The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-09-17

A Comparison Between American and
English Ladies'.
al hear good deal of talk" said
Chicago lady who recently returned
from an extended visit to Europe, lin
regard to what is termed 'woman's
work in this country, and various
schemes to bring such work to public
notice. likewise hear much nonsense
about the domestic tendencies and dill
gence of European women being supe-
rior to ours. In the first place not 10
that in all this talk about what ia de-
signated women's labor the everyday
routine work of the housekeeper is ig-
nored. There is no reference to the
work OF the women whose lives are
passed in home-making and home-keep-
ing. They are not considered as active
workers. They are regarded as a neg
ative, non-productive class. Yet the
profession of the housekeeper is re-
garded as the most natural and proper
avocation of women. There is no other
trade SO complex; none more difficult.
Add TO this the cares of motherhood,
and what else can q woman engage In
which will as completely absorb every
energy OF which she is capable? To
be good housewife and mother is by
no means the occupation OF an ldler.
Perhaps my notions are obsolete, but /
think the woman who creates COM
Portable home. and raises children
worthy of manhood and womanhood, is
the noblest work of God, and is quite
as much of O producer as the woman
10 &c
or follows a profession. The idea that
American women shirk care OF every
sort live lives of idleness, neglecting
their homes and children, and devote
themselves entirely to dress, amuse-
ment and society, is generally dessimj-
mated over Europe. The devoted Eng
lish mother and practical German
housewife are continually held up to
them as models to direct them from
the pursuit of frivolity. They are told
of the healthy English children and
their devoted mothers. The plain fact
is that American women are the hard
est workers in the world, The poorer
women of Germany certainly work very
hard. But those who labor hardest are
In no sense housekeepers, as we use the
word. Their time is given to perform
ing some heavy labor for money. Those
of the German women who can afford
the luxury employ housekeepers and
do not assume the cares of their house
hold at all. Those who do not and
keep maids have none of our ideas of
systematized housekeeping. They do
not bake at home. Even the people
living in the smallest hamlets depend
on the baker for bread, cake, etc. In
cities, all family washing is sent out of
the house to be done, and in the coun-
try and villages the operation is gone
through with once or twice year.
Breakfast and supper are both simple
meals, requiring little care in prepare
ton. German women are prodigiously
slow about their work Had they the
comprehension and celebrity of the
American they would have plenty of
idleness on their hands.
"The American mother, too, gives far
more attention to her children than the
average English mother. 1t is the ex-
ception in this country if the mother
does not have her baby and younger
children sleep in her room, so that she
may attend to their wants in the night.
The American mothers often battle the
children themselves, and not only dress
them, but largely help make their
clothing and have them about them all
day. The children eat at the table
with the grown members of the family.
An English mother is very poor if
she has her children sleep with her. If
she has nurse the nurse has entire
charge of the child. 1t is an unheard
of thing for an English woman to be
tied mp at home by the care of her chill
dren. Those OF means will travel on
the continent and leave several small
children and young babe at home in
charge OF servants. Here, If o woman
should go off travelling and leave her
little children behind, she would be
considered devoid of the first instincts
OF maternity.
"In Italy, and III some localities of
France, it is customary to send chill
dren to the country TO be nursed till
or years old, and thus relieve the
mother of the responsibility of their
care. Fancy an American mother who
would consent to part with little one,
only occasionally visiting it from its
birth till old enough to walk and talk
As / said, therefore, the American
housewives are certainly the hardest
working women on earth. Their fam
lily duties are not only multifarious, but
they manage to keep abreast OF them,
and to be intelligent in regard to all
topics of the day. Yes, when L look
around at my countrymen L am con-
vinced they are the brightest in the
rld."-Chicd0O NelcS.