, 1874-09-06
WOMAN.
W0naH'S Work IS. Mans W0Tk---
Tho Industrial Advancement
of Woman.
One Of Lies Phases-Wonlan's Deductions
-Dress-Re{orn.

Reform in Domestic Service---Mork 0
the "Ladies' Directory" Of
New York.
The Elopement Of a Kansas-City Girl
Various Feminine Items.
Woman,s Work rs. Mans Work.
The Industrial Advancement o1
Woman.
TO 1te Editor Of Tie Chicago Tribune:
L have noticed for many weeks the discussion
OF the wonoan question in the columns Of your
paper, and have read with much interest the ar,
gumcnts brought forth, pro and con, and here
beg leave to dip in my oar, to help the agitation
OF tho waters Of public opinion until they sweep
in great wave over tho old customs and the
petty prejudices Of the day.
Ono Of the first points brought forth, and one
that always makes It's appearance in every con-
. tast aeaiE3t tie industrial advancement OF
women, is this viz: That they lack the strength,
the hardihoo1, the necessary nervous and phys
ical force to do mems work. Il eee1ns to me that
this
Is ALREADY D1sP8ovED.
Is it not an absolute fact that tho laboring class
Of women work barder aud more hours than men 2
Let Us SEQ about it, Commence With the htch-
cn-gi1l. Compare her labor with that Of the
hostler OF maa-of-all-work. The former is up
in tho morning quite ss early rs the latter,
usually before, and her Washing, ironing, every
day work, and weeks cleaning, besides all the
other extras, keep her on her feot many tinae
every minn.o OF the day. ard long into the
night, week in and week out; while much OF his
work Is mere Pastimo, taking the head OF the
household to Ills place Of business. and the long
family drives do not require constant and se-
we're use Of the muscles, and serve as recreation
and amusement rather than exhaustive labor
besides he finds many al hour to idle away, aud
his days work il ended long before poor Bridg-
cts is done.
Secondly. take tie "hewcrs of wood and
drawers water; compare the day-laborer with
the women Of that Glass; At least out of his
long day's work, from until g. be gets an hour at
noon for dinner and rest,-not long, it is true.
but Ioug enough for slight relaxation OF the
muscles. and to gain new vigor for the remaiu-
ing dxe houra' work and no one viii deny that
freshes and recuperates tbe whole physical sya-
tem- But
HOW Is IT WITH TIE WAsHWoEAE?
If ehe goes out By days work, she has her own
to DO, before and after II ehe takes washing
at home, it is standing over tubs and hat-lrons
fve or six days out Of the week, to which the
midday hour brings no cessation Of actual
active use Of tho muscles. Tho husbands and
childrcn'a frugal dinner must be prepared, aud
often taken to the former by herself, If his work
is far away-she hardly finding time to swallow
the morsei left ior hcr. At 6 o'clock the hod-
carrier, the scwer-bulder, the streat-paver, has
finished his work. aud he lights lis pipe for u
quiet rest and bit OF soace At his own home or
stroIs of to saloon for a litt1e recreation but
the vashwoaan often finds the day that ends at
midnight too short for her day q work
,;s,1,1r 1,< nt 4n1rn fta
mechanic and his wife. II ha commences work
att she must be up at lenst one hour earlier that
he may hare his breakfast IN time; and, If she
has family, M most mechanics wives do
haYo-she finds little time to drone through the
day; end there's meuding or making that il done
many night long after the husband and father
has forgotten his cares in sound. healthy Sleep
invigorating and Strengthening alike tho nervous
double duty Of fulfilling her especial functions"
mi carrying On the wifes work in caring for heE
household robbed Of her rcst at night by eare
OF children; hushing them gently, administering
nnd father be disturbed; with half the required
amount Of sleep, With mind and body so greatly |
oyertaxed, docs tAis tpeake, creature often give
up? Does tnnt physical Inability manifest it.
sell? On tho contrary,
IT HOLDS OFT nAEyE1ous1F.
Sunday, too,-tho one day III seven which re- ]
nlly is to laboriug men q day OF relaxation and !
re6t,-is not that to their wives. To be sure,
LlGI QillcS u1-46 b tltLlG 1cs83 UUA kl6I6
is tho universal necessity Of preparing some
thing for the family to eat, the washing, and |
dressing, and caro- OF the children, that brings it
nearly on par with the other days Of the week !
and tho year.
Safely VIC may say, then, that the working |
hours Of the average Tonan arc from 6 in tho !
morning until 10 At night, without the intermis- !
eion Of one hour ct nooa; that is. sixteen hours
that year after year? Two-th,rds-yes, nine |
tenths-of them would, IN few years time, sue
cumb to the s'overwork.'' 81
Another wel-worn argument that has ap- |
pearcd in the controversy, is, that woman's |
place is at home words to TINT effect, guiding |
her household. and striving with her might to |
mako that home paradise for her family. |
Granted that q woman'B mission is to guide, and |
thc husband's to provide; but there are scores |
Of women in the world that havo "1oBt their |
place By tho househo!d-hcarth, behind tho hoads |
Of children" and there are many moro husbands |
That are poor providers (hore let mo rush off
Eoman-t.ahion-to say FOR oil womankind, tha.
VIC have had quite enough Of that universal |
worm and TINT everlasting. she-robin that Mr..
Blackwell dragged up again last week) and.
unfortunately, the laws OF God nor nan do not |
assure to woman her husbands life. It is by
no means In uncommon thing that man-this |
being with the superior strength, and muscle,
tended by tue Creator for support for ciaging |
wivcs-fails, gives out by accident disease is
taken out Of the world: Then to tho mother |
this weak woman, this guide, instructor, para- |
EXTRA pUTT OF PEovIDERs |
aad, in nincty-nins cases GU. Of hundred, she |
docs it too, acd shows wonderful fitness for |
the placo. considering that rod never designed |
her, for it, and the narrow field Of labor open to |
her No one Will deny that = mother left nth a |
family OF children will manage to keep the band
together and roof over their heads, much long
er than father WILL left aith the same.
II it was customary for women TO acquire q
trade or d profession, could they not assist
their husbands ten-fold, and do much more
towards making their homes pleasant and at
tractire than women now camp II tho fathers
wages mango to give 3 livelihood, the united
earnings OF tho two would serTe to bring in
many comforts. And how much easior and
plensanter for her to be able to contribute her
little daily or weekly fund than to be obliged to
so to her husband for every penny she needs,
studying and planning, week aftor week, to
make her husbands salary clothe aud feed them
all, Her earnings, at least, would provide
good, strong eerrsnt-gi1l for her houso, and
leave quite surplus beside. # sho had fer
extra charges for Bridget. little watch over her
house before and after her days work. it would
be no more than size has to do now. Aud it is |
wonderful inssgation to and hgllteos labor
much, the fact that tho frnits OF it come to you
~ ubppa of +1a of fha dor Ua | ,