The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-04-24
A Welcome Response.

Mr.. Editor:-I read the pathetic APP
peal to the old contributors of the
household department of the WATCH
MAN when on a sick-bed, too i'll to
WELD the pen, and I have looked each
week for some response from the old
familiar names, but thus far none has
appeared. The thought has come to
nue. that mayhap there were others look
ing for something from me. This flat
tering whisper may be but the prompt
ings of vanity, yet now tina; am so far
convalescent as to be able to read and
write at pleasure, can no longer re-
sist the temptation to inflict on the
readers of this department few
rambling thoughts that have come to me
from time to time, though l may not be
able to present them very connectedly.
What has destroyed the interest of
the sisters in this department, that not
so very many months ago was filled to
overlooking with good things? Surely,
with the combined talents of the WATCH
MAN and Vermonter, there ought to be
tempting display of literary viands
every week. Was it the political ex-
element of the campaign that drove
all household topics out of our heads,
even though we hold no political rights
ourselves, and were only allowed to ex-
press our enthusiasm by very mild
cheers? We couldn't even march in a
torchlight procession, and were only
permitted to cast our ballots through
our husbands, if we CHANGED to have
them, and they could be prevailed on
to vote as we wanted them to do.
But the great domestic problem of
"What shall we eat, and wherewithal
shall we be clothed ?' has to be worked
out by each of us, let who will be presi-
dent, and would be if we had no presi-
dent at all. The spring house-cleaning
and family sewing would loom up be-
fore our mental vision with the same
fearful distinctness in either case. We
should have to cook three meals day,
wash dishes, make the beds, look after
the babies and the good mans buttons
and hose, though the political sea
seethed and dubbed like the witches
cauldron. l wonder if all the house.
hold sisters have read Looking Back
ward" by Edward Bellamy? Who
would not long to live in that good
time coming" if the Utopian schemes
as they seem to us-that the author de-
scribes, shall prove a reality? Fancy
how nice it would be to be able to " take
no thought for the morrow Or the day
either-as to what we shall eat or drink,
but when meal-time comes to step into
the grand dining-hall and get our food
TO order, at much less cost than in our
own kitchen. Andthe other household
labor is to be done on the cooperative
plan, so that the housewife is be re-
lieved from the burdens that are so
oppressive in our day and generation.
should fancy they would have time to
learn the intricacies of politics and even
be able to vote in those times; but,
then, our author tells us there shall be
no such thing as politics-the nation
will have Outgrown the present crude
methods of government.
/ have often felt when reading his
tory that | was thankful l did not live
in the early barbarous ages; but since
reading " Looking Backward " l am
inclined to grumble because l could
not have waited another hundred years,
before being called on to the stage of
life. However, l fancy, though there
is much food for thought in Mr.. Bell
amy's work, and it is evidently the re-
suit of much patient study of the ques-
tions that agitate the world at the pres
ent time, yet as practical solution OF
our troubles, his system would prove
failure. But the world moves on,
and humanity is progressive, not re-
Progressive, and continued agitation
will some time work out a solution of
| the questions that are now too hard for
the wisest and best. We move as we
are forced to move, and often see not
whittier our steps are tending. Bat
there is higher will that guides our
way. How many believed thirty years
ago that events were shaping them
selves to the destruction of slavery?
Did the southern leaders intend emdn-
cipdtion, when they precipitated the
war for the sole purpose of extending
the area of slave states, and perpetual
ing slavery? Did our government in
tend emancipation when it called for
volunteers to put down rebellion? Not
bit of it, and it was only when dis
aster had followed disaster and defeat
had followed defeat, that the govern
meut was forced to accept emancipa-
ton to maintain its own life, that it
had reality.
To one who has watched with thought
full eye the gradual unfolding of the
great reforms of the past, so often
brought about unwittingly by those
who sought for other ends, the ideas
of Mr.. Bethany, as evolved in his book,
are not quite so utopian as they seem
at first sight. But since tCe are fated
to live in this nineteenth century, aud
however much we may long for the
millennium days of the year 1000, we
can not anticipate them. We can only
make the best of our lives as they are
givenus. If housekeepers can not yet
have their grand cooperative kitchens,
where the work of whole neighbor-
hood can be done up in batch, we can
each try to simplify the work in our in
dividual kitchens, so to do it in the
easiest and best manner. We can ex-