Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1888-12-15
Written for WoMAN's CHRONICLE.
Woman'S Work,


There is a saying, which, not to quote too exact
ly, tells us that man may work from sun 10 sun,
but, womans work is never DONE
There is good deal of pungent truth in this
brief quotation. 1t would seem almost too we'll
known to need reteraton. Too trite to have any
force. Yet there is hardly day when some one
in this world of ours has not overheard scathing
remarks on the life of idleness that most women
lead. To hear the speaker Git is generally man,
you would certainly think either that woman was
of no value, or of so little, that it mattered not
whether she existed. 1t were well for these SLAM
derers if they awakened TO realizing sense of how
much evil there is in their hasty words
Woman has enough to BEAR even if she has every
assistance in her various caings The demands
upon her time and strength, aside from care of
home and family, are numerous. They cannot be
lightly set aside, for they are all necessities Some
one has to do them If woman noble woman, can
do them best, she is right in putting her shoulder
to the wheel.
Ii it be true that from tender thoughtfuness
for the needs of those around her, woman is al
ways busy, except when asleep (oftentimes then
wakeful from nervousness), it would seem that the
least husbands, brothers and fathers could do.
would be to spend every moment in transformations
care to keep their wives, sisters mothers, and all
the female sex with whom they come in contact,
as happy as they know how. Not altogether in
the large efforts, which so often take unnecessary
time, but kindly words and actions; politeness at
all times and in all places due regard for their
feelings. venture to say if the male sex would
only be more carefulof these so-called tries they
would find life much easier, not only for women
whom they meet daily, but for themselves as well.
Then, if the men have means beside to give their
wives, sisters and mothers, luxuries and decacies,
well and good. 1t is man among men who pens
these lines, and with realizing sense not only of
his own shortcomings but also those of other of
his sex.
If you look into the realm of literature, art,
medicine, theology and law, you will see what
would have astonished our grandparents. Men
and women in every one of them, where fifty years
ago it would have been deemed impossible, not to
say degradation!
A striking instance of the way in which women
have gone quietly in literature, and made them
selves felt is seen in the recent compilation OF Mrs.
Eva Munson Smith, entitled ''Woman in Sacred
Song"
Men would seem to have been taking it for
granted that men wrote all the hymns, to say moth
ing of poems, lyrics, and other like material, from
the expressions of wonder heard since the book
was issued in print. Mrs. Smith has proved that
if any one wrote hymns, women should certainly.
They have suffered more keenly and have sent forth
to the public rare hymns which oftentimes were
unsigned, but expressed trust and all other virtues
so beautifully that they have become to be house
hold words. All honor to Mrs. Smith for her
showing by this wonderful compilation what woman
has done in hymnoogy. What woman can do will
never be fully known until the last day, when the
recording angel shall show in the light what they
did in secret Shall give them honor due them
for long suffering patience, talent and virture;
more than any human being can do in this world.
More than all, it will be their due!
C. II. CUTS HOWARD
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