said nothing for
q few weeks. but One day 10 the chapel
she gave US q practical talk on converse.
lion and table manners. She said she
never wanted 10 see any more fancy work
OF handiwork of any kind done at the
dinner table 10 that college. She believ.
ed In industry, and knew that much could
be accomplished in many ways by i'm:
proving odd and spare moments OF time
But she thought il just as necessary that
young ladies should learn how to fold
their bands quietly, to be composed and
learn to converse, and dinner table was
one OF the places where conversation
should he carried on, and Ia bright, en-.
tertaining way. Instead Of picking up
your fancy work 10 take 10 the table will
you when the dinner-helI rings, carry
along some interesting bit Of news, or an
anecdOte, or an incident, something
agreeable to relate, sbe said. 'and let as
have conversation at our tables from our
intellectual young ladies. instead OF 9
company Of knitters and tatting makers
And then in her most digniied manner
she added: 1T is great accomplish
ment, young ladies, 10 be able 10 con.
verse. and good opportunity is here
afforded for you to learn that rare art"
81 wonder you remember her words
so WE'LL" eaid Mr.. James. "She certain.
Iy was q sensible woman"
"Indeed she wss." replied his wife;
"but yet that was different matter from
doing fancy work in the evening. Many
OF her good talks come to me now and
are help to me, and II only had acted
upon them ell l should be quite perfect
chs acier, / suppose. She was won-
derful woman, % every one among those
first classes Of Vassar will testify. Her
talks to- the scholars on great variety
Of subjects we're invaluable."
81 wonder how she would like to see 4
some Of her old pupils nov With hooks
and conversation neglected, sitting down
ct their crazy quilts in the morning and
their dra sn works in the evening, while
9Th many OF them. form the
chief suhjd6t Of conversation ?" inquired
Mr.. James.
"She would give rs onc OF her good
talks. know, and show us how We could
manage all our affairs easily aud still
lind time to carry on some intellectual
pursuits replied his wife
"Well, we'll jast imagine We have one
Of those talks tonight from Miss Ly.
msn In addition to mine. and veil act
upon 1t from this time henceiorth," }" re.
piled Mr.. James.
"Now. really, you wouldn't have me
st and fold my hands all the evening""
said his vile. "That seems almost as
absurd ss it was for Us do our fancy
work at table," "
"Then have something that does not
absorb your attention" reioined her hus.
band. "Now you krow when you are
Interested 10 making all those holes aud
'ewing them up, and weaving 10 all that
elaborate work, you don't hear what I'm
'eadiog OF care anything about It. Now,
'e honest, what we're yol thinking ,out
when / was reading Glsdstcne's speech
Do you know what be was taking
Ibout2"
Mrs: James laughed outright and, with
quizz cal look on her lace. replied
You ask too close questions. WILL"
"Be honest. now" said Sir. James;
what was itr'
"Well." said Mrs Jsines slowly, 81
'ss ~on iering II this piece OF work was
8 hand some as Mrs Andrews, and II
his pattern was as wide as hers, and I
'as also thinking that mus, look after
BY pickles in the morning. and make
rape jelly, and was planning some work
Or Brihget;" and she laugued again.
hen she added: "It Is hard for me TO
sten when my hands are engaged, and
csnnot school myself to it / will give
mp for you are right about the reading. 4
nd We must have regular'time for it" Ii
The result of the talk Was that they K
i'd as Mr.. James sugges'ed Mrs Jane,
ut away all practical work at Eve
clock. her orders for breakfss we're
iven,and everything arranged for pleas.
Mt, uninterrupted evenings. There we're,
{ course, occasional Interruptions, but
y good planning and the considering Il
be Improvement Of hor intellectual life s;il
art OF each days duty, it was surpris.
ug, to them that 90 much Was accom-. |,
'lisned in one winter. Mrs James found
ime to give to music, to join musical
ociety, and to enj,y much reading, and
VI without nsglectlng her family or her !