The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-07-12
Moneyless Women.

wives OF working men; just the sort of
women American towns and villages
abound in.
AS | said, we had been reading the
cone Sided Partnership" At least,
had been reading, while the others sew
ed and listened. 1t was piece well
suited to my mood, and with all the elo-
cutiOnary art I was mistress Of did am
plity Mother Gardner and her friends.
As ! rolled out the closing sentences, |
looked around the group about the table.
Ruth and Naomi, from across the way,
sat with folded hands and lr-away
look, as if the tale had lifted a veil from
the sorrowful past. Kate, our dainty
neighbor, scanned virtuously the pretty
edging on which she knitted, while Di-
anthe, with face like sphinx, brooding
mighty thoughts, drove her needle to
and fro through the little garment, as if
the completion of a perfect button hole
were the end and aim Of existence.
"Wel p | asked, as laid down the
paper.
ooh. that was out west" said Kate,
with grimacc; we have no need tG dis
cuss that here"
al fancy said Naomi, drcamily, "that
such an experience is not peculiar to the
West"
"WeIl, know it's not replied Ruth,
brlskly. "Its a wide spread, crying evil,
and what's the use Of this Calico Club, if
we cannot face the question like women
|, for one, am free to confess the lack OF
money to carry out my best impulses is
one Of my greatest trials. Not that
Aeret' have money, oh no, but oh dear. it
is so little"
Kate laid down the edgng with an ap-
proving pat upon the last scallop, and
braced herself for an argument,
q Discussing this question from or
standpoint, is it fair to blame our hus-
bands for this? confess | do not like
to imply even that mine is such a tyrant,
or that lack Of money comes from any
seltishness on his part. What with the
needs Of the family and the ups and
downs Of business, the wonder is that we
ever have a cent
81 agree to that" said Ruth. "But |
can't see that that view helps us at all.
Here we are, women of refined tastes, if
we are poor. We desire 50 much to get
above the level Of our daily toll and to
take an interest in the grand labors OF
humanity. DO not misunderstood me |
do not object to the work have to do,
but | want something better to think of,
something nobler to aspire to, and so do
You. tell YOU, we are hampered by this
miserable lack, and can only stand afar
of with folded hands and wish them
we'll"
''Perhaps," vcntured Naomi, "if we
knew how to calculate little better,
we might save the widows mite which
would not be despised."
"Save! Calculate ?" snapped Ruth.
"Don't talk that stuff to me. I've cal
culated enough over fifty cents for the
contribution box to build the Brooklyn
Bridge"
"What do you say, Di ?" asked, when
the laugh had subsided. Dianthe is our
neighbor of neighbors, the one in whom
we trust. She has opinions of her own,
at once original and sensible, command
ING our respect, whether it be IA question
Of setting a patch, or the proper treat
ment Of a sick baby.
Dianthe deliberately set the last stitch,
then cOnscientiously folded the tiny apron,
II think said she, "we, the women,
are most to blame for this state OF things.
We might have money if we wished"
"How 2" answered a chorus of voices.
"Earn it,"
Again the chorus. "Eam it? D, are
you crazy When do we get time to earn
money ~
'Don't we earn it? said Ruth. ave
wash, iron, scrub, sew, make, mend, and
all that. We work all the time. It's an
Old saying, "A penny saved is penny
earned and I'm sure we save lots of
extra bills
''Theres an old saying, also, about
pennywse and pound FOOLISH Ruth,
and question if we are not pound fool
ish in trying to do 50 much to save the
pennies"
81 don't understand you, Di."
"Well, let me explain. Look at the
way the men manage. Every man to
his trade is the rule Of society. No SEN
sible man thinks of combining in himself
the offices Of blacksmith, carpenter, shoe
maker and tailor If his house needs re-
pairs, he calls in the painter, the mason,
the carpenter, as the need demands. II
his clothes give out, he goes to the tailor
II his horse casts shoe, to the black
smith. One man ploughs the garden,
another digs the drain. Upon this plan
Of mutual help every laborer gets his
money, and society prospers accordingly.
Now, look at the other side, as represent
ed 10y women of our station. AS Kate
says, with the ups and downs Of business
ana the family needs there is not much
to spare, so we take the grievous burdens
upon ourselves. We wash Monday, iron
Tuesday, cook Wednesday,, sew and
mend Thursday, sweep and dust from
attic to cellar on Friday, and do double
work on Saturday that we may rest on
Sunday. Sandwiched in between these
duties is the eyer-recurring round OF
breakfast, dinner and supper, with its
attendant dish washing. If this indeed
were all, it might suffice; but we are 10y
turns milliners, dressmakers, tailors, and
Jacks-at all trades, as the occasion re-
quires and all to save the penny.
"Now, is this wise or just ! Do we
really accomplish the end for which we
laborg | think not. We are too tired
to be companionable when our husbands
come home at night. We lose health and
strength. We bring puny children into
existence, weary before their birth We
grow tired of the world, and creep away
before our time into the long rest, leaving
our life work but half accomplished
Now have thought of this very thing
days and nights till my brain was whirl,
and am convinced the only way is, tc
fnr pfl
leave the rest to others"
GLOW, Di? what do you mean 2" we
asked
"Well, we should have to reconstruct
society. Have place for every woman,
and put every woman in her place. Each
one has a special talent for something,
and she should be allowed to exercise it.
Here is Ruth, born seamstress She is
never better content than when seated in
her low rocker beside her dainty work
basket There is no lack about that bas
kct; all that taste and ingenuity could