Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-04-08
HOME OCCUPATIONS.

The best thing that mother whose means
are ample can do for her daughter. after see
ing that she takes out OF door exercise sum
Client for her health and physical develop
ment, and that her diet is wholesome, Is TO
put her in the way Of learning TO occupy her
self pleasantly indoors.
say this to wealthy mothers, or to fathers
who feel that they can assure their daughters
comfortable incomes for life. Those who see
before their girls u struggle with poverty,
are likely to give them trade or profess
sion, and need of bread or bonnets will goner-
ally serve us an impulse to clever girl, and
force her into the field OF usefulness.
Poor women, whether they are obliged to
work for bread, or are the helpmates of
struggling wage winners, are seldom OPP
pressed by idle moments. II is the woman
who has plenty Of money who sometimes
ands life burthen In her middle age
So many Of these ladies live in rural dis
tricts, or in suburban homes remote from all
places Of amusement.
The women Of the city can at least go shop
ping, or find some lecture, or concert, or
exhibition Of pictures to entertain her. She
has probably friends within short walk, but
there in the old family mansion the widow
or spinster who has passed the time OF life
when day-dreums are delightful and one can
idle and smile away ones hours, lives half
her life "behind glass" She looks out
through her window panes upon the rainy
landscape, or upon the high-plled snow.
The mud Is deep between her home and the
station. Nobody will call. She Is tired Of
reading. Only the student by nature can
live perpetually on books,
''sewing the long, white seam" Ia an oecu-
patton that needs little thought, and permits
all those regrets Of the past, and fears for
the future, to flock thick and fast through
her brain. Besides, the seamstress sews
better-what is the use Of it allP
SO she wanders about, wishing she had
something 10 do that Interested her, and
in the worst cases, goes out Of her mind, or
hangs herself In the garrett
But all that has nothing to do with your
Kitty or Fanny. You say, they are the gay
est Of the gay, ride their byolcles, play at
lnwn-tennis, run about, rain or shine. never
have weary moment.
That Is very true, but time will pass. IN
less your girls die early, they must grow
older, and be less able to spend hours ont Of
doors. They may not marry, or II they do,
the blessing Of children may DO denied.
without being invalids, they may be far from
strong, and thus a little shut in. To such
women, the knowledge Of some pleasant art
or industry is invaluable. II she can carve
on wood. or hammer brass, decorate her own
hns. paint china, or satin, or velvet, and has
learned to do It well, so that she does not
merely reproduce, but creates designs, she Is
armed against such tedium. II she learns to
do that sort OF embroidery which is called
art.work. she will find much the same inter-
est in it. II she can sketch from nature.
paint flowers well or manage portrait Of
tho kitten, even though the Academy OF
Design might not hang her pictures, she has
nchially entered into art-life and will tasts It's
strange happiness.
SO II she has genius for music, aud cult
Yates the art for It's own sake, not merely
that listeners may admire at evening parties;
II she can model in clay. or carve her
thoughts In marble, IN fact do anything that
occupies the hands and the brain at the same
time, she viii never be as foTlorn and lonely
as she would otherwise
Let your girls play their out-oi.door games,
ride and run. walk and row as much as they
like. nothing IS better for them, but give
them also, beseeeh you. a thorough train
ing in some artistic, home occupation 70
which they may turn, when these things be-
come. for any reason, ihpossible.
The so-called accomplishments Of the past
generation were dropped In disgust by
women Of sense. and were yaluless as oecupa-
lions. because they did not enter The region
Of art. ----..-.---., --,---s-,-
what healthy parents may have their giFis
taught to-day. Will grow more interesting
with every year. and al the life when The
hopes Of Early youth are over.