The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-03-07
THE Economy OF WOMEN.


Is Wcmen's Work Never Done Because
Women are Content to Have it 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 Welch
Carlyle. 1t is styled "chastisement,"
but to our mind it seems much more like
an appeal for a hearing, and for only
reasonable assistance from the noble
lord"
We are told that no one who visited
the Carlyles could tell whether they
were poor or rich. Their surroundings
exhibited neither extravaganza nor pov-
erty. Mrs. Carlyle, person of adj
mirable taste, was always well dressed.
But the letter referred tells 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 ere unrea-
sonably given to grumbling about mat
tiers they could not manage themselves
to any credit Whatever. tt certainly
becomes thankless task, when by dint
of worry and retrenchment, and much
personal effort, the wife succeeds in
keeping household expenses within nee
essary bounds. only TO ho found fault
with because she can do no better And
TINS CALLING experience must take on an
extra TWICE OF bitterness when, as in
the ca sc with Mrs. Carlyle, half the in
COZ re comes from her own purse. Her
4us5and declares his reluctance to de-
I stroy the letter, ''the piece is so clever
and it is not only clever but witty.
After repeated unsuccessful attempts
| to convince him that the outgo for fam
| ily 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 a
husband to listen to facts in the case
we say doubtless many a baffled wife
would be glad to avail herself of the
ability to send her husband so witty aud
convincing letter as the one alluded to.
Most wives earn their living quite as
truly as do their husbands. Never was
there truer couplet than the old oft
quoted one, that
| s.Man's work is from sun to sun,
But a woman's work is never DONE"
Most women are content to have il
so; they don't desire TO have their work
done. 1t would mean, almost invaria-
riably suspension of all physical ability
to perform willing 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 OWL
land than In any other on the globe; but
can we not go further, and help Tighten
her generous toll bydealing more fairly
and literally in the matter of pecuniary
disbursement, which is only her rightful
| t1ueP-{Jof7e,g Pn1e