The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-09-08
FOR THE FAIR SEX.
INTERESTING GOSSIP FoR THE
LADIES.
A Word for the Country Minister'S
W1fe-A pretty Bed-roOm-Outinx
Suits With Capes-How to Wave
the Hair.

earth,. because she is not only the
household drudge but a public slave.
If She is not invariably present at
prayermeeting, if she does not play the
organ and lead the ladies' meeting, or
preside at the church fair, then is she
disgraced among her husbands people
and criticised without mercy. e.
Now, I see no reason why a minis
ter's wife, if not physically or mental
ly equipped for such duties, should be
obliged to perform them, because there
is always some woman in the congre-
cation who is we'll fitted for such tasks,
who can perform them without detri-
ment to herself or to her family, and
who will only be too glad to do 80 if
she is given the opportunity. If the
minister's wife is shrinking, timid
soul,if she has large family Of young
children, or if she is an invalid, I do
not hesitate to say that think she
ought to be spared the performance
of public duty. and in such cases it be-
comes the duty Of her husbands flock
net to censure, but to look in upon her
as often as they can in a true spirit of
sympathy and friendliness. And when
such callers take their leave I would
suggest that they steel themselves to
the noble effort of making no remark
about the appearance of the parsonage,
the probable cost of the furniture, or
the apparent ravages of wear on the
parlor carpet. The minister's home is
his castle, just as yours is. Respect
its sanctity. Do not intrude your views
on what ought to be in contradiction
to what it is
Sharp-tongued criticism Of the min
ister's wifes dress is a common mala-
dy in country places, and one which,
like all the others, should be firmly
eradicated. 1t is logical to suppose that
the minister's wife dresses in accord
ance with her taste and means. If
she has more Of the former than her
husbands parishers she should be ad-
mired, not blamed, and if she dresses
expensively she will create so much
trouble for herself that nothing YOU
can say will make her realize the gray
fty Of the situation more than she al
ready does. The woman who tries to
dress fashionably OF even well on the
stinted salary of country minister
will come to grief before the first item
is paid: for it is. g.. notorious feet
that country clergymen are not more
than half paid, and the manner. in
which they contrive to live respectfully,
and rear and educate children. is q
mystery which has never been solved
save III the almost angelic self-sacri-
ice and the clever management and
thrift of the devoted woman who
steers the ship Of home.
pie have of dropping in unannounced
TO their minister's house to dinner Oh
supper, as the case may be, is a re-
prehensible one. Naturally enough the
minister's wife like anybody else is not
always prepared to entertain company
at table. A little care and considera-
ton in timing the visit will obviate
the necessity of the minister's wife Civ
Ing such frequent impromptu dinner
parties, and will also lessen the minis
ter's grocery bill, the amount Of which
has often been criticised by the deacons
and their good wives. Country people
may learn one valuable lesson from
their city friends, if no other, and that
is, not to dine out without being in
vited To be sure it is a good old fash
ion in remote neighborhoods, but it is
one which makes slaves of women,
and leaves but little time for the en-
joyment Of social intercourse.
In her best estate, fitted by nature,
training, health, and education for
sympathetic leadership, the wife of the
country minister or doctor is one of
the most useful women of our time,
but she must stand firmly to her own
colors, and never for an instant allow
those in whose behalf she labors to
forget that she has many private inter-
ests which must be performed. Into
some dull, discouraged soul, sick and
weary of what it feels better than it
tells, she may, if successful, infuse an
inspiring Object.-Stella Marie Anderson
in JenneSs Miller Monthly.