LADIES' COLUMN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 114, 14 April 1870, Page 7

LADIES' COLUMN.

Jealousy : Of all the pangs of which humanity is susceptible, jealousy is the worst ; for most frequently it is an effect without a cause — a monster engendered in the imagination of its victim ; and feeding alike upon his heart and brain, it withers the rose upon the cheek of beauty, dethrones reason from its judgment-seat, and gives the reins to passion ; it takes a martyr's pleasure in its torments, and adds to their intensity by the ingenious skill with which it adduces proofs from air-drawn nothings, adding fuel to the flame by which it suffers.

A lady employed a young girl about fifteen years old to assist her about her house. One day she was making a cake, and, wishing to put some kinds of plums in it, she set a dish down on the table with the plums, and told the girl to stone them. To show her how, she took up a plum aud took out the sone with the remark, "That is the way." Thinking the girl understood what she meant, she put the plum she had into her mouth, instead of into the dish and went a way. . When she was surprised a short time after to have the girl come into the room where she was and tell her she had eaten all she could, And when the lady went into the room where she had been at work she found she had put all the stones into the dish, and eaten all she could of the plums, thinking that the hard pieces — meaning the stones — would soften up when baked in the cake.

Home Scene : Wife has resolved to be content with, the duties of her " sphere," make home pleasant, and always meet her husband with a "joyful smile." Enter husband; throws his hat on the floor, and drops into a seat. Wile preparing tea, looks up with a smile, and is so glad to see him. — Wife : Well, my dear, it is so nice to have you here at meal-time." (A long smile) — Husband : " Yes I suppose so." — Wife: How has your business prospered to-day?" (Another smile.) — Husband : " About soso." — Wife : " Come, my dear, tea is ready ; let me draw your chair." (Another smile.) — Husband (gruffly) : "I am too tired to stir. Wait till I warm my feet." Do as you choose, my dear." (Another sweet smile.) — Husband looks up with a smile on his face too, and Mary, coming with the tea-kettle, hears something like a kiss. No young woman can be too well instructed in anything which will affect the comfort of a family. Whatever position in society she occupies, she needs a practical knowledge of household duties. She may be placed in such circumstances that it will not be necessary for her to perform many domestic duties, but on this account she needs no less kuowledge than if she were obliged to preside personally over the cooking or the pantry. Indeed, I have thought it was more difficult to direct others, and requires more experience, than to do the same work with our own hands. * * * Some mothers give their daughters the care of housekeeping each a week by turns. It seems to be a good arrangement and a most useful part of their education. Domestic labour is by no means incompatible with the highest degree- of refinement and mental culture. Many of the most elegant, accomplished women I have known have looked well to their household duties, and have honoured themselves and their- husbands by so doing. Economy, taste, skill in cooking, aud neatness of the kitchen, have a great deal to do in making life happy and prosperous. The charm of good housekeeping is an. economy, order, and taste displayed in attention to little things.; and these have a wonderful influence. A dirty kitchen and bad cooking have driven many a one from home to seek comfort and happiness somewhere else. None of our excellent girls are fit to be married' until they are thoroughly educated in the profound mysteries of the kitchen.

Although of common occurrence in America, it is not often that a lady in Australia appears before a mixed audience in the character of a public lecturer. The novelty bower, failed to attract more than a very smaM audience to hear Miss Jarman lecture, even though her subject was what had before proved a very popular one in Sydney,, viz., "San Francisco, California, its laws and people." The fair lecturer, who had not long arrived, from America, by her rather dramatic elocution considerably marred the effect of her oration ; indeed, the greater part of it was inaudible even to the few persons who occupied the front seats. The tables on the platform were draped with the stars and stripes. She claimed for woman a higher position in the social scale than she now occupied. She was not to be the plaything of a man. She was created to be his equal. Woman's rights were not recognised here, as they ought to be, and as they were in America, where now they had the privilege of membership in. trade associations, and found employment in publishers? offices, in newspaper offices,, and telegraphic, and post-, offices, and were recognised as the equals of men. She urged the women of Australia to form clubs and associations, and to agitate for their rights, and, if they could not get them, to. leave for America. The lecturer, in bold, outspoken language, urged the ladies not to be influenced by conventionalities of society, not to allow their minds to bj3. "cribbed, cabined, and , confined,"'