The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-09-19
Husbands and Homework.

These are indeed hard times.
None but those upon whom the
woe has fallen, can appreciate the
words "out of work" The sight OF
it is enough to set any one who be-
lieves in "cause and effect" to
thinking about the cause and the
cure for misery of this kind. But
dissertation upon that theme lies
outside the province of The House
hold columns. 1t has, however, oc-
CARED to me many times, that men
who are out of work, are by no
means justified in sitting idly about
their premises, or lounging in ad
jacent stores and groceries, when
their wives are overburdened with
the cares and labors of the family.
Every household needs two heads,
the father and the mother, a"unlted
head" But when a father is so
situated that he is unable to con-
tribute to the family support, he
must reflect that he becomes posi-
tive burden to the family, unless he
can make himself useful to it. The
class of men likely to get work,
usually have hard-working wives,
who need holidays quite as much
as their husbands do. Sometimes
these women not only do the family
homework and washing and train
ing, but also add to the family
finance by sewing, washing, writing
and other means. And there are
husbands of such hard working wo-
men, who feel Tor seem to teel)
that it is only right and proper that
they should lounge about, reading
the paper, playing with the children.
chatting with the neighbors, while
their wives have one unceasing
round of HOUSEHOLD labor. The fact
is, they dislike "meniaF tasks and
they forget the feelings they pro
fessed as lovers, toward the women
now their wives, and allow those
whom they once aspired to protect
and cherish, to perform for their
able-bodied husbands the most
"meniaI' services. They don't
think about it, but they ought to
think. They fall in with the ordi
nary drift of things, and only at
tempt to meet the requirements OF
public opinion in the locality where
they dwell. L remember that when
l was teaching in Pennsylvania,
Mr.. Smith was laughed about be
cause he wheeled the baby carriage
when they went out walking, in
stead of allowing his wife to do
that part, besides taking care of her
skirts. 1t would have been consid-
cred quite enough for him to swing
his cane beside her, prepared most
chivalrously to defend her in case
of attack-"sword arm Free" you
know. Like the savages, who can
not stoop to "menial" offices, be
cause they must always keep alert
and vigorous for the chase. Some OF
these noble men and brethren mus
be saved from all the distracting
cares and petty CONCERNS of the
family, that their superior powers
may be in readiness for doing big
things when the time for so doing
arrives.
/ believe in a division of labor
and ] do not subscribe to a rath ell
common notion among some refor
mers, that husbands and wives
would always be happier If they
worked side by side in the same
field; and sympathize somewhat
with women who think they should
not want a husband always round
under footp But / do say that O
hard. working woman never admires
her husband more, than when hav-
ing no work to do in his own field
he comes cheerfully over into her
field, and bends his stronger shout
ders to help her bear her burdens,
that she may share in his leasure.
Don't l know? Didn't l see. a
stalwart laddie, "rising of forty
working in his shirt sleeves and an
apron on, over my kneading board,
soon after sun rise yesterday? !
can testify without any mental res
ervation, that the bread on onr Ia
BILE to-day is of excellent quality.
1t is enough for one woman to get
breakfast, skim and strain milk.
put up the dinner for school, and
dress the baby, without having also
10 knead bread, all before breakfast;
and so it is lucky for her if the
guide man" out of work for a few
days, stands ready to 'lend help
ing hand"
Men, generally have no idea how
Much they can do to help, if they
set about it. They have an uneasy
feeling sometimes, that they ought
to take hold somewhere, but they
don't know how TO begin. 1 said
TO a man with no particular work to
do, who sorrowfully told me of his
wife's i'll health and hard work. "Of
course you help her do the wash
ing" ooh yesw he answered, Il
bring in the wood, and get all the
water for her." And it never oc
Cured TO him that Justice could
ask more of him, that noble creature,
man! He to bend over the wash
tub, applying his superior mind to
the discovery of grease spots, and
his manly strength to the rectifica
ton of soiled garments? No doubt
the kind hearted fellow did some
times go farther. and graciously
dandle his own babe on his knee,
when it was sufficiently amlsble to
please him. in the idea that by thus
tending baby he was helping his
wife. He, the stronger, has thus
chosen the easier work, in order to
give her, the weaker, a chance to do
the harder task unhindered. This
sort of thing is extremely COM
mon in families, and women who
are OF the angelic type never feel