St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-03-28
ovERwoRKEp WOMEN.
Wonaen's Fetters Largely self-Construct-
ed and willingly Worn.

WunNSn'S EetDeFB 49,
ed and willingly Worn.
American women can do anything,
SO they try to do everything. Nature
cries out against this covetousness. No
one person is allowed to have or do
everything. Only certain amount Of
vitality is manufactured within a given
time: and if the expenditure exceeds
the income, the result, according to
Micawber's calculation, is misery!
That is the state of our women misery
from oyerwork.
1t grows largely from the fact Of not
understanding the relative value OF
things, and of not understanding
the relativeness of things them
selves. Luxury and beauty have a
great moral influence, but they are not
so valuable as peace of mind and rest
of body, nor is their moral influence as
great as that Of cheerful woman.
Her price is above rubies. Like the
Indian Chief, we are forced to say,
mournfulIy: "Too much house. "
That is what ails our women; they are
dying of "too much house.
When there is too much house there
is always too little home. Good house,
keeping is by no means as rare as good
home keeping. IT, is of far less inn
portance. A certain amount of
drndgery must be gone through with,
daily, in any calling; about three
fouvths of life is drudgery. One-fourth
can be rescued from the toll and mol
of the world by management and
thought. The most difficult and the
most necessary lesson for a house
keeper to learn is that she must assert
her individuality. 1t is useless to try to
please everybody Many things in our
homes are done directly with San eye
single" to our neighbors. Work must
be pruned down and Topped off until it
matches strength, for the latter refuses
to be enlarged by any amount Of
thought.
1t is nice point to adjust this ball
ance properly. 1t requires much giving
up and letting go. What shall we give
up? Az, there's the rub Everything
seems so important. Things must be
kept clean, there's no doubt about that;
but the number of things to be kept
clean can be greatly diminished. Wis
dom would suggest the minimum con-
sistent with comfort and refinement.
In many homes there is an embarrass-
ment of riches in the shape of CON
yeniences and petty treasures that must
be kept in order, stealing time that
might be bestowed with profit and salts
faction upon the higher things of life
people, books, art, nature and all the
subtle excellenees that make life worth
living.
Each must solve for herself the ques-
ton of simplifying living in order to
ennoble domestic life. Every woman
knows her own completely. The same
things do not press with equal weight
upon all. On general principles, how
ever, it is safe TO say that
There's too much worry goes to bonnet,
There's too much ironing goes to shirt.
There are too many preserves, too many
ruffies and tucks and elaboration in the
making and trimming of garments,
that add labor and do not add to their
beauty.
Woman's letters are largely self
made. Carvings, upholstery, brasses,
bronZes. that cause frowns, back-aches,
irritability and heart-aches, are poor
investment of money and time. Things,
more than people, bring women to the
verge of despair The endless round of
imagined duties causes chronic over
work among women, produces the sad
dest results to them and those depend
ent upon them for rest and comfort.
"There is nothing in the world I
dread, " said the Household Philosopher,
'tlike thoroughly exhausted woman.
No amount of personal comfort ever
compensates for such state of affairs. y
OF course not. What constantly tired
woman is capable of generous sym
pathy and ready help, or of companion
shipp Can she divide care and double
joyp The better part of life cries out
for warmth and tenderness; but the
women who should give it are blindly
wasting themselves on material things,
polishing the outside Of the cup without
q thought of the hector within.
To conquer prejudice, surmount edu-
sion, and overcome habits of mind
and body, implies force of will and
power Of effort. This same conquering
and overcoming is necessary to the true
emancipation Of women. Christian
Union.
Lessons of Experience.