Ladies’ Column.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2017, 14 January 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Ladies’ Column.

Woman's Opportunities.

A number of years ago a popular song was in vogue, the spirit of which may still survive the wreck of time : “ Why don’t the men propose?” The statistics of the Old.liay State Commonwealth answer why a hundred thousand more or less of the male sex make no matrimonial offers, simply because that amountreprcscnLs the excess of feminine over the masculine gender ; and when it is considered that many of the latter remain bachelors through inability, or other causes, to support a wife, the number swel s to greater proportions.

What woman is there who can tell whether she will be numbered with this hundred thousand who cannot be wived 1 The question, then, is a very important one to all women, young or old, especially to those of a larger mental calibre, who loathe and abhor dependence. “ flow we can acquire the heart of breadwinning, retaining the feminine graces of charactcrdistinguishingtho true woman, and still compete successfully with the male sex?” There are a certain portion, however, who feed their souls on “trifles light as air," whose aspirations never arise above dress and beaux, who will vainly stretch their eyes to look into the fnture for the ships that too often fail to come in. * No lover at all bad the maiden gay, She wore no engagement ring; But she bought a fiddle and learned to play And thus had a bow on the string.” But what feeling, sympathetic heart is not touched when a young woman bravely essays to break the shackles of dependence, and strives to win in the battle of life, even under adverse circumstances. One of these inquiring minds thus unburdens her heart in an influential New York city journal, as follows: “ You will become a public benefactor to many an ill-paid woman, or some younger woman, who is just starting in life to earn her own living, to answer the following questions: Are not lithography, modelling in clay or wax, wood-carving, chasing in gold and silver, easily learned, and profitably pursued by women? Are there no public colleges for teaching these and other fine arts ? Does the Cooper Institute teach any of them ? Are there ao charitable boarding-honses in New York or Brooklyn, where respectable women may board gratis, or for a small sum, while learning a trade or profession ? I should like to know how long a time it would take for a person of average capacity to perfect herself in these or kindred arts, and what wages may be earned in any of them." These queries are copied because they sound the key note to the whole subject. It is unnecessaryjtosayjthatno colleges or cheap boankog-honses exist specially to assist women, youngor old, in the general sense. No royal road to learning is opened up in this particular highway to favor tho feminine toiler; but on the contrary, while these questions are in a transition state, she may expect less wages for the same work clone, bo hissed and hooted in the dissection room by the male students, and in all callings were the young men are crowded to the wall, (as for instance in the dry goods trade,) oppoand abuse from the interested parties must be met bravely and persistently to the end. There is no escape from this conviction, therefore, that women,young orold, must he self-reliant,must endure greater trials, must cultivate greater firmness of character, than males, to achieve success under the present circumstances. First of all, she must maintain at all hazards the innate delicacy of true womanhood. She should give long and earnest thought to that pursuit in life most congenial, but fitted to her individual care, and then, with unyielding, patient persistence pursue it to the end. Then, again, there is another mental quality—too little cultivated by either sex—and that is, the art of pleasing; but as woman labors under adverse circumstances, the advantages are of greater moment —indeed, its power when rightly wielded is incalculable. Where this subtle, wondrous power is made to be felt, the features of a plain face are transformed into angelic sweetness and beauty, so potent that all yield to its sway. If she maintains the integrity of true womanhood through all the intoxicating adulation that follows this irresistable accomplishment, it is difficult to say to what she may not aspire. There are other necessary mental qualities, such as self-possession, and self-control, that are of sterling value—perhaps more difficult of attainment with feminine than with the masculine character, because their impulses are stronger and are more lacking in the practical experiences of life.

What are the opportunities for the one or two hundred thousand women that must remain necessarily single ? The answer is that one or two hundred thousand situations are waiting to be filled, as we hope to show in a future paper; but at present suffice it to say, that the application, nor the labor of preparation, can be alone by proxy. Young women may associate together, and form themselves the cheap boarding-house, if necessary; they may substitute for the college course the practical duties of the trade or profession ; nay, more, they may claim the same compensation as the male sex for the same work done, if they bide their time. Business men pursue their calling on strictly business principles, paying the market value for labor, pro tempore, and thus it is put beyond the power of employer or employe to determine the price for that labor. There are some vocat ions more appropriate to the gentler than the sterner sex. Who questions the fitness of the female medical practitioner—with the exception of the disgruntled male student—toattend profession; ally their own sex? But where—save a scattered few—are the practitioners ? Who doubts that woman looks as graceful behind a dry goods counter as a flippant, masculine youth? These and kindred questions are suggestive, and prompt the enquiry, does not an advancing civilization, a higher, nobler humanity, demand a reform ? As before remarked, the writer will endeavour to point out in a plain, practical way the opportunities that await the earnest seeker. David W. Heywood,

RECIPES.

Macaroni and Tomato.— lf yon wish to prepare a quart dish for your table, fill your dish about a third full of macaroni; put it in a saucepan and cover with plenty of boil, ing water to allow for swelling, and boil twenty minutes to half an hour ; it must be soft but quite whole ; drain off all the water; stir in a piece of butter the size of a small' egg and a small enp of grated cheese, and place in your dish ; strain over it a quart of well-stewed tomatoes while hot, and bake half an hour, or until brown ; salt and season tomatocs to taste before adding macaroni. Cold Slaw.— Put three teaspoonfuls of vinegar in a saucepan with alittle salt and pepper; beat two eggs very light and mix with a tablespoontul of flour, a teaspoontul of butter, ateaspoonfnl of sugar and half a teaspoonful of ground mustard. Set the vinegar mVh.ro 8^?„ a £ d J hen U boi]a in the mixture, adding half a cup of milk. Cook for two minutes, stirring constantly. Pour the sauce over shred cabbage and let It become cold before serving. Cabbage Salad.— Shave a hard, white Strip ® : tekethe yolk« of !^ e „^ el "^ aten egg8 ’ a CU P and * half of good cider vinegar, two teaspoonfuls of thick cream, one teaspoonful of mustard mixed in ta.tl n8: »r ata n * alt an d pepper to suit the x a 'l hot the eggs together and let lu l uV tben . Btirm the eggs, rapidly tnm the cabbage into the mixture, and stir well. Make enough for two days at once, and it keeps perfectly, and is an excellent relish for all kinds of meat.