DOES HER OWN WORK.

Dunstan Times, Issue 889, 2 May 1879, Page 3

DOES HER OWN WORK.

Does she ? What of it ? la it a disgrace to her ? Is she less a true woman? less worthy of respect than she who aits in silk, and is vain of fingers which never labor ! We heard this sneer a few days ago, and the tone in which it was uttered betokened a narrow, selfish, ignoble mind, better fitted for any place than a country whoso institutions rest on honorable labor as one of the chief cor-ner-stones. It evinced a false idea of the true basis of society, of true womanhood, of genuine nobility. It showed the detestable spirit of caste, of rank, which a certain class are trying to establish ; a caste whose sole foundation is raonev, and so the meanest kind of rank known to civilisation. Mind, manners, morals, all that enter into a good character, are of no acc mnt with those social snobs. Position in their stiffed ranks is bought with gold, and each additional dollar is another round in the ladder by which elevation is gained. In matter of fact, is it more disonorahle for the merchant’s wife to do her own work than for the merchant to do his ? For her to look after her house than for him to look after the store ? Or is a woman fit for nothing, only to be ‘ pleased with a rattle, or tinkled with a straw?’ It seems to be the height of ambition in some circles to be, or profess to be, not only ‘ above work, ’buteven ignorant of how work is to he done ; and if the table is poorly spread, or it the housekeeping is at sixes and sevens, the help receives maledictions without stint, bnt the lady takes none of the responsibility upon herself. She look into the kitchen ! She knowhow bread should he made or steak broiled ! when the flour is out, ortho sugar in ! Ab. surd ! Help may be had enough but what interest can the girl in the kitchen feel in the household economy if the lady in Urn parlor has none? If mistress neglects all household duties, will maid he thoroughly conscientious ? Will the husband’s business go on well if he netdects it? And why should that of the wife prosper under her lack of responsibility ?—Silver State.

Living jewels arc to be worn in Paris, the Paris Figaro says, after the fashion of the American lady who recently sported a Californian beetde in a brooch—beetles brought from Yucatan, on the Gulf of Mexico. These beetles are dead gold in colour, with ebon black markings, and their fe-1 sparkle like the glow-worm. They are to be fastened onylitferent colored satin ribbons by delicate golden chains, and can only be worn in well-wanned rooms, being generally kept in a llannel envelope. College expenses in America are met in curious ways by students with more brains than money. Some do paper-hanging and painting in leisure moments, others take up carpentering or turn printers on Saturdays and half holidays, some, again, give writing or elocution lessons, coach their backward class-mates, or wo'k for the professors. One young man has a'printing’press, another sells stationery, a third picks up secondhand text-hooks and disposes of them at a small profit, and another sells neck-ties, while several are stewards to the eatingclubs of the college, cat°r for their fellow students, and'.rcccive_‘their board in return.

Wives in Goa may he bought for 100 rupees apiece from the Roman Catholic College of our Lady of Sorra, in the village of Chimbel, which supports a large number of orphans. The bridegroom, however, is obliged to furnish proofs of respectability, pay down the money, and many his lady love in the College chapel before obtaining his bride. The fair orphans are quite accustomed to standing in a row for the inspection of the bachelors.

The commonest of English birds appears to be also the most peculiar to the British shores. The Sparrows utility as a scavenger and as a wholesale, destroyer of insects has been accepted in lands where he is scarce or unknown, far more freely than in the country where he abounds. Our eolo" nies have not disdained to charter ships for his passage over sea, and in Canada he already appears to have made himself well at home. He is a general per, and sparrowhouses aie as common in Toronto as dovecots in English country towns. In winter food is strwn on doorsteps and in gardens for him, and his native boldness brings him close to houses, whore he lives weli.

The following is a literal copy of a letter received by a largo advertising firm in London. It is a curiosity in ies way:—“We wish to try ‘ Barton’s Exterminator,’ hut in the event of Cats or Dogs dog in- cat getting dead rat (killed by your cure) if they were eating it would such destroy the dog or cat. or would dog or cat eat such dead r.at and if the rat having took its Bait if such rat just Partaken of it and then say if it would go in to feeding trough of llor-;e cat of the Horse Corn would it have any effect on the corn to the Hurt or damage of such horse if you would he kind enough to answer these if you can we could tic i.p our dogs and enclose the cats for a little, if the rats would not fasten on the corn when the Horse is fed to the danger of the Horse. An answer will oblige.”