A Domestic Problem : Work and Culture in the Household eBook

Or, to vary the statement, the community virtually addresses woman in this way:  “A fearful responsibility rests upon you.  It is the responsibility of training these young, immortal souls.  This is your mission, your high and holy calling.  You will, however, get little time to attend to it; and, as for any special preparation or knowledge of the subject, none is required.  There’s a great deal of delicate and complex machinery to superintend, and a mistake will tell fearfully in the result; but, never mind, we’ll trust luck.”  “Do we not,” as Horace Mann once asked, “do we not need some single word where we can condense into one monosyllable the meaning of ten thousand fools?” Some deny the power of early training.  “Look!” they say, “there is a family of children brought up just alike, and see how differently they all turn out.”  But a family of children should not be brought up just alike.  Different temperaments require different treatment.  And this is exactly the point where knowledge is necessary, and a wisdom almost superhuman.  That character is the result of “inherited traits,” as well as of education, does not affect the case, since children “inherit” from mothers and the sons of mothers.

CHAPTER VII.

A WAY OUT.

But suppose we leave this part of our subject, and endeavor now to find a way out of this present state of things.  Let us keep the situation clearly before us.  As things are, woman cannot obtain culture because of being overburdened with work and care, and also because of her enfeebled condition physically.  To what is this present state of things owing?  Largely to the unworthy views of both men and women concerning the essentials of life, and concerning the requirements of woman’s vocation.  And these unworthy views of men and women, to what are they owing?  In a very great measure to early impressions.  Who, chiefly, are responsible for these?  Mothers.  They are also, as has been shown, responsible for the larger part of the prevailing invalidism of woman.  Let us be sure to bear in mind that these evils, these hinderances to culture, can be traced directly back to the influence and the ignorance of mothers; for here is where the whole thing hinges.  Here is a basis to build upon.  Child-training is at the beginning.  Child-training is woman’s work.  Everybody says so.  The wise say so.  The foolish say so.  The “oak and vine” man says so.  The “private way, dangerous passing” man says so.  Very good.  If this is woman’s work, educate her for her work.  If “educate” isn’t the right word, instruct her, inform her, teach her, prepare her; name the process as you choose, so that it enables her to comprehend the nature of her business, and qualifies her to perform its duties.  She requires not only general culture, but special preparation, a technical preparation if you will.  Let this come in as the supplementary part of what is called her education.  Many will pronounce