Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
think that wives should know little of the
practical details of housekeeping at least.

think that wives should know alittle of tn .
practical details of housekeeping at least.
The Relations OF Man and Wife.
But while the wife is expected to stay at
home and only go out to church, the stay
at-home man is rather regarded with con-
tempt. His days are given to business and
his evenings to his own amusements, in
which his wife has no share. For them to
appear upon the street arm in arm in the
intimate habit of the English and Ameri-
can people is considered very bad taste.
But while middle class women devote
their small minds and talents to an imita-
tion of the nobility, and would think them
selves disgraced if they earned salary,
the Spanish women of the lower classes are
condemned BY poverty to labor of the hard
est kind. They till the fields, sow the crops
and cut the grass in additiOn"to their house
hold toll and nursing of children, but
there is no ''howl' raised as to their
being out of their sphere. When women
desire places as bookkeepers or doctors, or
engage in any business on their own ac-
count, even in this country they are told
that home is the place for women, and that
their sole business in life is to be wives
and mothers, but here as in Spain, when
they are forced by stern nee ssity to the
most laborious drudgery, there. is no moan
made over them as to usurping mans
place. Poor women always have the tough
end of the row in Spain, and everywhere
else for that matter.
Her Whole Training Is Bad.
By the author of this study OF the ''Women
of Spain" the faults and shortcomings of the
Spanish woman are imputed mainly
to the man, who models and gives
form to her character. She is trained to
his traditions and ideals Marriage being
the one business held up for her ambition,
she is educated to suit the musculine views
and prejudices. Submission, obedience,
self-sacrifce are drummed into her by the
clergy as duty. She is debarred from all
share in public affairs. All freedom OF
thought for her is frowned upon. 1t would
be shocking and dreadful for her not to go
to church and be devoted to religion. The
man claims freedom himself to be the wild
est radical, the most ardent NihiliSt, the
reddest OF republicans and the most un-
orthodox of Christians, while at the same
time he is unwilling that his wife should be
otherwise than superstitious, narrow
minded and pious.
This being the case here below, it becomes
evident that Spain is another country In
Europe where the women, being mainly
strictly orthodox in their belief, will lind
Jerusalem, the Golden, the Sweet and
Blessed Country" their home to all eter-
nity, while the men will be "walked Off to
endless fire and chains. Truly this picture
of the Spanish heaven, as told of in 1.-The
Spirit World" will be something wonder
f6 to contemplate with its millions OF
women and sparseness OF men.
women's Sphere in america.
That some American men are like unto
the Spaniards in their estimation and judg-
ment of women cannot be denied. Many
we'll educated men have difficulty in get
ting rid of their prejudices in this respect.
Even some of the school princi-
pals in this enlightened city of
Pittsburg cannot conceive how it
can be possible for school, under charge of
a woman, to carry off the honors. For
woman to manage a school as we'll as a man
is to them something they cannot under
stand. Rather than admit such fact, they
prefer to "Doubt truth to be liar" Then
there's Brother Buckley. He cannot be
persuaded that the best Methodist woman
alive should be allowed to speak from the
pulpit. He would not let Susanna Wesley
speak out in church if she were on earth to-
day.
Plenty of others too are to be found who,
like the Spaniards, are fain to hold on to
the ideal woman of a century ago. But
tUGSe grow less III Us 6NSIy udJ SOCo
by. The one drawback or danger that may
be feared is that the hordes of ignorant that
are landed upon our shores in every ship
bring their prejudices with them. How
ever, with the pulpit of free press, with
the awakened intelligence of women, and
the love of fair play and equal rights bud
ding in almost every mans soul such con-
dition of affairs as exists in Spain will ever
be out of the question of progress IN Eng
land or America.
1t is a matter of some moment perhaps to
those who puzzle themselves about the
f'great hereafter" to know how things are
to be conducted in heaven with not enough
men to go round. Will it be like the
church upon earth-men in all the Offices
while the great majority of women are mum
in the pews? One of the authorities on the
spirit land" says that those who missed
their "kindred souls" upon earth will find
them in heaven. This seems n little
dubious under the circumstances as related.
BESSIE BRAMBLE.