Year: 1874

From the Evansville (1no.), JOURNAL


THE NEED OF sELF-HELP.


Since movements looking toward reform are
80 common in every branch Of the public SER
vice, why cannot people in private life glance
into their affairs in search of some point where
in, by change they can greatly benefit them
selves? In what asks the reader? We an
swer, in everything, but, as an Illustration, let
us take up the question of selfhelp, or rather
the too conspicuous absence of self help. Out
of this evil has grown the servant-girl question,
which is still vexing housewives from one end
of the land to the other. If we are asked by
these same women how the evil is to remedled,
we are not sure but that we will say the power
to solve the problem is in their own hands, For
instance when they consent to relnquish false
and foolish pride, and come to believe that all
labor is honorable, they will, we are persuaded,
find small difficulty in securing honest, honora-
BILE, and selfrespecting "help." The incon-
venience to which women are subjected by the
imper finance of servants, is the feature IN the
question which is of smallest significance 1t
means more than this-it indicates, IN fact wo-
men of society have passed the line where de-
pendence on others could safely be drawn. No
where does nature permit life of mere indo-
lence and ease If there is any law Of nature
more distinct than another, it that work must
be done by every human being. Out of the
disregard that has been shown of this law, the
domestic trouble chiefly grows, and in the re-
turn to its obligations only, can women become


properly Independent in their own households,
the principle being embodied in the statement


that vital force is greater than any other This
is fact that too often overlooked one indeed


that has probably never suggested itself to


majority of our women, but it is one which
must be recognized in time.


We say this, not as advocating resort to


kitchen drudgery, but because we believe that
the domestic and other social difficulties which
encompass women are only to be met by her
acceptance of her share of the law that requi
, res labor of some sort of all humanity. House


hold service will remain under ban. so far as
D American girls are concerned, just so long as
Y housekeepers themselves look upon it as dis.
a graceful, and emphasize their opinion by bring


ing up their own daughters in almost total lg-
a norance of the duties which were the pleasure
], and pride of their grandmothers.


!. Therefore, we say let there be a vigorous
, movement among the sensible women OF the
r country, looking toward reform of this mat


ter. Of course it can not be expected OF those
d who have a sufficiently large share OF this
y worlds goods to make them independent OF
necessity for labor that they will agree to have
It their wives and daughters perform the work OF
IS the kitchen ard the laundry. They can devote
h their time to better advantage, and besides,
It there are thousands of girls who depend upon


this sort of work for the necessarles OF lie.
n But no mother should allow her daughters to
8 grow up into womanhood with their knowledge
. Of life confined exclusively to the affairs OF the


drawing room, but should carefully train them


in the various household duties Whether or
y not future circumstances will be such as to re-
ouire resort to these, the training will be val
10 liable in many ways. 1t will develop in the


rising generation of young ladies greater self
y reliance and more enlarged views, and will &c


further than anything else in solving the ser
= want girl question.