The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-06-12

III you look around ON the faces in q
street-car, the number of faded and
sad-loolking countenances presenting
themselves is startling. Mature women
have especially tired air about them,
showing itself not only in pallid com
plexions but in the wearied lines about
the mouth and eyes. 1t is impossible
to associate this appearance with happy
lives, and yet, from dress and msnner,
the majority would seem to be comfort
ably 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, in
stead of reviving with the spring of the
year, usually delays until the summer
holidays, followed by the crisp autumn
breezes, invigorate the human system.
If the truth was known, however, L
suspect that it would be found that the
reason why women look tired Is because
they are perpetually fatgued.
Modern methods have not eased the
cares Of wives and mothers, whose du-
ties have developed with the growth OF
science and expansion of art When
children were thrashed into obedience
to paternal commands, when young
people understood that to hear was to
obey, when husbands only expected
their regular three meals a day and
mended and clean clothing, the duties
of women were very much simpler than
at the present time. In those happy
days, when to eat, sleep, and work was
the whole duty of man, and the inter-
ests of posterity side issue, the mis-
tress of the household might, after her
work was done, eat and sleep, too. At
least she had q chance to work when
husband and children were engaged in
business or in school for long hours of
the day. In those days, rain or sun
shine was the same, life moved in a
groove, and there was probability of
things running smoothly. In those
days people ate what was set before
them, because there was not much va
riety to be had, and they were not al
ways developing new ideas in the way
of occupations and diversions that up
set the regular routine of household.
Perhaps it was monotonous, but 1T was
restful for the housekeepe $.
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 it,
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 in
strument of Providence in providing
the means and forwarding the success
of the seekers, and nobody til nks of
all the extra burden 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 affairs with her, is one long inter-
mediate chain of little services which
are expected from her. That she has
personal tastes or inclinations is never
taken into account. She has no time
left for her own use, bat is actually at
the beck and call of all belonging to
her from early morning until late at
night.
1t is q curious fact in connection with
the nineteenth century, that few people
are selfreliant, and still fewer can oc-
cupy themselves agreeably without aid.
Like the Turk, they want somebody 10
amuse them. With the additional bur-
den of seeing that the members of
family are amused, as we'll as their ma
terial wants provided for. it is no won
der that wives and mothers look tired.
No doubt men feel the fat que of the
constant drive that is requ site to keep
up with the general stride, but they
have peculiar faculty of being able to
take o rest, even in the mid,t of tur-
MOL. Women, unfortunately, from
long experience in being overdriven,
get into that state where they cannot
repose, even when the opportunity of
fers. This is stat, 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.-Philadelphia
Sunday Times.