Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-03-13
CLUB LIST.
FARMERS WIVES.
Discussion OF AN Interesting Question
From the woman's Standpoint.

Discussion OF AN Interesting Question
From the woman's Standpoint.
Being interested in all matters per-
tanning to farmers, l feel like express
ing my views concerning the present
condition of their domestic affairs.
While it is true that the larger share OF
these would not excite feelings of envy
in the beholder, and that the sad, list
less faces of farmers wives often arouse
our sympathy, and that their daughters
shrink from following in their mother S
footsteps by marrying farmers, and liv-
ing similar life of toll and self-denial,
AMI farther admitting the fact, that
farmers wives are almost universally
ovcrworked, | wish to affirm that the
cause OF this lies almost wholly, not
with the blame of the farmer, but with
the farmers 'Ojc herself. Many years
ofObservation and experience have con
WINGED me that the remedy lies in edu-
eating farmers wives up to point OF
knowledge, where they will understand
their rights and privileges and take
them.
As a class, men are normally and
from education, inclined to tyrannize
Whether at the head OF Nation, u
State, community or a family,
wherever you find man placed with an
unlimited power invested in him, he
will cneroach upon the rights of others.
Now, in the family he has the oppor-
tunity of exercising this proclivity, and
the wife should kindly, firmly teach him
that she has right1 which he is bound
u respect. In ..arning to respect
them, he will learn to respect her, too.
A man can not understand the scores OF
Little odd jobs which come into wo-
mans work, and which are counted as
nothing in the days balance of work,
and yet which take vast amount of
woman's strength to accomplish;
ne Their does he know OF the hundred
aud one little expenditures necessary
for a well ordered house. And how
can he tell when Jennie needs new
dress, or Johnnie a new pair of shoes?
Do you expect him to see that the sew
ing machine is worn out, or that the
careless little "helpers" have broken
necessary dishes, or that carpets o.
table linen are needed, or that anything
else about the house is in a state of col
larse9
| know of farmers wives, intelligent
women too, who never buy calico
apron without the consent of their hus-
bands. Such an order of things, if we
hal our husbands under ai good sub.
iuga.ion, would make tyrants of even
rs, meek as we now are.
Once a farmers wife in telling how
she suffered daily, at the same time
doing the work for family of eight,
sail; Il don't care. If Henry doel
not care enough for me to see when |
feel so badly, | II not complaint Here
was the sprt of martyr, with the
ln cement, it seemed, of little child
W)m'n know when they are over
taxed, and they should take care of
THEMSELVES. 1t is sin against wom-
ems own nature if she permits her lie
10 be draircd from her by overwo. K.
No one will see thas she is killing her.
Sc Until ths damage is past repair,
and. in the end, no one will thank her
for so doing.
Ii farmers get extra help, let their
wi es get extra help also; and if your
husband won't get you the "help,' 90
AMI &c it yourself, or sead some one ON
your own possibility. The women
on farm will have the same chance to
do Their work as their husbands or
fathers, when they take it.
Let the farmer manage his own bust
ness, buy machines if he needs them, do
his work as he pleases; this is right, if
not carried to an extreme; but let the
farmers wife manage her business, re-
! lici her ,nachine ii need be, buy cloth
in or groceries. and direct all the de-
IL Is OF the house and family us her finer
ia t. and better Judgment dictates. If
she docs not do it, it is her own fault.
Il you question the experimental knowl-
edge of thi' declaration, one glimpse at
I'll family, the hired men, the endless
routine Of work in this busy Western
home Of ours would convince you that
lie G Is one farmers wife with oceans
of work to be attended 10, yet not over
worked, nor twenty. years behind her
huSband.-E. X. Chase, IN Country Gem
UcmdR.