LADIES DEPARTMENT. 
129 
Cabks’ department. 
TO THE YOUNG. 
“ Have I not seen thy needle plied 
With as much ready glee 
As if it were thy greatest pride 
A seamstress famed to be 1 
Did I not eat pies, puddings, tarts, 
And bread, thy hands have kneaded ? 
All excellent, as if those arts 
Were all that thou hadst heeded.” 
A wife, who has had some experience, would 
suggest to the young ladies of the present day, the 
very great importance of some practical knowledge 
of housekeeping, without which, no woman, wlio 
is at all conscientious, can be happy, either as a 
wife, or a mother. So much of the actual comfort 
and happiness of those dearest to us, depend upon 
the trifling everyday occurrences to be met with in 
all families, that it behooves every woman to en¬ 
deavor to possess that information most necessary 
to ward off many of the petty annoyances by which 
housekeeping is surrounded. The self-conceit of 
servants, who think they are better informed than 
their mistress, and are shrewd in finding out how 
far she can venture to direct without displaying her 
own ignorance, is one of the most prominent evils 
of the present time. Very few men, are there, of 
common sense, who would not willingly part with 
some of the useless accomplishments of a wife, for 
the very unfashionable one of being a good house¬ 
keeper—not that I condemn any accomplishment 
which would tend to make a woman more refined, 
more pleasing, or add one ray of intellect to her 
brow. But I do condemn the false idea entertained 
by many, that a lady is not a lady, when she con¬ 
descends to take an interest in household arrange¬ 
ments,, upon which the happiness of her family and 
the well-being of all around her depend. 
How proudly, and how cheerfully goes that man 
forward to his daily business, who is confident that 
he leaves behind him, in the partner of his joys and 
cares—one who has his interest and his happiness 
so deeply at heart, that all other things fade in 
comparison, and that as surely as he returns at 
night, so surely will he find a well-ordered home to 
receive him. And let him be a professional man, 
a mechanic, a farmer, or an artisan, there is a charm 
about such a home, that few can resist, and fewer 
still, will not appreciate and love. I appeal to all 
wives—Is it not worth a trial ? Is it not a noble 
cause ? To see 
Our abode, 
The tabernacle of our earthly joys 
And sorrows, hopes and fears, this home of ours— 
Is it not pleasant 1 
If a pie or pudding tastes better to a parent or 
husband when made by the hands of a daughter or 
wife, let no lady suppose (fashionables and exquis¬ 
ites to the contrary notwithstanding), that she at 
all detracts from her character, if she is able to 
enter her kitchen, where an ignorant servant wishes 
a minute direction regarding anything which is to 
tend to the comfort of the family. Let no lady 
suppose she at all derogates from her character by 
being able to give the desired information. If a 
merchant’s, grocer’s, or baker’s bill comes in, let 
no lady think she demeans herself, by examining 
it; for sometimes mistakes will happen, with 
the best intentions, and if she neglect so great a 
duty, who is to attend to it % Who is to be an¬ 
swerable for waste and extravagance % Surely no^ 
the poor servants, who are unfortunate enough to 
have careless mistresses—surely not the husband, 
or father, whose employment calls him elsewhere— 
surely no one, but the female head of the family, 
be she mother, daughter, or wife. On her rests the 
responsibility, and it is a responsibility so great to 
those who feel or think rightly, that I would have 
all the young daughters of America, fully aware of 
its importance ; and all young wives feel that cer¬ 
tain hours of the day must be devoted to the plain, 
practical realities of everyday affairs. Happy is 
the woman who feels this a pleasure as well as a 
duty. No manners need be less refined; no ac¬ 
complishments less brilliant; no mind less cultivat¬ 
ed ; no heart less happy ; no home less attractive \ 
and surely no husband less devoted, nor father less 
proud, from the fact that the wife, or the daughter, 
is a first-rate housekeeper. And such can all be, 
who will make the effort and persevere in it. If 
difficulties arise, conquer them. If the temper be 
tried, bear it patiently as may be ; but of all things 
do not give up, nor be disheartened at a few disap¬ 
pointments. In a very short time, the mountains 
will dwindle into molehills: and take the word of 
a happy wife—you will be amply repaid for the 
exertion you have made. A Friend. 
THE EFFECTS OF COSMETICS ON THE SKIN. 
That your excellent correspondent, E. S., in the 
March number of the Agriculturist, does not write 
understanding^ when she speaks of rouge, as a 
beautifier of the skin, is evident; or she would not 
have intimated that this harmless substance cannot 
be employed without injury to a lady’s complexion. 
Any intelligent physician, chemist, or apothecary, 
will tell her that the coloring matter of the true 
rouge for the toilet is nothing but an extract from 
safflowers, and “ is the only article which will 
brighten a lady’s complexion without injury to the 
skin.” I am perfectly aware that there are several 
articles sold under the name of “ rouge,” which are 
highly improper to be used. Among these I would 
name the following :— 
1 . Rouge Indienne (terra persica), or Indian red, 
imported from Ormuz. 2. Liquid Rouge , the red 
liquid left from the preparation of carmine ) or a 
solution of carmine, in a weak carbonate of potash 
water; or of pure rouge dissolved in alcohol and 
acidulated with strong white vinegar. 3. Rouge 
de Prusse , or burnt yellow ochre. 4. Spanish 
Lady ’S Rouge , a floe of cotton or lint, wet with an 
ammoniacal solution of carmine, and dried. All of 
these preparations should be avoided, and none 
used but the genuine extract of the safflower. 
It may appear strange, Mr. Editor, to the Euta- 
wah correspondent, as well as to many of your 
readers, that I should have recommended the appli¬ 
cation of prepared magnesia, or even finely-powdered 
starch, and rouge, as beautifiers of the skin; but 
when they reflect that thousands of our country¬ 
women, are daily using, and will continue to use 
a great variety of pernicious compounds, sold under 
the enticing names of “ pearl white,” creme de rose , 
&c., for the purpose of preserving or restoring their 
