The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-02-05
A PLEA FOR OCCUPATIONS
FOR MEN.


We have heard enough of wo
mans "sphere"and its enlargement
Women's rights" have ceased to bt
dwelt upon with so much force
since they have quietly stepped for
ward and taken them. Several
cases have come to my knowledge
of late where men have traineI
their wives into a knowledge OF
their business. One of them who
had been a soldier and came home
with broken heart, made this pro-
vision for his family in case of his
death, and he has died, as much a
hero and martyr as if he had per-
ished on the battlefield. His wife
is now able TO carry on his business
and to support herself and her fam
lily reputably and comfortably. We
have been driven to such things by
stress of circumstances. 1t may be
contrary to all our old notions; we
may still think 1t wiser for woman
to marry for home, however she
may shrink from it, than to support
herself independently, but they
won't do it.
The fact is there is no absolute
rule to regulate the. work or the re-
lations of men and women. 1t is a
matter of custom, and customs may
change if it be expedient. Now, as
our customs are changing, why
should not men learn certain things
which would give them something
to do and make them happier 2Why
may not men knit, or sew, or GRO
chet? Of course,it sounds very odd;
indeed, do not know that I should
have pluck enough to be found in
any of these or kindred occupations.
But why not? Why sit idle? l am
not always tired; I do not always
want TO read ; get tired of twirling
my thumbs Il can't play on sny mu-
steal instrument, land If l could that
is noisy. Why can't a man have
some tranquil occupation? 1 have
seen Mrs. Smith sit DOWN with the
needle and work off a fit of impa-
thence, in a time of waiting,to great
profit. l should have whistled and
fretted and bitten my nails,and only
grown more restless.
Boys ought to learn. Why should
they leave all their things about for
others to take care of-fOr the
weary mother, if there be not SER
wants enough? Why shouldn't a
boy, if he is off on a tramp, be able
to sew on a button or mend hole
in his stocking properly? They
sometimes manage TO do it, but how ?
And now, when it is sort of fashion
to have ranch in Colorado, or some
where where no woman may ven
ture,I don't see any way but for the
tOys to learn these things. Let them
knit their stockings instead of play
ing cards. believe in in exchange.
Why may women enter into so
many of our occupations and we be
from theirs 'Effeminate,"
is it? Not of necessity. Why is it
any more so, save for custom, than
writing or any other quiet sedentary
work? T. ere are trades where men
sew as we know, land in many bus
mess a boy has TO learn some rudi-
practice of the art. The
doctor, as a surgeon, must thread a
needle, sew bandages,to say nothing
of other artistic stitches. You see
my plan only carries matters a
tritie farther, and would teach,as an
art, that which is now but rudely
done.
My friend Prof. X. can hem a
towel or a handkerchief with the
best of them. He is none the less
manly, and once saved his own life
by having strong muscles and
weighty fists. Things are rather
mixed, but if women pOach on our
manor let us be even with them If
we may gain by it.-Cor. N.T.PoSt.