A Domestic Problem | Page 4

might possibly be enough, and
even something left to spend on culture, were she in sound physical
condition; but, alas! a healthy woman is scarcely to be found. This
point, namely, the prevailing invalidism of woman, will come up for
consideration by and by, when we inquire into the causes of the present
state of things. It is none too early, however, to make a note of what
some physicians say in regard to it. "Half of all who are born," says one
medical writer, "die under twenty years of age; while four-fifths of all
who reach that age, and die before another score, owe their death to
causes which were originated in their teens. This is a fact of startling
import to fathers and mothers, and shows a fearful responsibility."
Another medical writer says, "Beside the loss of so many children
(nearly twenty-five per cent), society suffers seriously from those who
survive, their health being irremediably injured while they are still
infants.... Ignorance and injudicious nursery management lie at the root
of this evil."
We must be sure not to forget that this prevailing invalidism of women,
which is one hinderance to their obtaining culture, can be traced
directly back to the ignorance of mothers, for this point has an

important bearing on the solution of our problem.
CHAPTER II.
ONE CAUSE OF THE SITUATION.--A PART OF "WOMAN'S
MISSION" CONSIDERED.
The question, How may work and culture be combined? was recently
submitted, in my hearing, to a highly intelligent lady. She answered
with a sigh, "It can't be done. I've tried it; but, as things are now, it can't
be done." By "as things are now" she meant, with the established ideas
regarding dress, food, appearance, style, and the objects for which
woman should spend her time and herself. Suppose we investigate the
causes of the present state of things, which, as being a hinderance to
culture, is to us so unsatisfactory. A little reflection will enable us to
discover several. Chief among them all, I think, is one which may
require close inspection before it is recognized to be such. It seems to
me that the great underlying cause--the cause of all the other causes--is
the want of insight, the unenlightemnent, which prevails concerning,
not what woman's mission is, but the ways and means by which she is
to accomplish it. Let us consider this.
Those who claim the right of defining it never can say often enough
that the true, mission of woman is to train up her children rightly, and
to make home happy; and no doubt we all agree with them. But have
we, or have they, a full sense of what woman requires to fit her even for
the first of these duties? Suppose a philosopher in disguise on a tour of
observation from some distant isle or planet should favor us with a visit.
He finds himself, we will say, on a spot not a hundred miles from New
York or Boston or Chicago. Among the objects which attract his
attention are the little children drawn along in their little chaises.
"Are these beautiful creatures of any value?" he asks of a bystander.
"Certainly. They are the hope of the country. They will grow up into
men and women who will take our places."
"I suppose there is no danger of their growing up any other than the

right kind of men and women, such as your country needs?"
"On the contrary, there is every danger. Evil influences surround them
from their birth. These beautiful creatures have in them the possibilities
of becoming mean, base, corrupt, treacherous, deceitful, cruel, false,
revengeful; of becoming, in fact, unworthy and repulsive in many ways.
Why, all our criminals, our drunkards, liars, thieves, burglars,
murderers, were once innocent little children like these!"
"And whether these will become like those, or not, depends on
chance?"
"Oh, no! It depends largely on training, especially on early training.
Children are like wax to receive impressions, like marble to retain
them."
"Are they constituted pretty nearly alike, so that the treatment which is
best for one is best for all?"
"By no means. Even those in the same family are often extremely
unlike. They have different temperaments, dispositions, propensities.
Some require urging, others checking. Some do better with praise,
others without; the same of blame. It requires thought and discernment
to know what words to speak, how many to speak, and when to speak
them. In fact, a child's nature is a piece of delicate, complex machinery,
and each one requires a separate study; for, as its springs of action are
concealed, the operator is liable at any time to touch the wrong one."
"And mistakes here will affect a child through its whole lifetime?"
"They will affect it through all eternity." "But