The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-13
NEEDN.



There is a set of croakers and fault-inders in
this world who are always aiming their shafts of
criticism at their fellow-men. No error or short
coming in others escapes their argus eyes and
evil tongues. Those of the male persuasion are
especially prone to dwell at great length on the
| faults of women, and one of their pet hobbies is
| that at best she is an idle creature. Even the
women who make, and mend, and bake, and
brew for their families get small measure. of
credit for their industry while the women of So
| ciety come in for merciless flashing for their
lack of energy from these self imposed critics.
Now, / shall make no attempt TO gloss over the
| follles and foibles of women. but do rebel
against the imputations as to womaps idleness.
On the contrary, boldly assert that the average
woman tries to co too much. Take for Instance,
she who is cook, housemaid, seamstress and
homekeeper all In one for her family. Not
alone does she do the cooking of necessary edi-
| must. perforce, form portion Of the daily bill
of fare Her own and her children's clothing
must display as many tucks and ruffes as those
of her wealthy neiehbor who has both cook and
housemaid, and puts out her sewing What
could be greater folly than tbisY Would not I'M
cooked fruits in their season be quite as palat
| able and much more wholesome than pies, and
puddings and preserves which she thinks it her
duty to set before her family2 And would not
her children appear just as well and much more
suitably dressed ia simple attire which is easily
made and much more easily washed and ironed,
than in be-tucked and be-ruffled garmentsf Of
this wife's and mothers industry there
can be no doubt, but is she doing her duty9
Her husband and her children have
some rights beyond those which attach
to mere physical comforts. There are. it
is true, some men who look upon their wives
mere helpmeets, and to them helpmeet means
household drudge; but to their credit be 1t said
they are the exception. Most men look to their
wives for companionship and the home as place
of refuge from the ills and chils of the world
without But it is safe to say that in the house
AaA NV fha VUhn hos
gies are spent In Having things as other folks
have them ne will fnd very little companion
ship or comfort Of the sort which he most needs.
But, besides and beyond all this. is the fact that
the buildings and pies will be- eaten and forgot
ten, or only remembered by sundry attacks of
Indigestion and nightmare, and the tucks and
ruf8es will be worn out and the wife and mother
will be worn out with them. so that when
the husband has reached his prime, and is per-
haps forehanded enough to begin TO enjoy life,
she will have become q querulous invalid, with
no capacity for the enjoyment of anything, II
she has not already found rest beneath the sod.
To try to do too much is one of the greatest
mistakes made by women. Would it not have
been the part of wisdom, and, in fact of justice
to herself and her family, for the woman to have
put out her washing and ironing, or her sewing,
and to have taken more rest and have saved her
sci But even if she undertakes to do all the
household work. why should she not make it as
easy for herself as she can't There are thou
sand things which the thrifty house-mother does
| that add greatly to the burden of her work. and
| in no wise promote the comfort or convenience
things that would tighten her labor; feed her
family upon simply-made. wholesome dishes;
dress her children in plain clothes; do away
with some of the knick knacks that make the
labor of busting her house work Of time. and
save herself, besides gaining the time for
ton and social enjoyment
But the woman who works with her hands is
not the only woman who tries to do too much.
She is found in all conditions OF life, in all grades
OF society. The woman OF wealth has many de-
mands upon her time that not reekoned n
She is expected to be at the head upon the
committee, or at least a worker in some of the
various charitable organizations in her neiehber
hood, ard, rule, she fulftls the expectation.
She must manage her household, cater and plan
to suit the needs and whims of her family (which
indulgence in luxury generally resolves into ne
cesstiesl, and at ali times be ready TO meet the
calls of society. Surely this woman tries to do
too much.
Aparaeraph Is going the rounds of the press of
one of the representative women of the land who
keeps her house unaided, writes for the maya
zines and newspapers regularly, translates
books, works in the garden, and goes into soei-
ETY.. Any one Of these duties would be enough
to occusy the brain and weary the body. Is
Shere any doubt that she tries TO do too much2 g
There are, il Is true idle women-the gossip
ers and gadders of society. But, thank heaven,
they are not the majority Even the society
belle goes through work enough in the course of
a season to dismay the heart and break down
the strong physique of man. There may be
some question as TO the utility of the work she
accomplished but at least she is not unemployed
and is busy enough in her way to deliver her
from the imputation of idleness. That even
she tries to do too much is shown by the army Of
society women with broken-down constitutions
and shattered nerves.
And so / might go on indefinitely with exam
pies of women who overrate their strength
and ability to perform tine work they undertake.
God has given to His creatures minds and bod
les, and imhued them with the power to use
them for their own pleasure and for the benefit
of mankind. But the abuse Of these gifts is