 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 The Curse of Idleness Today’s modern homemaker might get her housekeeping advice from talk show mavens like Oprah Winfrey or Martha Stewart. The situation was vastly different in the early days of Niagara County, a day and age before television and mass marketing. The caring housewife of the 1830s probably had read a copy of The American Frugal Housewife, authored by Mrs. Child. (No, not Julia.) The book was dedicated to “those who are not ashamed of economy,” and boasts such truisms as, “Economy is a poor man’s revenue; extravagance a rich man’s ruin.” So what sort of advice did this publication offer the 1830s wife and mother? A few pearls of wisdom follow. “There is one kind of extravagance rapidly increasing in this country, which is one of the worst kind; I mean the rage of traveling for public amusement. The good old home habits of our ancestors are breaking up – it will be well if our virtue and freedom do not follow them! It is easy to laugh at such prognostics, but let any reflecting mind inquire how decay has begun and then let them calmly ask themselves whether we are in no danger. Nations do not plunge at once into ruin – governments do not change suddenly – the causes which bring about the final blow, are scarcely perceptible in the beginning. A republic without industry, economy, and integrity is Samson shorn of his locks. “ “And are we not becoming luxurious and idle? Look at our steamboats, and stages, and taverns! There you will find those who have left debts and employment to take care of themselves, while they go take in a peep at the canal or see the dancers. There you will find mothers who have left their children at home with Betsey, while they go to “improve their minds” at the mountain or the springs. If only the rich did this, all would be well. In any situation, idleness is their curse. And what do you get in exchange for all of this? Some pleasant scenes, which will soon seem to you like a dream; some pleasant faces you will never see again; and much of crowd, and toil, and dust, and bustle.” “With regard to public amusements, it is still worse. Rope-dancers, and opera-dancers, and all sorts of dancers go through the country making thousands as they go; while from high to low there is one universal groan of “hard times.” These things ought not to be. People who have little to spend, should partake sparingly of useless amusements; those who have debts should deny themselves entirely.”
Douglas Farley, Director |