Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-17
WOMAN's REALM.
''S MRS. l.. H. BLANK, ASSOCIATE EDITOR,
2 The hand that holds the scepter
Is the hand that holds the bread ,

oAAo A"uu Illdt nOlQS the bread
IL was urged by an eastern editor as
one reason for the eight-hour reform
mat the laborer could then go home
and help his wifeand reduce her hours
OF labor from fourteen to twelve.
Thls being the effect of the eight
hour law, all humane people would
certainly favor it,.
Ii ever the underpaid and overwork-
ed are to rise and protest the first
strike should be among women.
What confusion there would be if all
the underpaid woman should Quit
work.
One almost wishes it could be tried
Tor week. 1t would hardly take a
week to convince society that these
weaker members are a very essential
feature Of it. Imagine our fathers
wives taking vacation just now!
Whata break there would be in the
harvest. Even if they refused to work
more than eight hours I'm afraid there
would be q great cry for extra help.
There is no one on the farm who works
as many hours as the farmers wife.
Up first in the morning, and long
after the men are through for the day;
she is on her feet, with no conven-
fences to dc her work. Still the work
must go on. Carrying water quarter
of mile, perhaps, and then drawing it
with rope from thirty foot well
while the husband ride through his
field, and by the running of a lever at
his hand, cuts and binds the grain.
Men seem TO have overcome the
curse pronounced on Adam; "By the
sweat Of yonr brow shall you eat
bread.
Our farmers, at all events, seem to
have given up sweating.
They ride to plow, to sow, to reap
But, alas, the descendants Of poor Eve
seem to be bearing all the burdens.
No machines tighten their labor.
Have you noticed in driving over
these prairies, how many homes are
without the mother?
Have you noted the large proportion
of farmers wives among the inmates
of our insane asylums2
Men and bretheren, there is q reason
for all this
Follow the average farmers wife in
her round Of duties for one week an(
you will understand why this fearful
waste or human life and human rea.
son.
You will comprehend why so many
women's lives have gore as a sacrifice
in the settlement of this new country
At this season of the year every man
must have help in the fields. How
about the help in the house? Ii
thought of, it is as a luxury, not a nee
essity. 1.-The grain will spoil and we
must have help to harvest it"
True, but how about the human be
ing spelling in your house, breaking
down under burdens grieyous to be
borne.
All winter while you were getting
many hours Of rest, her work went on
with added cares.
The rainy days when you laid by SHE
| was working.
Those days when you quit work
! early to 60 to town, she went on with
her work and did your chores besides
| and thus the years go OHIO rest, ne
pleasure.
Yes, l know, "there,s no vacation OF
| farm" You manage to get little
now and then, You go to town; otter
| and spend hours talking politics and
discussing the news. Do you ever think
to take your wife new magazine OF
illustrated paper?
mo money to spend for luxuries.'
Yes, but how much did you spend OF
tobacco that same trip.
"She don't care for reading" We'll
suppose YOU roll up your sleeves, hell
her do up her work and take he'
WITH you next time.
And now that she has been saving
you many dollars wages this harvest
if she asks you for so cents to spend
don't say, "what did you do with tah'
last dollar I gaVe?"
[ give warning that there may be 8
strike not far ahead. II is slowly
dawning upon young women's minds
| that to be supported" does not mean
a life of ease and leasure. I,
hear the warning now and then, as
when the other day asked a sturdy
Norwegian girl why she did not marry
a farmer who showed his devotion by
| frequent visits and donations OF candy
and oranges. a.
then. last harvest he paid me $3.50.
week to cook for him and boy. mar
~ him, have to do cooking and work
out too and get no $780, No; you
bet I not marry him.
| ,r, ,,,orr;nr farmers searching