The National tribune., 1884-08-14

The Household.
We give few Of a food Of vigorous re-
sronses that have come from our girls 10 the
charge that they had little or nothing to do,
and have therefore more time for letter writ
ing than the boys We are quite sure the girls
who write are able TO hold their own, whether
In the line of argument or OF work. We re-
ioice in their capablity and in the manifest
interest they feel in all their duties. With no
disposition 20 shirk or complain, they come
forth and ask simple justice IN the recognition
which should be given 10 well-dirccted talents
even IN q restricted field OF usefulness.
1t is as true now as ever That
"A man may work from sun TO sun,
But a woman's work n never done
And 1t is true now as ever that woman's work,
especially on the farm, is not appreciated at Its
worth by the male portion OF the household.
Reference is here made 10 the daily round Of
domestic duties Ii is not so much that man is
selfish rs il is that the result of w0man's work
cannot be piled up in barns or heaped into
stacks, or turned into golden ears in the crib,
or be measured by the cord or weighed by the
ton and is therefore held of little value.
On many farm the wife and daughters,
rising with the sun, do half days work before
the morning meal is prepared. Cows TO milk,
cream 10 skim, pans to scaid, churnlng TO do,
cellars 10 scrub; often washing and ironing, or
gardens 10 weed and vegetables 10 gather. And
all this before mouthfnl is eaten, or SO much
rs comforting drink Of milk has passed the
lips Breakfast ready, the men and the boys
eat hearty meal and start out, fresh and
strong. to attack broad fields of grain or grass.
Swathe after swathe goes down to be tossed and
scattered TO the sun, and when the MONDAY
meal arrives the hearty farmer may well rub
his hands IN satisfaction that his household is
provided for with food against the coming
storms
In the meantime have the women been idle ?
Who that has looked into the steaming kitchen
of the ample farm house could ask that cues
tion9 Bread enough has. been baked 10 run a
goOd-sized Vienna bakery, saying nothing OF
pies and cakes and puddings. Vegetables to
prepare. butter 10 work over, dishes to wash,
tables to lay; and yet the sweeping and the
busting has been done, the beds made, the
children washed and dressed and combed, and
Sometimes, too, only one pair OF hands TO do
itall
Vel, the dinner is eaten, the house is turned
upside down 10 be put 10 rights again. The
supper hour comes, with its afternoon prepara-
tion; night comes aud the beds are tumbled,
the children have final wash, and after an
other hour or two in weary preparation for the
breakfast, the tired housewife throws herself
on her bed TO dream she is a galley slave, con-
demned to struggle for her life with wild beasts
In the arena and wakes with start TO find
daylight peeping in at the windows when,
huTying on her dishevelled garments she be-
gins another day of toll, which TO her dis
heartened vision bears no visible results.
Is il any wonder that more farmers wives
become insane than Of any other class OF womenl
OyerwOrked, their labors underrated, no
change. no time TO read, compelled TO crush
out every desire for the cultivation of the beau
tiful In their homes or their lives, a conscious
ness that with fair play they are capable OF
better things, an active mind in an impover-
ished and abused body-all these combine 70
Unsettle the reason and snap the handspring
which adjusts the whole machinery Of life.
Thanks 10 American civilization, the men OF
this country arebeginning to understand that
w0mans work is NO less exhausting and much
more absorbing than that of their own. and he
is the wise farmer who, in proportion as he
adds 70 the number Of men on his farm, adds
20 the help Of his wife in the homestead.
Worry and plOdding Overwork is what makes
Sc many of our women 50 worn and i'll
Our American women are not idlers as class
They arc the busiest creatures in the world
even those whose energies are not directed Il
useful ends They do not need 10 be goaded
into activity, but TO be judiciously guided and
heartily appreciated. Mothers are TO blame il
they do not teach their sous how 10 appreciate
WOman's work, and thus prepare them to deal
justly by the wives OF the future.