Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1867-11-30
SRnri Mtkklv aptld.
AnIER1cAN HoUsRKEEPINe..

We remember to have seen, more than once,
in ssnotes of travel" and correspondence OF
Americans abroad, indignant comments upon
the dradgery performed by women in certain
portions of England, and on the continent
The sight of German peasant women raking
hay in the fields, or of English women working
in the hop plantations, seemed shocking to the
American observers, and yet the labor in ques-
ton is not as severe nor as unhealthy as the
household drudgery performed by very large
number of American women Yet we are so
accustomed to this, and at the same time are
so ignorant or un0bservant of the real charac-
ter or practical details of this kind of work,
that few Of the men whose wives are wearing
themselves out with it, despOiling themselves
of health, and beauty, and natural elasticlty
Of spirit, in the patient and CONSCIENTIOUS en-
deayor to come up to our popular Ideal OF q
GOOD hOusekeeper." even dream thaG sucn Is
the case. and imagine that they are having an
easy time of it, as compared Win tne peasant
women who, at certain seasons, WORK III Tue
open fields IF every married man whose CT
cumstances are such that the Wnoie, OF tne
nrinciDal part of the labor of the household,
devolyes uDon his wife, should undertake, for
one day only, to do her work, or that portion
of it which he can do, the effect of the expert
Inent could not fail to prove most salutaFy. OF
course, in families living on small incomes, q
considerable portion of the household work
must fall upon the woman. But 1t men only
had clearer idea of what this work is, and
how heavily it taxes a W0man's health and
strength, they would in many ways Tighten it.
There are it is true, men so thoroughly mean
and self indulgent, that they are perfectly viii
ling to witness any sacrifices that promote their
own comfort, men who expect their wives and
sisters to be their slaves, unfortunately these
are not the majority. What we really need is
the overthrow of the old ideal of the model
Aousekeeper," and establish q higher, and less
material one People who have not the means
of paying servants to do their drudgery should
study to diminish the amount OF d'7tdgeTy to be
done They should try, as much as possible, to
simplify their modes Of living, even if the re-
suit is that they do not live so we'll 1t they
will not practise some selfdenia in little things
and in merely material enjoyments, the wo-I
mans life must be one cherries round of ig.
noble toll, in order that the mending, washing,
cooking, scrubbing and securing may be regu-
larly performed. A man whose wife does the
work, has no right to expect the Injuries he
might command at first class hotel, nor to
require as many hot meals regularly served,
as IL he were drawing upon the resources OF a
restaurant There are many kind-hearted
generous men, who make drudges of their
wives, through mere thoughtlessness. and ignor-
ance; for women are patient creatures, and
slow to complain. But the evil is terrible
one, and we with some of the "women's rights"
reformers would turn their attention to it
Meantime, We suggest that every married
drudge should manage to compel her husband
to do one days homework. This can be done
by being taken suddenly sick, or by some other
little feminine stratagem. After Mr.. Grand
Turk has had one experience in,cooking break-
fast, and washing up the things he will be
come wiser man, and more considerate]
husband.-S. f. Chronicle.