54 



THE AMERICAN GARDENER. 



(Chap, 



Of what use are sporting dogs and guns? The use 

 of these things is, that they give pleasure ; that 

 they render life pleasanter than it would be without 

 them. And, why not, on the same principle, call a 

 gxeen-ho\ji?>e useful? Of what is money, that 

 thing which every one seeks to possess ? Of what 

 use indeed, but to be expended on things, which 

 tend to make life easy and pleasant ? Therefore, a 

 green-house comes fairly within the scope of use- 

 fulness ; for, from it the females of a family would 

 receive constant amusement and delight, during a 

 season when they are cut off from almost all other 

 recreation. 



101. Let me not, however, in using these argu- 

 ments, be supposed to doubt of the disposition of 

 American husbands to gratify their wives in this 

 respect ; for, many and striking as are the traits, 

 that distinguish the American character, none is so 

 striking, and none exalts it so much, as the respect 

 and deference of the male towards the female sex. 

 They talk to us about French politeness ; and we 

 hear enough of the sentimental trash of romances, 

 where Princes and Nobles are the heroes. But, in 

 no part of this whole world are the women so kind- 

 ly and so respectfully treated by the men as in 

 America. Here women, in no state of life, are 

 treated badly or churlishly. To insure indulgence, 

 assistance, forbearance, from every man, and under 

 any circumstances, it is sufficient that the party is 

 a woman. In this respect no country on earth will 

 bear a comparison with America. This is, too, the 

 natural bent of the human heart when uncorrupted 

 by vicious courses and unhardened by penury. For, 

 count our real pleasures ; count the things that de- 

 light us through life : and you will find, that ninety- 

 nine out of every hundred are derived from women. 



