The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-13
Who'll LEsoME MOTHERHOOD
A Chapter OF a dSice 10 Nothers aud
Daushters That's " orth Study ying.

A Chapter OF a dSice 10 Mothers and
Daughters That's " orth studying.
From the Home Queen.
asked q sweet little girl Of four years
what she was going TO be when she
grew up She answered. looking admir-
ingly towards her own mamma. lust
u mother" Half unconsciously the
little maid expressed a whole volume in
those few words; and yet how few wo-
men realize what they are taking uron
themselves when they undertake to be-
come a wife and mother.
No one has u right to do this without
special preparation and knowledge. a
sincere and careful study OF the duties
and responsibilities one Is about to as
sumo should precede the assumption or
these relationships. 1t Is due to the
man one is to marry-it Is due ~ the
child that Is to be born. that the wife
and the mother should avail herself Of
every legitimate source of wisdom and
of strength.
Some one inquired OF the late DIR.
Oliver Wendell Holmes. when should
the culture of the child begin" The
great scientist and philosopher an
swered, "A hundred years before IL Is
born" Unfortunately for our offspring.
we cannot turn back the wheel of time
to that extent: but we can ourselves
begin so the right story may be told
a hundred years hence.
Ii is a perpetual marvel that women
without this special preparation for
their profession have done SO well; but
how much better they might have dcne
If they only had known more to begin
with. AS it is. they learn thu, art of
housekeeping at the husbands expense,
often at the expense of both his pocket
and his stomach. They learn the duties
of maternity at the expense OF their
own health; and often, too. of their own
life. They learn to rear their children
at the cost Of bitter experience, and
at the loss Of large proportion of
them, many of them dying in early in
fancy.
NO EXCUSES FOR IGNORANCE.
No woman who espires to the dignity
of wifehoOd has right to be ignorant
of the practical duties Of well-ordered
household. She has no right to shun
her own kitchen, or to be unlearned In
the chemistry Of cooking How can she
direct stupid, and careless, and ILL
trained servants in science of which
she herself knows nothing?
Americans, as a class, are ashamed
of domestic service, and are willing to
grant its monopoly to a set Of incom-
petent bog-trotters imported for the
purpose. To their stupendous Ignorance
and tender mercies we entrust the Sc
lection and preparation of our daily
food and the cleanliness of our prem
iSes.
Filthy" is the word which most fifty
describes the part over which they rule
supreme.
The teacher of certain female acad-
emy, not far away, makes her boast
that she knows no culinary art except
to make molasses candy! Fortunately
she has never succeeded in catching a
husband, else he would soon be sur
feited in sweets: but what an example
she makes Of herself to the young ladies
of her class. According to their respect
for her. they despise housework.
She teaches than accomplishments,
appearances, drawing, dancing. dress
ing, and conversation. Every year she
graduates a set Of pale-faced, small
waisted. insipid young creatures whorl
she deems finished" In brain ana
body. Far better would 1t be for their
future husbands and for the human
race If they were never begun. All these
things have their lawful place; but II
girls education must be confined either
to this or to some good cooking school,
we would certainly prefer the latter.
OF all kinds of trades 1t Is expected
that one will serve some sort Of appren-
ticeship, ALL save these, the most im-
portant of all--those of wife, and moth
er, and the household queen. The mer-
est chit of u girl has no rnisgivings
about her qualifications for such po-
sition the moment 1t Is offered to her.
What wonder that disaster, divorce or
death often follow the bridal hour!
A young clergyman, fascinated by
the radiance Of youth and beauty. mar
ried a woman Of eighteen summers.
When he afterwards found she did not
know how to wind clock. nor scarcely
how to tell the time OF day by 1t, he
was SO disgusted that their wedding
ended in tragedy and a lifelong mis-
cry.
The girl wife had spent years of
study in music. and in foreign Ian
guages. but not one month in fitting
herself for donesticity.
What kind of wisdom has such an un-
tutored, undisciplined woman? What
kind Of wisdom has she wherewith to
make Il home?
When discomfort and disease comes
in at her door and steals through her
house. her husbands love and respect
will surely fly out Of the window.
Lately We have noticed several ad-
vertisements calling for "a mothers
help" Some one willing to assist in
the home instruction and care Of the
children. and the lighter duties Of
housekeeping; in short, some one to
supplement the weary mother.
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
This is step in the right direction.
Ii would not only relieve the over-bur-
dened matron. but be a valuable means
of instruction and preparation for the
unmarried young woman.
Did you ever notice how many moth
ers are invalids before they are thirty
and broken down. wrinkled and prema
turely old by the time they have reach
ed the age OF forty?
Ii Is not a womans fault if she is not
born handsome and strong; but It IS
largely her own fault. and that of her
education, If she does not attain Ia
some measure of beauty and strength
by the time she has reached middle
life.
Yet. alas! how closely marriage and
invalidism have become associated I'm
tt" public mind.
The Frenchman Nichelet. speaking OF
American women. says. She Is an ex-
quisite invalid, with a perennial head.
ache and tendency toward nervous
prOstratiOn.''
II women only knew it they could
change all this.
In the first place the girl should study
her own organization and her special
constitution. Anatomy and physiology
should become familiar sciences. She
Will then know better than to compress
her chest with corsets; she will know
better than to decrease her breathing
capacity. and to reduce the power oil
the thoracic muscles. If you confine
any part Of 1t so 1t cannot perform its
function. that part becomes weak and
comparatively useless.
II put on my corsets the moment
leave my bed" lady told me 81
should faint away If did not"