The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-09-04
UNNECESSARY WORK.
Words of Caution to Over-Industrious sn,
Overlooked Women.

Words of Caution to Over-Industrious snd
Overlooked Women.
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." l am inclined to 90 fur
Their still and put it at one-half. II
never find time to read" said a lady,
at whose house | was calling, and at
the same time she sadly threaded a
needle with chenille, and remarking
that some people had so much leisure,
she continued her work of embroider-
ing 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 hide
Gus. Any work that serves to make
home a charming and lovable place is
sacred duty to a wife and mother;
but that which contributes to no COM
fort 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 housekeepers,
but husbands are very human, and
once let woman sink the wife into
the housekeeper, and her husband will
very likely fall into the same error.
The "over-clean" woman is q nuisance
to her family and friends. l once over
heard conversation between two
gentlemen in a car, whose wives be-
longed to the above class, and, though
estimable women, were about as close
to goodness as cleanliness could take
them. 1t was during the season OF
that annual horror ''house-cleaning,
and they were condoling with each
other upon its miseries. They both
voted it an entirely unnecessary evil,
and one of them said that during its
progress at his house every thing was
so wet that he always felt as if there
was an incipient flood, while his friend
said he could endure the water, it was
the smell of yellow soap that he
objected to.
A 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 a
story to the children, or to walk or
talk with her husband, she may con-
clude that there is something wrong
somewhere in her domestic 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 sew
ing, every tuck or ruffle that she puts
on her children's clothes is a crime.
The hour or hours spent in making an
elaborate dress that baby will look
''lovely' in, is waste of energy that
a mother who does her own work can
not 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 unnoticed. Give the
matter serious thought, oh! tired house
keeper; and see if you do not daily
take many unnecessary 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 posi-
bic, as you value the love of your
husband and children.
Since this is chapter of quotations,
| will end it with the remark made by
a sarcastic gentleman: women seem
to me to be divided into two classes,
the over-industrious and the over-in-
dolent, and of the two evils, 1 would
choose the latter as being the least. -
Cor. Rural Ne,O Yorker.