New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-03
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49, 81 97
UOTSEHOLD TALKS
.,,,. D1.rrrs OF AN ENGAGED GIRL

TIN. D1-TrEs OF AN ENGAGED GIRL
Tho American custom Of Il purely sentimental
engagement frequently dlscourages al co"S'ue.
lion OF the everyday needs ana 'o'u'''o'' IT,
that Young people must meet after marriage, 1"0
mention OF finances is too frequently ignored
,,,.r the betrothal the young woman mas her-
,e,, an idol in the eyes OF her iiance ana unless
-, A a firm mental eaupoise and great common
- ,baro l. danger that this adulation VIII
,urr nor head and that she vii! become ahec'e'
and conceted. The result. II she Is "e'h "o'''a"
,,,u he that all the sehshness that ICES within .'
r,u come to the surface, and that IN the "e""eu
mra sho Will he unwilling to assume the energetic
bous,wlfely duties and in all probapih'y VIII SIN"
,rto a complaining petulant woman who. missing
,h .orstantlv expressed alteration OF her engage
nr, dovs secretly blames her husband LOT the
result. , ,.o
Tbare IL no doubt that great deal OF the
unh,ppiness OF married life is result OF 'he
seIash bathos of sentiment; ana seh-auu'"t'o'
,to which the woman allows herself to SINK DUR
inc rho engagement II she Is naturally Inclined 10
Incidence this tendency will be greatly ios'e'.u'
o., sho will see her LIE smoothly mapped out De-
fore her by another and herself delivered ifo" '''e
necessity OF exertiOn-her entire future P"''..u ~
tho attractive but eyantscent 'cou!eur oe rose' Dc
cause she is able to sink into STAKE o. i''cuo"
she does So and thus lets herself dritt toward ."e
soddsst and most hopeless Of lots-an empty Ife'
y
would understand that an engagement, thouSh ho'
~, s,cred or invioate as marriage. has It's own
duties which should be as nvioiably ana sacreoly
Kent Our great -gra ndmothers. In this as IN all
hoses NJ domestic life. instruct us by their
axamnIes in which they were guided by practical
common sense
When Priscilla became engaged all the spinning
,,h.srs were nut into immediate requisltlon. and
IN. hum of the wheels never ceased until store
~ fine linen mainly the product OF her own
80 vos laid away carefully in the family
araSsss 70 await the wedding day. She fulfilled
literally the Scriptures describing vrtuous
she seeketh wool ard flax and workeih willing
Ia with her hands-shc layeth her hands to the
s,n,ndle and her hands hold the distaf." In the
Irisclla days the betrothed girl took special care
"a learn perfection in cooking and TO be instructed
nv her elders In all the housewlfely arts in which
81. must be verscd In order To manage her hus-
ba nd's home efficiently. II her baking did no;
always turn out successfully she practised bak-
lug until her loaves the lghtest and brown
eat: she practiscd jelly making until her 1ellies
we're as clear as crystals. And while her hands
were thus occupied she was being Instructed daily
I'm the sacredness Of the life she was 70 enter
a less son of.en left nowadays TO the unguided
intuition OF the inexperienced girl.
.rre engagement .yne - the time for prepara-
womans life No matter how skilled she may be
I'm cooking and Homework, she should strive now
10 become yet efficient in them rhat, her
husband will be a man OF aflluence and VIII nave
A number Of servants does not exonerate ner from
these duties; for woman KNOWS not0in6 OF