The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-04-27

tueIn On, why are we 30 Stlngy OF
kind words? | do not mean those
words which fatter for base purposes;
but that which can be truly said to those.
Our perfect Teacher gave examples for
emulation. His words were manifes-
tation of his spirit; and your words are
manifestation of your spirit.
The good Book teaches kindness to
the stranger, also. Many are pushed,
by their employment, and among strang-
ers; kind, or courteous word will do
them good, and reflect the light and be-
nevolence of your own heart. None can
fathom the potency of such trIfies.
| must come to the hard, stubborn,
phases of home-making and home-keep
ing. We are so created that life is de-
pendent upon chemical processes, car
ried on by the organs Of the body; and
material must be supplied for such pro.
cesses. This material, or aliment, is the
purchase of labor and skill. Each man
| who lives must work and support him.
self, or some one must do this for him,
| and thus make a pauper of him; and
each man must, also, support woman,
If he wants a true home-the best place
that earth can give.
lfany man has soul 80 small that he
cannot see these things, we need not
| count him. There are important con-
siderations in this connection.
"A large number enter matrimony with
a shower of silver dishes, and lots of
| things they do not need, spending about
all their savings in a dashIng wedding
tour, only to discover, later on, that the
husband ls Unequal to the task of sup
porting two, or of building so much as
one window toward a home, to say moth
ing Of walls, whereon to hang their we'd
ding picture gifts. But this is not all
the wife knows little or nothing of the
mysteries of house-keeping-her share
of home-making. Perhaps, when she
has tolled YEARLY to cook dinner it Is
a conglomeration, actually unfit for the
stOml'h, and unsuited to be transformed
to blood. 1t may even cause disease
and death, of those whom she loves best;
but she knows it not, or has any true
idea of her responsibility in her new
sphere.
In other instances, wealth may miti-
gate some of these evils, and yet, in the
absence OF true womanly accomplish
ments, it is no true home; and as barren
of the first requirements of such as a
cave in the desert, or last years birds
nest. But you may sometimes find a
we'll spread table, fit for king, and the
prime requisites of home in a western
| dug out" 1t depends upon the spirit,
health. goodness and intelligence OF the
sonls who preside there, and not upon
wealth, adornments or locality. The
false notions extant, regarding the no
bility of usefulness, is an incubus, yea, a
deadly poison in the very veins Of the
nation.
My sisters, are you, indeed too good
TO be useful? Then are you a cumberer
of the ground, concerning which the
mandate was uttered, "cut it DOWN.
Is it so honorable to be able to calcu
late the motions of the stars, while 1t is
beneath you to keep record of your
household expenses, and calculate ways
and means to harmonic cause and effect
in you own home realm?
Is a professorship in chemistry high
place, while you feel that you must
stoop in gaining knowledge of chemical
action and effect sufficiently to qualify
you to prepare true aliment for the
nourishment of your precious house.
hold? Without such aliment, happiness
and life are curtailed, if not destroyed.
One who qualities himself or herself to
control disease, soften physical suffering
and heal the sick, has chosen lofty and
important work; but were hygienic lore
more universally diffused, many deadly
experiments upon beautiful treasures
might be contravened.
Men and women cross oceans, and 60
to distant lands, toIling there, to care for
and uplift the heather; while we at
home, praise and aid the sacrifice Who
among us will engage in the same offices,
for the little heather in their own
homes?
The crying need of our country is that
industry be popularized. While the
hard, weary work of cooking Is consids
cred a badge of disgrace and dishonor,
women are not going to do it, or qualify
themselves to know when it is properly
or prudently done. The starving might
be fed, happiness and prosperity dis
place misery, alcoholism perish, and
the suffering and dying might smile and
live, if this crusade of common sense
might eliminate in the Inauguration of
an era of common sense, when our ma
ton will cease to set a premium upon
laziness; but place the laurel upon the
victors who recognize duty, and are lov-
al to it. Teach the boys and girls the
pleasure and nobility of labor, industry
a them, "Sei BUT let not t Gng 'e"S Se
trained, and opportunity given
for extended practice under skilled and
competent instructors, who shall have
the state at their back, and shall be re-
numerated from the peoples revenue,
and products of apprentice labor. Let
our youth be graduated in honor, from
such schools. Let the nation, thus seal
up the monstrous and destructive drain
age upon its wealth, which accrues from
idleness, waste, and unskilled labor.
To accomplish this, the school hours
need not be augmented; the educational
appropriation need not be materially in
creased. Practical education is of great
er value, in living age, than familiarity
with the dead languages, or ability to
scientifically dissect bugs and wormsl
Competence to make true home, and
Il living are accomplishments of too
much utility and necessity to be ignored,
or lightly regarded. The literary
"clubs" might grow less, if thereby de-
cency and comfort were increased. The
art and decorative craze might success
fully wane, before the bright morning
of higher practical intelligence, in
personal and household purity and
cleanliness, and the hygiene of dress.
Ancient heather philosophy elevated
the abstruse and metaphysical, while
the masses were sunken in poverty and
advance, who shall set bounds? say
ing, "thus far shalt thou 60 and no
fartherp' Nay, let us join the march of
philanthrophy, as it ameliorates the
woes OF the oppressed. We have been
wronged, and our children are following
in the wake, by an education which
does not educate for this kind of world
We live in, or for one beyond, where all
are "ministering spirits"
Let us have the public schools normal,
half industrial and half theoretical at
that; graduated from them, the masses
might own houses, minister to their own
wants, and still cast blessings upon others,
and owe no man; thus stepping out in
life upon the foundations of true citizen
ship. 1t is not necessary to own lot of
property, make a display, have servants
and be idle, in order to be respected,
and happy, and blessing to the world.
That is the worst kind of caste. 1t is
not necessary for the girls to be educat-
| ed out of common sense, and be able to
decide whether certain ideas were orig
nal with Milton or were stolen by
him from Homer! They can become
"helps," "meet," or suitable for noble
and good men. after studying those
| questions pertaining to the home. Let
| them pry into the secrets of health
full, tasteful, and prudent cook
ery; let them analyze the cleansing
waves of laundry; let them pierce |
the magic folds and intricacies of
sewing, cutting and fitting, and there |
would be little danger of looking toward |
marriage for support; but If contracted,
1t would be with some just notions of its
responsibilities. The good old Book
says that Adam and Eve had to take
care of the garden in primal Paradise;
it was not put upon them as curse, but a