Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-06-27
SOUTHERN WOMEN.
INTERESTING CHARACTERISTICS OF
THESE CHARMERS.


The population OF a southern village Is
about equally divided between those who
are served and those who serve. One half
IL white, and the other Is black But the
served o., the served are the women.
Their appearance in the parlor, N the
shops. On the street. Is the signal for some
sign OF Difference from every man or boy
white or tlack acquaintance or stranger.
Men OF the south live under the I'm
preston that they were born into the
world for the express purpose OF caring for
women. and tho mission Of women appears
to DO that Of furnishing men with tho oc.
cupation OF caring for them. As for the
negroes, they mention 'de insists" only
with superlatives OF praise. Such an at
mosphere Of admiration gives ready growth
to conscious power, the secret of south.
ern womans charm.
Moreover she has leisure TO be charm.
ing,
Her cares are not those OF the construc.
ton Of pudding from nothing, OF anus.
ing tho children while she takes few
stitches In the new dress she is making
from last years old ono.
However simple the house--and the
ments except those of the parlor-she Is
tho queen OF 10 and has obedicnt subjects
in her colorcd servants.
Northern housewives who pride them
selves on tho fact that their bedchambers,
their Kitchens, even their cellars, are as
we'll fitted out rs their parlors receive a
shock when thoy discover the simple mag.
nflccnce Of their southern sisters parlor
and the barc droariness Of her bedrooms.
Tho parlor and tho great hall which
reaches from tho front to the back gallery
suggest tho luxury Of tho olden times TO
go back into tho bedrooms, which open
from tho hall on either side, Is to be chill
ed by tho remembrance OF tho losses OF
these people. Tho home Is magnificent In
spots. The veranda Is long and broad, OK.
presslve Of tho generous welcome to be had
at tho door, but the steps leading up arc
likely to DO riokety. The rooms are OF
largo proportions, the ceilings high and
beautifully frcscocd, but tho mantels may
DO OF wood, painted to represent marble.
Tho most careful scrutiny never reveals u
closet.
Tho kitchen, except In tho newer homes,
Is built away from the house. In the
country the old cook still turns out won
derful connections from her fireplace and
scorns no new tangled thing rs u stove.
In her domain tho cook IL supreme. Her
mistress requires only that sho send In
dishes properly washed and that hor "beat-
on biscuit, her corn bread or her waflles
be pnlntnblo. With u good cook, who, OK
cept In tho larger Cities can be secured for
- or $5 a month for u family of five, the
southern woman gives little thought to
tho meals beyond tho giving out" This
means that ut certain hours she goes with
her bunch Of keys to the pantry, followed
closely by her Dinah, unlocks tho door,
says, "Iake SO much -four, so much but
ter 80 mach Of this or that" Her diroo-
tions oboyed, sho locks up and goes back
to hor reading, hor sewing or hor callers
with n delightful ignorance OF tho culinary
episodes transporting In her kitchen.
Household cares ontor largely into the
life OF the northern woman who secures u
servant at 81 or $5 n week aftor much
wrestling with unsuitable applicants. The
southern housewife has negroes ut her
back door every wook asking, would you
want somebody to cook for you alp To
the question simply put, "Do you stealP"
the negro does not ilirt away insultcd, but
hllSWor6 hhhuTlhRy, No, HISS, IcNof
tick nothin 'cop'in what you give me. !"
How carefully she watches those old dresses
Of her mistressl Sho may DO fat and short,
her mistress tail and slender but IL tho
gown which she admircs most shows u
loose thread or spot sho asks: Miss
Mary, don't you all want to sell dat drcssP
Dat dress amt fit for ilne lady like you
all to wear. But VI sure Is u purity dross
How much you ask fur dat dress, Miss
Maryp" And the answer ooh, you can
have II for $40, carries out the little farce
that Is played over and over again, while
both are wholly conscious that 10 Is so and
that 1t Is only u self respecting way u
negro has OF asking for and OF receiving
gifts
II Is on Christmas morning that "meh
lady plays tho Lady Bountiful Then on
her back steps she finds congrcgated seem.
ingly uvory servant that was over attached
to her own family or to any Of her kin
folk They have brought simple offerings
perhaps some holly or mstlctoc from
tho woods, Every one OF them has u
chcory Merry Christmas' for her and a
compliment
She turns to her cook LET them have
some breakfast In your cabin" Tho scrv
ants nearest her receive always some bright
piece Of calico, an apron or ribbon, The
nurse noticcahly never fails to got what
her young charges have been careful to ask
that Santa Claus should bring their
nanny F." Tho name OF nanny clings
to the old negro nurse. ana when the chill
drcn have grown into men and women
they arc stlll her babies =
Tho mother frequently Is called by tho
name which the children hear their father.
the family friends and the servants use,
"MiSs Mary Miss Emma or whatever
the given name may be
10 the constant association Of children
with negroes must hc attributed tho many
supersttious which southcrncrs even OF
this day do not believe In, " but somehow
are careful to observe.
As they grow into boys and girls the
children associate With their parents on
terms Of equality Thny all seem children
together When the boy Is old enough to
hold u gun, he goes hunting with his Ia.
ther They are comrades
Tho mother interests herself In fitting
her daughter for her entrance into society
| tho natural element OF suuthprnors Her