Year: 1860

MATTERS foR WOMEN TO OoNsIpER.-Tbe
Springfield Republican contains many good
things. and its editor. Timothy Titcomb. ia
known to be one of the best writer's in the
country. The following bears the mark oi
his pen. and we give it to our readers as wor
thy their perusal: The Hearthstone Club OF
New York. which we have had occasion to
mention several times, is evidently sensible
Institution. 1t is meeting of women who
have households to superintenJ, or expect to
have hereafter, to discuss all matters pertain
ing to the economies. comforts Of LONE and
the improvements of social life. Why should
not women have their clubs as well as men
or better still, why should not the men and
womea club together in conversation upon
matters OF social Improvement! 1t would be
indefinitely more useful than the gossip of
the familiar call, or the more formal small
talk of the party.


'As large meeting of the Hearthstone
Club, the subject Of household furniture was
touched upon, and the general opinion of the
women seemed to be. that our houses are fur
nished too extensively, and at the same time
.n shockingly bad taste. We agree with the
New I orA women on this point. We run to
snowy furniture in this country. to An extent
that is considered gsudy alnos, to barbarism
by people Of good taste in other co intries
We have gay carpets and bright hued up
holstery, and then we shut on. the air and
light to keep them from fading, and taboo
"the best rooms" to the children, that the
delicate colors may no. get soiled, or the
fragile structures broken


Tins bad taste prevails from the highest
to the lowest ranks Of society. The country
girl whose wedding outfit amounts to only
two or three hundred dollars. will devote
nall or two thirds OF the sum to the furniture
ot the parior TO be opened only on rare aud
special occasions, and will be satisfied with
nconven!snt and shabby arrangement. in
the common rooms. The whole comfort of
domestic life, SO far as it consists in the beau
ty and convenience OF the house. is sacrificed
to the sdornment of the best room How
much better 10 furnish the whole house neat
iy and with good taste. and to devote what
Is usually spent for gaudv ornaments to few
cheerful pictures for the walls, to occupy the
pleasant rooms, and to have the whole house
SO uniformly cheerful that guests may be al
lowed the liberty of the house, and feel at
home IN any part OF it: to let in the quick
enIng sunshine and in summer time the fresh
air. laden with the fragrance of the vine that
creeps over the windows. More than half of
the families of New England, We suppose,
live in dingy and melancholy back rooms,
keeping the pieasautess apartments in the
house in state of suppressed splendor for
the reception of occasional callers, or an an
nual party. With these rooms the children
have no home associations, and ather dread
% enter them than otherwise. lest they may
damage Or tarnish something. There Is .
great deal OF traditional folly in our social
lie, after all our self-suficient praise of the
wisdom and refinement of the age We live in.
The women should take up these matters,
and give them an overhauling. with the view
OF getting the greatest amount Of comfort
and improvement out Of our home Ife.''