Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Domestic Economy, Machinery, Technology, Gender

    Gives a number of reasons why 'the very best Sewing-Machine that a man can have is a Wife', most of which stress the efficiency, quietness, and industry of a woman seamstress when compared with the troublesome and noisy sewing machine which needs constant supervision. Identifies variations in human sewing machines, pointing out that the husband may be fortunate in picking a wife who 'seems to be never so happy as when the husband's linen is in hand'.