We trust that our readers will not for a moment imagine that we have any objection to accomplishments, that we would have a woman be merely an upper servant in the house it is her province to guide, that we consider the kitchen her only sphere, or that we undervalue intellectual acquirements, and elegant occupations. Far from it; but we would have our model housewife familiar with all the routine of domestic duties, well acquainted with the minutiæ of household economy, and perfectly competent to direct, or if need be, teach her servants—ay, even in cases of necessity, to do things herself. Every now and then we hear of a great stir being made about the “rights of women,” and claims made for their having an equal amount of power, and an equally active part in the business of life with men. It is by no means our intention to enter into the merits or demerits of that subject, but what we have to say is this, that if women were, from the highest to the lowest, more systematically educated to wield properly the great amount of power they _do_ possess, and if they were habituated actively and energetically to enter into that portion of the business of life which is their own peculiar sphere, this world would be a much happier and better one. There is a medium, however, in all things. A woman who worries all within her reach by her ultra-housewifery, who damps one down with soap and water, poisons one with furniture polish, takes away one’s appetite by the trouble there is about cooking the simplest thing, and fidgets one by over-done preciseness and cleanliness, is almost as much to be avoided as a downright sluggard, or the veriest simpleton. Neither would we have domestic economy and home duties vaunted, or made the constant theme of conversation; they are the private employments of woman; she must study other things in order to entertain her relatives and friends. Those who talk most of their duties are generally those who perform them most imperfectly. When a man returns to his home, or enters his sitting-room, fatigued and perhaps disappointed by the business of the day, he does not want to be annoyed by the details of domestic accidents, the misdemeanours of servants, and the cheating of tradespeople. He has had _his_ worries during the day, too, and with that pride, or reserve, or want of confidence which is peculiar to most men, he keeps them to himself. Many a girl can make good pastry, or dress up jellies, and such like, for an evening party, and being much complimented for her labours by those who relish the produce, forthwith fancies herself a capital housewife, while in all probability, she scarcely knows how vegetables are cooked, is profoundly ignorant of the prices of the commonest articles of daily consumption, and could not tell of what material a house-cloth should be made.