42 



The Grape Culturist. 



ing chair, and not considered eligible 

 matches for our fast j'oung men. 



But thank God, this false view of 

 their true position is rapidly wearing 

 off, and a healthier tone seems to per- 

 vade the public feeling. It is no lon- 

 ger considered a disgrace, if our fair 

 friends become working members of 

 society, and we think we see a better 

 time coming, when the daughters of 

 America will rival those of England 

 and Germany in their participation 

 of rural labors and pleasures, when 

 healthful exercise will bring roses to 

 their cheeks, and elasticity to their 

 movements. 



Let it not be supposed, however, 

 that we wish to take woman away 

 from her proper sphere, the domestic 

 circle, or that we wish to see her the 

 overworked drudge of hard manual 

 labor. Nothing is farther from our 

 thoughts. We do not desire to add a 

 mite to the burden of the busy fann- 

 er's wife, nor do we advocate a neglect 

 of the home duties, to further out 

 door labor. But we wish to open new 

 fields of light and remunerative em- 

 plo^'ment to those of our lady friends 

 who are now compelled to " sew for a 

 living," or pass their daj-s in the dust 

 and din of factories, undermining their 

 health. We wish to invite them to 

 pure country air, and to an employ- 

 ment for which their nimble fingers 

 and active hands, are better fitted 

 than those of men. Nearly all of the 

 work in the vinej^ard during Spring, 

 Summer and Fall, is light, the tying 

 in Spring, the pinching and Summer 

 pruning, the tying up of the young 

 growth, and the gathering of the lus- 

 cious fruit in the Fall, is easy work, 

 and forms the greater part of the 



Summer labors, and we are sure if 

 they once take to this labor kindly, 

 they can do it better, and more of it, 

 than we men, with our more clumsy 

 fingers. We would say to the daugh- 

 ters of our vintners, ''spend your 

 spare time in helping ^-our father and 

 brothers in the vineyard, instead of 

 killing it by reading insipid novels, or 

 attending fashionable parties. Be in 

 daily communion with nature ; learn 

 wisdom from her ever open book ; 

 gain health, beauty and innocence 

 from her ever flowing fountain, and 

 you will be made wiser, hajjpier and 

 better for it, Eest assured that you 

 can well afford to dispense with those 

 of your female acquaintances who 

 would slight you for "working out- 

 doors," and that those of your male 

 associates who would think less ofj'ou 

 because you are willing to lend a 

 helping hand to your I'jither or brother, 

 are not worthy to become your future 

 husbands and compaii i ons through life. 

 And to our vintners we would say : 

 smooth the path for those lone fe- 

 males who must earn their daily sus- 

 tenance by their handiwork, give 

 them employment which is suitable to 

 their capacities, and when they per- 

 form as much labor or more than a 

 man would do, pay them fair wages. 

 Do not give them less because they are 

 women, but be liberal and fair, more 

 so than those who now too often 

 weave the life and strength of their 

 poor dependents into the glittering. 

 fabri(!8 worn by the thoughtless and 

 gay. Teach to your daughters and 

 sons, that labor is a blessing instead 

 of a curse, and ennobles those who- 

 perform it faithfully, be they male or 

 female. Editor. 



