The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-10-22
AGRICULTURE FOR WOMEN.


Ap,clJl TIRE FOR WOMEN.
R..,...,o. and R.,r.s rr.u -.
House-keeper,s D.llv Routine.
All ncrsons are not horn hee.keepers
~ .,or Md. hoo-lo.,.,, ~, 80. =,
~. r0,' 800
experience anu IL "ouiu DC OUT iohy 'o
expect that all would be successful in
that branch of industry. And. indeed,
there is often more profit in Bookkeeping
az a recreation than in all the many re.
t,-ns th.t orc -.oI;,od .I,hornh ,h.ro ;s
'"1"' VIC. e 'oH a.'no NO. ''
sometimes y consloera''on IN tnat re-
spect.
When the weary rounds of business
have become SO monOtonous that the
heart sickens at it all, it is then real
relief to turn away from all these things
and watch that 'band of united workers
who never strike nor complain, NOV
ing SO systematically along in their
ceaseless toll. There is a practical les
son to be learned in watching these I'M
complaining little workers. We who so
often grow weary of our toll, who SO
often complain that our labor brings in
NO returns, can learn some valuable
hints from the busy bee that expects no
returns save bare subsistence.
For the OverwOrked, and those whose
occupation consists of one changeless
round Of drudgery, we can not too car
nestly recommend this employment. 1t
has been argued by some that woman is
not physically fitted for this business;
and by others that it is unladylikc. To
such weakness as would prompt the lat
ter thought we have no reply-nothlng
but contemptuous pity! That woman
is not strong enough for the more labor
lous part OF bee-keeplng as well as Tor
many other things which come within
the routine OF domestic life. is only too
true; but is there not for women, and es-
pecially on the farm, other back-break-
ing weights that have far less sweetness
in them than honey-boxes? Most farm
ers' wives have no help to lift their
wash-tubs. churn the butter, or do the
various other hard jobs that are daily
to be encountered.
1t has been estimated that large per
cent. of the insane entombed in the
asylums are farmers wives. Why is
this? Simply because there is too much
sameness.too little recreation in their
lives OF toll. Their work brings no re-
muneratlon; anu woman, as well as
man. Is only human, and would like
some individual income or possession;
and SO, sooner or later, the oft-recur-
ring duties become tasks, and ilte as,
at length, reduced to the sphere OF sia-
very.
This recreation among the bees is not
ut all needed where women are musi-
clans, and can while away an hour or
SO each day on the latest sheets of mu-
sic at the piano; or where she is edu-
Gated to sketch, or paint on silk or vel
vet-painting the bee or butterfly on
some household ornament; but really
half the women on farms would feel
guilty of some misdemeanor if seen at
such emplOyment-sO thoroughly have
they been taught to know nothing but
real work.
Then, for mercy's sake, do not try to
set up ''scarecrOw' over Bookkeeping
culture, or any other occupation that
will be at all remunerat'vc, and tend to
lead the mind away from these I'M
changing household duties-duties that
are all right and proper. that every
woman should perform. but neverthe-
less need to be at intervals sweetened by
change. There is nothing dishOnorable
in any honest employment, 1t will do
TO tolerate such sentiments under
form of government, where
an idiot may be born an aristocrat; but
we have only self-made aristocracy, and
the canal-boy or rail-maker can reach
the highest seat under our government,
as we'll as the great But we would adj
yOcate OpeNinp nm all avenues to woman