306 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Domestic Dcfiavtmcnt. 



Woman — hkr "SVhoxgs, Rights, C.\r\ciTiKs, and 

 DiTiEs. — It is humiliatiiisi; to consider the extreme 

 lethargy that has iastcned upon the female mind. 

 Woman seems to be least interested in the subject 

 that most interests her. But as humiliating as it 

 is, it is too true. Thousands of females, and those 

 of intelligence, too, readily believe they possess all 

 the rights the God of nature designed them to have, 

 and are as contented in their narrow sphere of de- 

 pendence as the bird that has always lived in a cage. 

 If this is not humiliating, it would puzzle one to 

 know what is. All the rights God has designed for 

 woman : lias she no higher sphere than that of de- 

 pendence ? Is she but a servant or toy ? Is she the 

 weaker sex ? What is that beautiful, all-grasping 

 mind given to her for ? For man to clip and shape 

 to suit his fancy ? or, as the Father designed, for a 

 universe of action — the depths of metaphysics, the 

 sublimity of art, the grandeur of literature, the 

 beauty of affection and love ? Let the impress of 

 God on her mind be the answer. When He writes 

 an essay to man, He never makes blunders. And, in 

 prescribing the limits of woman's sphere. He has 

 written it in unmistakable characters upon her soul 

 — the organi-ation of her nxind. 



" But," says one, " should society give to woman 

 rights equal with her brother, she would not receive 

 them. She would spurn them from her, as an intru- 

 sion upon the sanctity of feminine modesty and 

 grace." This all may be true as to a large majority, 

 but it proves nothing, only that she has been so long 

 crushed beneath man's heel, that she believes " what 

 is is right." By the time she lives up to the appre- 

 ciation of her calling and destiny, she wdl enter on 

 them with joy and thanksgiving. 



But M'hat are her rights, in the light of reason and 

 humanity ? 



Where is her sphere — throwing aside the kitchen, 

 nursery, and drawing-room clamor of the times r 

 Where is the circumference of her action, beyond 

 which she is not to pass, at the peril of her woman- 

 liness r What are tlie boundaries of her world ? 



These are important questions, Avhich must be 

 answered soon. The world will eventually answer 

 them — not now ; it is too blind and deaf. Were the 

 writer called upon to answer them, he would say, in 

 all candor and sincerity, the universe, broad and 

 boundless, is her sphere. 



Wherever the intellect has climbed or penetrated, 

 is hers to climb and penetrate. Wherever literature, 

 politics, morals, and religion, beckon man, they also 

 beckon woman ; not to bedim Jier grace and love- 

 liness, but that she may soften and vivify them by 

 her refinement. It is a cheering truth, that what- 

 soever she touches does not so much mar her beauty, 

 as she beautifies it. 



To many, it is a startling proposition, that woman 

 should be the compeer of man, in the investigation 

 of science, making laws, and meting out judicial de- 

 cisions. But it is only startling because it is new. 

 The proposition that all men are brothers, once 

 startled a mighty theocracy ; yet tliat proposition 

 was none the less true. The projiosition that " all 

 men are created e(iual," once startled our political 

 mother across the waters; yet it was a "self-evident 

 truth." Because it is startling, then, docs not prove 

 it false. 



" But," says another, " would you have our moth- 

 ers, wives, sisters, and daughters mingle with the 

 rabble at the ballot-box, in legislative bodies, and 

 temples of justice ? Would you have them leave 

 the peaceful Hreside, and grapple with the toiling 



millions in the field, shop, and in commerce ? " Ah, 

 if they were admitted to the ballot-box, there 

 would be no rabble ; if they were admitted to our 

 legislature, there would not be the wrangling, vul- 

 garity, and blasphemy that now disgrace them. If 

 they were elevated to the rank of judicial umpires, 

 there would not be the cruel formality that now fre- 

 quently outrages humanity and right. The grace 

 and cl^arms that now flow forth from woman, beauti- 

 fying the social circle, would be taken into all the 

 walks of life, dissipating the brutal sensuality that 

 robes our land in gloom, and making the scientific, 

 political, and religious circles, like the fireside, the 

 home of affection, wisdom, and peace. 



But it is asked if we would have woman go into 

 the fields, shops, and marts of commerce. No wo- 

 man wants to. All we ask is, an equal jirivilege in 

 the fields of intellect. Give her that, and it is time 

 to debate the extent of her physical duties. She 

 has more physical labor than she ought to perform, 

 in the common routine of household toil. When 

 she needs more than that, it is time to tremble, lest 

 she drive man from the field, the machine, and ship. 

 I would like to ask those who so much fear the 

 female mind would become gross, sensual, and mas- 

 culine by its contact with all the mental struggles of 

 the day, what is it that makes the fireside so peace- 

 ful and calm — so free from blasphemy and immo- 

 rality ? It is because man becomes so disgusted -with 

 strife, dissipation, and profancness abroad, that he 

 seeks peace and refinement at home. Woman is 

 there. She has made it what it is. Were it not the 

 case, how could we keep the vulgar rowdyism that 

 now characterizes our elections and legislative bodies 

 from creeping into the social circle ? We go to the 

 evening festival, the dance, the concert, and the most 

 sensual and vicious ai'e polite and atlable. Why r 

 Woman is there. 



The low jest and blasphemies are hushed in her 

 presence. Thus it would be abroad. Her smiles 

 and grace would exert a hallowed influence on all 

 around. Our elections would bo civil, peaceable, 

 and quiet, and law-making and executive assembhes 

 calm, orderly, and humane. 



God hasten the time when woman may send her 

 influence thus throughout the world ! — Rev. H. L. 

 D. Webster. 



Boiling Potatoes. — The coiTCspondent of the 

 London Times says, — 



The following method of dressing potatoes will be 

 found of great use at this season of the year, when 

 skins are tough and potatoes are watery. Score the 

 skin of the potato with a knife, lengthwise and 

 across, quite around, and then boil the potato in 

 plenty of water and salt, with the skin on. The 

 skin readily cracks when it is scored, and lets out 

 the moisture, which otherwise renders the potato 

 soapy and wet. The improvement to bad potatoes 

 by this method of boiling them is very great ; and 

 all who have tried it find a great advantage in it, 

 now that good potatoes are very diihcult to be ob- 

 tained. 



||outl)'0 Ulrpartment. 



The Antidote. — A gentleman, some time since, 

 whilst addressing a Sabbath school, related this cir- 

 cumstance : — 



A lover of nature was one beautiful morning stroll- 

 ing in the woods, when his attention was attracted 

 to a certain tree, by the fluttering and cries of a bird 



