Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Letter to Editor
January 25, 1765
The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A woman writes to advocate for female participation in economic retrenchment amid broader calls for frugality, proposing the abolition of the custom of giving fees to nurses attending childbirth, which has become an excessive and burdensome practice.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The following is from the last Boston-Gazette,
Though it is unusual for our Sex to appear in Print, yet I doubt not I shall be excused, seeing it is in Behalf of Oeconomy, the reigning Theme of the Times. As the Gentlemen are proposing Several Methods to retrench the needless EXPENCES into which we have so deeply gone, I think it behoves the LADIES also to join a helping Hand in so good a Cause. Altho' there be many Things that occur to my Mind, in which we might retrench our Expences, yet I shall at this Time only enter my humble Proposal, That the long complained of Custom of giving FEES to the NURSES of Lying-in-Women should be laid aside, as being a needless Expence; for it is now got to such an Height, that many prudent Ladies will not visit their lying-in-Friends, because they are sure to be followed and cringed to by the Nurse, till she has sponged a Fee, and if it is not quite so large as she expected, the Visitor is sure to be made an Object of Ridicule. Not that I would hurt any set of People who are very useful in their Place; but I see no Reason (nor ever heard of one pretended) why Nurses who have so good Wages, should expect any Fees. And I doubt not, by what I can learn, that this Practice will very shortly be as wholly laid aside, as Hoods and Scarfs at Funerals.
Rebeckah Prudence.
Though it is unusual for our Sex to appear in Print, yet I doubt not I shall be excused, seeing it is in Behalf of Oeconomy, the reigning Theme of the Times. As the Gentlemen are proposing Several Methods to retrench the needless EXPENCES into which we have so deeply gone, I think it behoves the LADIES also to join a helping Hand in so good a Cause. Altho' there be many Things that occur to my Mind, in which we might retrench our Expences, yet I shall at this Time only enter my humble Proposal, That the long complained of Custom of giving FEES to the NURSES of Lying-in-Women should be laid aside, as being a needless Expence; for it is now got to such an Height, that many prudent Ladies will not visit their lying-in-Friends, because they are sure to be followed and cringed to by the Nurse, till she has sponged a Fee, and if it is not quite so large as she expected, the Visitor is sure to be made an Object of Ridicule. Not that I would hurt any set of People who are very useful in their Place; but I see no Reason (nor ever heard of one pretended) why Nurses who have so good Wages, should expect any Fees. And I doubt not, by what I can learn, that this Practice will very shortly be as wholly laid aside, as Hoods and Scarfs at Funerals.
Rebeckah Prudence.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Social Critique
Ethical Moral
What themes does it cover?
Economic Policy
Social Issues
Morality
What keywords are associated?
Economy
Retrench Expenses
Nurses Fees
Lying In Women
Women's Role
Oeconomy
What entities or persons were involved?
Rebeckah Prudence
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Rebeckah Prudence
Main Argument
women should assist in economic retrenchment by ending the needless custom of paying fees to nurses of lying-in women, as nurses already receive good wages and the practice has become excessively demanding and ridiculous.
Notable Details
Compares The Practice To Outdated Funeral Customs Like Hoods And Scarfs
Highlights Reluctance Of Prudent Ladies To Visit Due To Fee Expectations