Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-24
A Plea for Occupations for Men.

We have heard enough of woman s
"sphere and its enlargement. Wom-
ems rights" have ceased to be dwelt
upon with so much force since thev
have quietly stepped forward and taken
them. Several eases have come t, my
knowledge of late where men have
trained their wives into a knowlc Ire
of their business. One of them, who
had been soldier and came home with
broken health, made this provision for
his family in case of his death, and he
has died, as much hero and 4 martyr
as if he had perished on the battlefield.
His wife is now able to carry on his
business and to support herself and her
family 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 it wiser for women to marry
for home, however she may shrink
from it. than to support herself inde-
pendently, but they won't do it.
The fact is, there is no absolute rule
to regulate the work or the relations of
men and women. 1t is matter of Gus
tom, and customs NAV change if it be
eXpedient. Now. rs our customs are
changing, why should not men learn
certain things which would give them
something to de and make them hap
pier? Why may not men knit. or sew,
or crochet? OF course, it sounds very
odd; indeed, l do not know that
should have pluck enough to be found
engaged in any of these or kindred oc-
cupations. But why not? Why sit
idle? am not always tired; l do not
always want to read; l get tired of
twirling my thumbs; | can't play on
any musical instrument, and if l could
that is noisy. Why can't q man have
some tranquil occupation? have seen
Mrs. Smith sit down with the needle
and work of tit of impatience. in 4
time of waiting, TO great profit.
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 servants enough?
Why shouldn't boy, if he is off on a
tramp. be able to sew on a button or
mend n hole in his stocking properly?
4ucy SOiuttlIucS NittHstSc W uO IL, UuC
howP And now, when it is sort of
fashion to have a ranch in Colorado, or
somewhere where no woman may ven
ture, don't see any way but for the
boys to learn these things. Let them
knit their stockings instead of PLAYING
cards. l believe in interchange. Why
may women enter into so many of our
occupations and we be excluded from
theirs? "Effeminatc." is it? Not of
necessity. Why is it any more so, save
from custom. than writing or any other
quiet. sedentary work? There are
trades where men sew, as we know,
and in many business boy has to
learn some rudimentary 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 trifie
farther. and would teach. as an art,
that which is now but rudely done.
My friend Prof. X. can hem towel
or 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. Y. Post.