s the woman whom, by his indulgence of her ways and
whims, he makes the best wife. So after all, good husbands have the most to
do with making good wives.

7. BEST HOME MAKER.--A woman to be the best home maker needs to be devoid
of intensive "nerves." She must be neat and systematic, but not too neat,
lest she destroy the comfort she endeavors to create. She must be
distinctly amiable, while firm. She should have no "career," or desire for
a career, if she would fill to perfection the home sphere. She must be
affectionate, sympathetic and patient, and fully appreciative of the worth
and dignity of her sphere.

8. KNOW NOTHING WHATSOEVER ABOUT COOKING OR SEWING OR HOUSEKEEPING.--I am
inclined to make my answer to this question somewhat concise, after the
manner of a text without the sermon. Like this: To be the "best wife"
depends upon three things: first, an abiding faith with God; second, duty
lovingly discharged as daughter, wife and mother; third, self-improvement,
mentally, physically, spiritually. With this as a text and as a glittering
generality, let me touch upon one or two practical essentials. In the
course of every week it is my privilege to meet hundreds of young
women,--prospective wives. I am astonished to find that many of these know
nothing whatsoever about cooking or sewing or housekeeping. Now, if a woman
cannot broil a beefsteak, nor boil the coffee when it is necessary, if she
cannot mend the linen, nor patch a coat, if she cannot make a bed, order
the dinner, create a lamp-shade, ventilate the house, nor do anything
practical in the way of making home actually a home, how can she expect to
make even a good wife, not to speak of a better or best wife? I need not
continue this sermon. Wise girls will understand.

9. THE BEST KEEPER OF HOME.--As to who is the best keeper of this
transition home, memory pictures to me a woman grown white under the old
slavery, still bound by it, in that little-out-of-the-way Kansas town, but
never so bound that she could not put aside household tasks, at any time,
for social intercourse, for religious conversation, for correspondence, for
reading, and, above all, for making everyone who came near her feel that
her home was the expression of herself, a place for rest, study, and the
cultivation of affection. She did not exist for her walls, her carpets, her
furniture; they existed for her and all who came to her. She considered
herself the equal of all; and everyone el