The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-12-27
THE Economy OF WOMEN.

Is Women's Work Never Done Because
Women are Content to Have 1t So?
Froude's history of Carlyle's life in
london, just published, contains an in
teresting, laughable letter addressed to
to Carlyle from his wife, Jane WEIGH
Carlyle. 1t is styled ''chastisement,
but to our mind it seems much more like
an appeal for hearing, and for only
reasonable assistance from the mobile
lord
We are told that no one who visited
the Carlyles could tell whether they
were poor or rich. Their surrounding s
exhibited neither extravaganza nor poy-
erty. Mrs. Carlyle, a person of adj
mirable taste, was always well dressed.
But the letter referred tells a story of
the inside life and management famil-
lar in all its details to most wives who
are housekeepers as well Perhaps it is
only honesty to admit that men seldom
bother themselves about the domestic ex-
penses of house and table, and are unreal
sonably given to grumbling about mat
tiers they could not manage themselves
to any credit whatever. 1t certainly
becomes a thaukless task, when bv dint
of worry and retrenchment, and much
personal effort, the wife succeeds in
keeping household expenses within nee
essary bounds, only to be found fault
with because she can do no better. And
this calling experience must take on an
extra twinge of bitterness when, as in
the case with Mrs. CARLYLE, half the in
come comes from her own purse HeI
husband declares his reluctance to de-
Stroy the letter, "the piece is so cleYer;n
and it is not only clever but witty.
After repeated unsuccessful attempts
ITO convince him that the outgo for fam.
lily expenses is far exceeding the income
therefor, discouraged at this irritability
whenever the subject is mentioned, she
sends him the letter with so clear and
succinct setting forth of statements
and accounts, that he has to acknowl.
edge not only their accuracy but the
hampered conditions under which she
has labored to minister to the needs and
comforts of the little family. Doubtless
many wife who lies awake far into the
night, as did this good woman, trying
to plan how expenses can be kept down,
and likely as not confronted as was also
this prudent wife by the impotence of
husband to listen to facts in the case,
we say doubtless many batiied wife
would be glad to avail herself of the
ability to send her husband so witty and
convincing letter as the one alluded to.
Most wives earn their living quite as
truly as do their husbands Never was
there a truer couplet than the old oft
quoted one, that
"Han's work is from sun to sun,
But womans work is never done"
Most women are content to have II
SO; they don't desire to have their work
done. 1t would mean, almost invaria-
riably asuspensien of all physical ability
to perform wiling tasks, or worse still,
'No one to love, none to caress,
wandering alone through this worlds viii.
derness."
1t is truthfully said, women are more
highly priced and respected in our own
land than in any other on the globe; but
can we not go further, and help tighten
her generous toll by dealing more fairly
and literally in the matter of pecuniary
which is only her rightful
dllq2-G Golden R2l{e