Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-09-03
WOMAN'S UNNECESSARY WORK.

\ sensible writer in an exchange says
~ am convinced that at least onc-quartcr
of the work performed by women is un-
necessary. and that the world would get
along quite as well without it," | am
inclined to go further still, and put ii at
One-half. Il never find time to read,
said lady, at whose house | was call
ing. and at the same time she sadly
threaded Il needle with chenille. and re-
marking that some people had so much
leisure, she continued her work of en-
broidering impossible yellow peaches on
Il red plush mantle scarf. 1t had not
even the merit of economy. for the mate
rialS were as expensive as they were
home Il charming and lovabc place is Il
sacred duty to a wife and mother; but
that which contributes to no comfort or
enjoyment, frightful fancy work that has
not even any artistic merit, is, indeed. Il
waste of time and energv-''busy idle
ness
Husbands undoubtedly like to feel that
their wives are good housekeepers, but
husbands are very human, and once let Il
woman sink the wife in the hou>ekeepcr,
and her husband will very likely fall in
to the same error. The ''overclean"
woman is nuisance to her family and
friends. | once overheard a conversation
between two gentlemen in car, whose
wives belonged to the above class. and.
though estimable women, were about a.
close to goodness as cleanliness could
take them. 1t was during the season of
that annual "house-cleaning
and they were condoling with each other
upon its miseres. They both voted it an
entirely 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 en-
dure the water, it was the smell of yell
low soap that he objected to.
\ woman should never allow herself
to become mere household drudge, and
when she finds that she has no time
to read an occasional good book. to write
a letter to friend, to read story to the
children, or to walk or talk with her hlls-
band, she may conclude that there is
something wrong somewhere in her do
mestic economy, and the more quickly
she recognizes and remedies the evil. the
better it will be for herself and family.
If she is obliged to do her own family
sewing, every tuck and ruille that she
| puts on her children's clothes is crime
The hour or hours spent in making an
elaborate dress that baby willllo Glove
! ly'' in, is a waste of energy that mother
who does her own work cannot afford
Baby will look quite as lovely in her
eyes in plain slip, and if he has only
his elaborate dress to recommend him to
the eyes of others, he might rather pass
unnotced. Give the matter serious
thought, oh tired housekeeper; and see
if you do not daily take many unneces-
sary steps, and do much that you might,
without injury to any one, leave undOne.
Rest your body and improve your mind,
keeping your face and heart as fresh as
possible, as you value the love of your
husband and children.
Since this is chapter of quotations, |
will end it with the remark made by II
sarcastic gentleman: "Women seem to
Inc to be divided into two classes, the
over industrious, and the over-in lo!ent,
and of the two evils, would choose the
latter as being the least.'-[Cor. Rural
New Yorker.