The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-10-23
APIoULTuRE FOR WOMEN.
A Recreation and Relief From the
HOuse-keeper's Daily Routine.

House-keeper's Daily Routine.
All persons are not born bee-keepers,
or even made bee-keepers by years of
experience, and it would be but folly to
expect that all would be successful in
that branch of industry. And indeed,
there is often more profit in bookkeeping
as a recreation than in all the many re-
turns that are realized, although there is
sometimes a consideration in that re-
spect.
When the weary rounds of business
have become so monotonous that the
heart sickens at it all, it is then real
relief to turn away from all these things
and watch that "band of united workers
who never strike nor complain, NOV
ING so Systematically along in their
ceaseless toll. There is practical les
son to be learned in watching these UNI
complaining little workers. We who so
often grow weary of our toll, who so
often complain that our labor brings IN
no returns, can learn some valuable
hints from the busy bee that expects no
returns save a bare subsistence.
For the oyerworked, and those whose
occupation consists of one changeless
round of drudgery, we can not too ear
neStly recommend this employment. 1t
has been argued by some that woman is
not physically fitted for this business;
and by others that it is unladylike. To
such weakness as would prompt the lat
ter thought we have no reply-nothng
but a contemptuous pity! That woman
is not strong enough for the more labor
ious part of bee keeping as well as for
many other things which come within
the routine of domestic life, is only too
true; but is there not for women, and es-
pecially on the farm, other back-break-
ING weights that have far less sweetness
in them than honey-boxes? Most farm
ers' wives have no help to lift their
wash-tubs, churn the butter or do the
various other hard jobs that are daily
to be encountered.
1t has been estimated that large per
cent. of the insane entombed in the
asyums are farmers wives. Why is
this? Simply because there is too much
sameness-- too little recreation in their
lives of toll. Their work brings no re-
Enumeration; and woman, as well as
man, is only human, and would like
some individual income or possession;
and 80, sooner or later, the oft-recur-
ring duties become tasks, and life is,
at length, reduced to the sphere of sla'
very.
This recreation among the bees is not
at all needed where women are musi-
clans, and can while away an hour or
so each day on the latest sheets of mu-
sic at the piano; or where she is edu-
Gated to sketch, or paint on silk or vel
vet-painting the bee or butterfly on
some household ornament; but really
half the women on farms would feel
guilty of some misdemeanOr if seen at
such employment-so thoroughly have
they been taught to know nothing but
real work.
I Then, for mercy's sake, do not try to
set up "scarecrown over Bookkeeping
culture, or any other occupation that
will be at all remunerative, and tend to
lead the mind away from these UNI
changing household duties-duties that
: are all right and proper, that every
woman should perform, but neverthe-
less need to be at intervals sweetened by
change. There is nothing dishOnOrable
in any honest employment 1t will do
to tolerate such sentiments under a
monarchial form OF government, where
an idiot may be born an ariStocrat; but
&c have only self-made aristocracy, and
the canal-boy or rail-maker can reach
the highest seat under our government,
as well as the great. But we would ad.
vocate opening up all avenues to woman
as well as to man; that is, all that are
: retired and not calculated to degrade
her. which, if she has love for it, we
feel that bookkeeping could never do.
Unless there is real fancy for this
business it is mistaken calling; for
a Bookkeeping, like every thing else, must
e be entered into with the whole heart to
l. prove a success. But from practical eX.
perience, and not from theory, we can
say that the sixty colonies which claim
our daily individual attention are a real
10 recreation. Itleads the mind away from
the humdrum cares of life into the study
n of nature, where its broad fields are
spread out before us, rising to the SUBJ
le Unity of its heights. as far dS the weak
"a human intellect can 90 as we watch the
"a all unconscious bee go forth in its cease
l. less toll.
If all laborious work is to be taken
20 away from women because it is unlady-
- like, let it then commence where the
general health is most affected, and the
mind least diverted; that the sphere OF
domestic life in general may be more
=. bright and cheerful. GieaHjaJS IN Bee
Ia Culture.