Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-12

/ wouldn't concede for moment
that she is ignorant of the art of
sewing on buttons, or that she is un-
Wlilng to apply her skill for her
young husbands benefit.
Wives-and Nothing Else
Still-there a difference. Let me
put 1t into words.
The European girl is taught to
sew on buttons so that she will be
| useful TO the man she marries-so
that he will find her a satisfactory
seamstress, and won't be able to
complain of her.
The American girl learns the use
of the needle because 1t is practi-
cal-to some degree an essential
accomplishment. She knows that
she will need to sew on her own
buttons. and she hopes to be gen.
orally useful person in the world.
When she marries her husband is
entitled to profit by any skill she
has.
Also, the European girl is taught
to cook in order that her husband
may some day be we'll fed. She is
carefully prepared to be some mans
cook-his servant, in fact.
The American girl is taught to
cook because the preparation of
food is something that very woman
should understand. She isn't taught
the multiplication tables in order
that she may some day recite them
to husband who wasn't taught
seven times seven. Likewise, she
isn't taught combinations of eggs
and milk just to please the palate
of some man she has. never seen.
1t is very different, isn't it?
In fact my correspondent has
called our attention to two wholly
opposed systems of education for
girls. 1t then becomes a question
of which one prefers.
For myself, I'll admit that I pre-
fer the American way. I prefer
that girls should be taught useful
occupations for their own sake.
What of American Wives?
Perhaps. under our system,
every young husband isn't as COM
Portable physically as if the girl
he had married had been forced
to study the question of mems
convenience all her life. But I
believe she is, in the real sense, a
better wife. A wife who has
learned to respect herself, to think
for herselg. to act for herself. A
wife who wishes not merely to be
a patient sewer on of masculine
buttons, darner of masculine
socks, preparer of masculine din
ners. but to live a big active, far
reaching life of her own-to be a
capable mother, useful citizen, a
followes also perhaps. of some pro-
fession or other career.
Perhaps this kind of wife won't
ever have time to sew on her hus-
bands buttons. In that case. she
will have the intelligence and re-
sourcefulness to hire this done.
Unless-and this is, of course, a
very radical suggestion-he may
have learned to sew them on him
self.
Do YOU know any reason why he
shouldn't? Is there anything in the
structure of a boys hand that
makes it impossible for him to hold
needle or direct its progress
through the centre of a button :?
We know very we'll that there is
not
Therefore, a boy whose wise
mother had taught him to sew on
his own buttons. as matter of
course, won't. later on. make such
heavy demands on his bride. and
their life together won't be, on that
account at least. Nightmare"
For American girls-and they do
exist. here and there-who are
sham efully ignorant of all useful
occupations, have no defense to
offer.
But insist that the greater num-
Der of American girls, in the best
sense. make good wives"
cents In silver or stamps