Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-18

Co-NOrEers Together.
'Tolstoi may have beguiied many
minds by the subtle charm of his writings
and begottpn in the hearts of some a
half-formed faith that his view of SOCIAL
lie is the correct one. A faith that Is
rather that of a dreamer than practical,
Tor few even among his admirers, have
shown any vi lingness 10 become their
own shoemakers or woodsawers. Even
more rare is IL that women of rank, or
with money, choose TO be their own
cooks, housemaids ,miiliners or modistes.
Neither is il, despite TolstOi's visionary
schemes, best that faith in his creed
should thus result. While we are apt
10 declare that what has been must be
TO the end, and quite as often wake to
find ourselves mistaken, there seems
little room in the existing order of
orrHtlCn for d creed ;eat hing that men
and women must all serve alike. That
there is service for all is not disputed,
but the parable o; the talents still holds,
aud TO some is given one service aud to
others another.
There is no more reason that woman
shall attempt ali the work peculiar to
her sex Than for Il man 10 ho his own
tailor. shoemaker and hostler, vet there
4
competent IL judge OF the quality of the
service she receives.
Not altogether idle was the boast Of
doting husband, man high in place,
who said that his wife had made her own
dresses and bonnets since she was ten
years of age, and not unmerited, for she
is one Of the Washington ladies noted for
excellent taste in dress. Yet, we're
every woman in her position TO follow her
example the less fortunate, although
quite rs tasteful sisters, would be forced
into some occupation less adapted 10
their strength ard talent.
JnterdependeEce is the link That binds
humanity. II is the keystone OF the
arch that spans the highway of social
progress aud, like the arch, the fouDda-
ton stones are as important as is the top
stone.
II is not that all should work alike,
but that all should be alike respected In
their work that will conserve social hgr-
mouy, and give permunence TO the
social structure. The woman who can
study face, the contour of the head.
ana shude and complexion and design q
bonnet that is becoming to it. is an artist
md merits the term, the girl who uses
the needle 10 construct is simply n
worker and merits her share of praise in
so far rs she does her work honestly.
The woman OF bright ideas who with p
SCElptors's eye takes in the peculiar
titles of form and adapts the costuming
10 these, is an artist. Proportion and
color fitness enter into her plan and it is
! rare degree of artistic taste that Is
1qunl 10 the harmon iZing
The banquet j. successful in proportion
20 the skill with which II is prepared.
knowledge of chemical action and OF in
-rtdients md skill in combining. are
called in requisition before the desired
result is attained. and then TO complete
The work triumphantly the dining hall
must itself be delightsOme. Into this
also enters not skill i'll one art but
kno wledge of many.
is one who chisels n statue, who paints |
\ picture or sings song more worthy OF |
respect than are these artisans? Or Is II |
necessary in order 10 insure n bettering |
II social conditions that each one should |
do for themselves Nil thCse things that |
nre requisite 10 proper enjoyment of |
life? Surely not. This is essential, that |
in all work avowed 10 be honorable the |
worker receive merited respect, the |
woman who washes clean the cup as |
much as she who with skill! converts il
into thing of beauty. That every call
ing promoting human welfare, thereby |
adding 10 the sum of human happiness, |
be hOnored, aud the followers receive
that encour, cement which II is in every
one = power 10 bestow.
Necessity Elhy lay upon one the duty
OF doing work for W hIch there Is no apti-
tuds, then II should be done AS best one
can, md with cheerfulness. but without
such necessity the creed of TOlstoi, If
carried out, would be antagoulstic to the
real interests of society, for then the
possessor of ten talents must deprive the
owner of one talent OF the opportunity to
exercise II, and thus compel the folding
IN II napkin. Ii Is then not so much that
women do with their own hands as that
10 the doer their appreciation. Let in
the sunshine into the dim recesses of the
work shops, honor the brave workers and
let women oftener receive iuto their
homes aud their friendship the brave
hearted aud the true, who with but one
little talent have done what they could
Better gather around the fresides OF
American homes, women with needle
pricked fingers than those whose tinseled
robes Haunt their shame. ami whose
feet, Jew eled-slippered though they may
be, have walked i'll forbidden paths,
though their talents be many and their
brows are crowned with the chaplets of
lame.
Chat on Fashions