The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-28
HOME THOUGHTS.

--------
The Lady ofthc House"-Thc Dignity
of her Title and tho Greatness OF
her Power.
New York Post: Stepping over so!led
envelopes thrus: uEde" the door, or be-
sesed by dirty petitions from fraudu-
lent begsacs. addressed TO the Lady of
the house" We laugh over the imper-
sonal nature OF a universally applicable
circular and are seldom other wise re-
minded OF the beautiful significance OF 4
title dropped by modern usage.
The swing Of the pendulum has been
wide: from the ridiculous eTrontecy OF
the 'washerlady" and the competent
lady" DESTROYS. OF doing our cooking at
wage OF $50 month. society has taken
refuge In the use of woman" as name
n.~er lacking IN dignity when unstain-
cd. Yet this also !as found Its abuse.
and the newspapers now use the new
form with an undiscrirnirae!nS freedom
which frequently Jars upon fasiIdious
ears. The abuse OF an enrolling appli-
cation should only make it more honor
able when rightly used as distinctive.
have in n!ind the description OF re-
cent accident In which Two unprotected
gent!ewomen showed much dignity and
presence OF mind In ar alarming posi-
ton. The reporters with great uGanim-
ity declared that the women were verF'
plucky." The courtesy OF callIag them
ladies' would have been in this case i
protection which they deserved. 1t is
h.r m Tod IL
means very lovely thing. and some
thing widely different from living IN
splendor and wearing gorgeous sal
ment.
This beneRcent and legal dominion
OF the Gom!na. or houseiaiy. is great
and venerable" ard Is sonYsth.rg 10
aspire to. With its uttelance visions
arise o, what such ole ought TO be.
An effort has been made 10 find de-
rlvation which would make It infer be-
nevolence, "a dlvldtr " bread" but
the more learned phllo.ogists claim to:'
its origin the feminine OF the old Anglo.
Saxon word for lord. and surely Il means
to us one who rules home and heIse!.
after the codes OF highest human de-
veiopmeLt II lifts the mistress Into the
higher realm. where courtesy and decor
UNI and refining eeEtleness reign par
amount. and the uplifting law Of love Is
Administered TO the defeat OF all rancor
and strife.
1t means also n responsibility. the for
ge.fulness OF which forfeits the title,
She cannot truly be worthy to be called
Domino" who lays down her scepteI
and lets hIrelings rule in her stead The
draperics mag hang In all due order, the
silver may CLEAN upon the board. the
viards may be pre-eminently excellent
through the skilled service OF men and
women OF lower order, but the atmos-
phere which makes the home pure. rest
fol. inspiring and wholly beautiful cam
not btcreated by anyone without the
training OF Christian geH,lewofEan
and the education which has come from
higher sources than tex: books.
ut Is little TO say OF a woman that she
does no; destroG as She passes. She
should revive" From the lady o, the
house should come the refreshment OF
all the dwellcrs under her roof. When
she gives her orders for the programme
o, the day. the hot and weary cook
should feel that an inv!gora;lng, inspr-
Ing inhuEncc has passed over her. after
the brief visit which brought 4 figure OF
delicate dalntiness 10 sit In the hastily
busted chal.. and n kindly and COM
mending voice changed the drudgeCy OF
cooking into a pleasant duty By which
the weak were to be made strong. the
children to be pleased by wholesome
goodies" and the purse OF the master
ken, from waste and robbery And by
ascending steps each In turn should
find In this guiding genius OF the small
realm a place OF rest and refuge, up to
the master. whose only Golace for LIES
care IL found at her side.
Through her comes the order which