Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-09-27
WOMAN'S UNNECESSARY
WORK.

A sensible writer in an exchange
says: 81 am convinced that at least
one quarter of the work performed
by women is unnecessary, and that
the world would get along quite as
well without it. | am inclined to go
further still, and put it at one-half.
Il never find time to read" said a
lady, at whose house / was calling.
and at the same time she sadly
threaded needle with chenille, and
remarking that some people had so
much leisure, she continued her work
of embroidering impossible yellow
peaches on red plush mantle scarf.
1t had not even the merit of economy,
for the materials were as expensive as
they were hideous. Any work that
serves to make home a charming and
lovable place is a sacred duty to a
wife and mother; but that which con-
tributes to no comfort or enjoyment,
frightful fancy work that has not
even any artistic merit, is, indeed, a
waste of time and energy-''busy
idleness."
Husbands undoubtedly like to feel
that their wives are good housekeep-
ers, but husbands are very human,
and once let woman sink the wife
in the housekeeper, and her husband
will very likely fall into the same
error. The "overclean" woman is a
nuisance to her family and friends.
| once overheard conversation be-
tween two gentlemen in car, whose
wives belonged to the above class,
and, although estimable women, were
about as close to goodness as clean
illness could take them. 1t was dur
ing the season of that annual horror
"house cleaning and they were
condoling with each other upon its
miseries. They both voted it an en-
tirely unnecessary evil, and one of
them SAID that during its progress
at his house everything was so wet
that he always felt as if there was
an incipient flood, while his friend
said he could endure the water, il
was the smell of yellow soap that he
objected to.
A woman should never allow her.
self to become a mere household
drudge, and when she finds that she
| has no time to read an occasional
| good book, to write letter to 6
friend, to read story to the chill
dren, or to walk or talk with hel
husband, she may conclude that there
is something wrong somewhere il
her domestic economy, and the more
quickly she recognizes and remedie:
the evil, the better it will be for her
self and family. If she Is Obliged
to do her own family sewing, ever,
tuck and ruffie that she puts on he
children's clothes is a crime. Tn,
hour or hours spent in making al
elaborate dress that baby will lool
"lovely' in, is waste of energ,
that mother who does her owl
work cannot afford. Baby will lool
quite as lovely in her eyes iu plail
Slip, and if he has only his elaborat
dress to recommend him to the eye
of others he might rather pass un
noticed. Give the matter seriou
thought, oh tired housekeeper; ant
see if you do not daily take man
unnecessary steps, and do much tina
you might, without injury to any one
leave undone, Rest your body an
improve your mind, keeping you
face and heart as fresh as possible
as you value the love of your hus
band and children.
Since this is chapter of quotations,
will end it with the remark made by
sarcastic gentleman. ''Women seem
to me to be divided into two class
es the ever-induustrious and the owe
} indolent, and of the two evils,
would choose the least-Rural Ne
Yorker.