The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-12
Tired Women.

If yo'l look around on the faces in Q
| street car, the number of faded and
| sad-lOOking countenances presenting
themselves is startling. Mature womeo
have especially tired air about them,
showing itself not only in pallid CON-
plexionS, but in the wearied lines
around the mouth and eyes. 1t is i'm
possible TO associate this appearance
with happy lives, and vet, from dress
and manner. the majority would
seem to be comfortably placed in this
world. Usually the climate is supposed
to have a great deal to do with the
early fading of youthful freshness, and
the beauty of health, instead of re-
viying with the spring of the year,
usually delays until the summer holi-
days, followed by the crisp autumn
breezes, invigorate the human system.
! Ii the truth was known, however, sus
poet that it would be found that tn
reason why women look tired is because
they are perpetually fatigued.
Modern methods have not eaSed the
cares of wives and mothers hose
duties have developed with the growth
of science and the expansion of arr;
When children were thrashed into
obedience to parental commands, when
Young people understood that to hear
was to obey, when husbands only ex-
pected their regular three meals
day and mended and clean
clothing, the duties of the women
were very much simpler than al
the present time. In those happy
days, when to eat, sleep and work
was the whole duty of man, and
the interests of prosperity side issue.
the mistress of the household might,
after her work was done. eat and sleep,
too. At least she had chance tc
work when husband and children were
engaged in business or in school for
long hours of the day. In those days,
rain or sunshine were the same, life
moved in a groove, and there was 8
probability of things running smoothly.
In those days people ate what was set
before them, because there was not
much variety to be had, and they were
not always developing new ideas in the
way of occupations and diversions that
upset the regular routine OF house
hold. Perhaps it was monotonous,
but it was restful for the housekeeper.
In the great upheaval of mind which
has of late years set each individual
soul on the search for that good living
which the world is supposed to owe il,
whether the quest is continued in the
direction of business. pleasure, science.
art or religion, it is the wife and mother
who is expected to be the instrument of
Providence in providing the means and
forwarding the success of the seekers,
and nobody thinks of all the extra
burden that this throws upon her-the
strain on her sympathy, the tax on
her bodily strength. From the child
who wants play made for him to the
husband who wants to talk over his af-
fairs with her. it is one long intermedi-
ate chain of little services which are
expected from her. That she has per-
soual tastes or inclinAtions is never
taken into account. She has no time
left for her own use, but is actually at
the beck and call of all belonging to
her from early morning till late at
night.
1t is curious fact in connection with
the nineteenth century. that few people
are self-reiiant, and still fewer can oc.
cupy themselves agreeably without aid
Like the Turk, they want somebody tc
amuse them. With the additional
burden of seeing that the members OF
the family are amused. as well as their
maternal wants provided for. it is nc
wonder that wives and mothers look
tired. No doubt men feel the fatigue
of the constant drive that's requisite te
keep up with the general stride. but
they have peculiar faculty of being
able to take a rest, even in the midst OF
turmoil. Women, unfortunately from
long experience in being overdriven,
get into that state where they cannot
repose, even when the opportunity Of
fers. This is state of nervous eXpec.
tation, brought about by the knowledge
that there will be something to do in
minute, even if there is nothing calling
for attention just now.-PHitadeLphid
Sunday Times.