New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-26
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
LITERATURE FOR BUSY WOMEN.
A PLAN FOR THE MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT OF TIRED
WORK.

A PLAN FOR THE MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT OF TIRED
MoTHYRs-sYsTEMATIC WORK
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR Mrs. Diaz has not only given us some
thing think about by picking flaws with our social
machine but she has also suggested some valuable i'm
prOvcments Those words from the Illinois farmers WIG
have In them the truo ring personal experience there
they cannot fail to be heard II Is the most dicu
task OF all to get hearing from woman Approach her
with suggestions about mental improvement, and she
says, o. have tme such things are intended Tor
those who have leisure" Only few days ago read an
appeal from housekeeper TO housekecpers for reform
In certain household which pleased me- and
showed II to clever friend. She Immediately said,
DOUBTLESS the woman who wrote that article knows
nothing whatever about work" The trouble lies Just
here: labor and literature not linked together
as they ought to be in the busy household, but
too often do find work welded to worry there.
Mothers with svering locks and carecrossed brows,
bending over tho burden daily toll and crying out that
you have time for mental growth, here is plan for
you which has been tested and proved beneficial When
the labor to be performed through the day. and es
pecally in the evenings, Is merely mechanical ana does
require the minds close attentonas is usually tho
case in wellregulated households after the morning
hOursask each child in turn to read you something use
full while You fashion their frocls. You Will soon not
only be astOnished their eyes light up with new in
tcgence, but you will also find yourself revived A
preOccuped mind forgets the WEAKNESS OF an Oyerworked
body Moreover children whose literary tastes are early
developed by reading to their mothers far safer amid
the Of afterfc. and far less likely to treat them
selves the dobasing luxury of reading yeow-colored
literature. You plan and plan and toll and toll to send
your children to school, but in the evenings with one
longing look the bookshclves and paperracks, you
take up that great basket Of rent garments and silently
proceed to bind up their wounds while those same
brightcyed boys and girls firing your with
Give your boy Roman history and encourage him to
tell you what he finds in it, and you will soon find him de-
vouring the history Of the world with Roman zeal.
know little boy Of only nine years, who has been accus-
toned thus to entertain his mother since he could read at
all, and to-day he knows more history and literature than
many lad twice his age, and Is much attached to GER
tain fine old poems that he will drop everything at any
ts s to hng to- 1S c ret for s
fences with very little trouble which will bring order out
You thuSieducate her from the start to systematic,
orderly way OF dong things. System accompanied by
oessentias from the wheat Of essentials can almost
perform miracles. How ii that some women have time
10 do much work, and still leisure for reading and
wrtngl Simply because they plan their work before
hand with that end in view Doubtless never should
have heard from that Illinois farmers wife, had she not
accompanied her churnng and catte-herding with read
ing; Iknow farmers wife with frail constitution who
took Of the milk from 10 cows in addition to the
ordinary routine OF three meals day. with sweeping and
busting, filled her house with numberess contryances
10 visit the Sick and time for reading and writing.
She planned her work by the week. each day had its own
duties. each meal its own dishes. know another woman
who had special taste for music and who was so stu
aed TO be obliged to do her own hosework with very
little assistance. Yet she found time TO practice from
four to six hours day. not to the neglect OF any OF her
peculiar duties but to the neglect OF her neghbors
affairs. Now, do not want to have woman love labor
Tess but lilefaur6 more want woman to read more,
to read, that when one OF our sisters
gives us good advice it may be seed sown In good
ground which will bring forth fruit in abundance When
womans work shall have become reduced to science,
when the farmers wife shall avail herself OF the I'M
proved methods Of performing her part OF the labor TO
the extent the farmer does, when sewing machines
shall come to laden with a lighter load OF tucks,
nes, and pus, when all mothers shall become IA care
fn provide food for the minds of their families as Tor
their bodies then shall the amount OF true happiness be
in 'rcascd. NJ j. v"
thinker Hiii, H., May 10, 1875.