170 Wisconsin state Agricultural society . 
even of her own earnings, should be liable to physical restraint, 
and to moderate physical correction, and, finally, should have no 
control over her own children, were ideas too monstrous to endure, 
even in less advanced countries than our own; hence there has 
begun, is going on, and will go on, an agitation on this subject 
which can end only in placing husband and wife upon an exact 
equality before the law. 
III. AS TO SOCIETY, 
Calling by that vague name the result of the friendly and occa¬ 
sional association that comes from a community of residence, pur¬ 
suits, worship and the like, the influence of the democratic idea is 
producing curious and contradictory results. The struggle for 
wealth as the speediest, most obvious and easiest form of social 
distinction, becomes desperate,’where rank does not result from 
birth, and where intellect and learning have not asserted their 
mastery. But this wealth, to be known, must be shown ; and 
hence fine houses, extravagant furniture, costly dress, and expen¬ 
sive habits at variance with the genius of our republican-democ¬ 
racy. We have not fully accepted the logical consequences of the 
equality of the race. This costly life cannot be led in a republi¬ 
can country without inordinate profits for which some one must 
suffer, without the personal service of hordes of servants, whom 
even money cannot procure, in a country where personal freedom 
is so prized, and without weariness and exhaustion on the part of 
the wife and mother. 
“Even/’ says the superintendent of the census, “when we 
-count all ages and conditions of domestic servants, we find the 
increase in the northern states to be considerably less than the in¬ 
crease in population, showing that, while social requirements have 
largely increased in respect to dress, equipage and entertainment; 
while the appetites and tastes of our households have been ren¬ 
dered more difficult and exacting through the diversification of the 
national diet and the increasing consumption of spices, fruits and 
game ; while the eastern states, especially, are assuming the sem¬ 
blance of greater leisure and luxury, the wives and mothers of the 
great middle class, and nowhere so much as at the east, are dis¬ 
charging their domestic duties and maintaining their conformity 
