Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-18
THE CURSE OF LABOR.
Bessie Bramble Sees Hope in the
Future for Both Men and Women.
PROSPECTS FOB EIGHT HOURS.
What Hciencs and Invention May Accom-
plish for Housekeepers.
COOKING By MEANS OF ELECTRICITY
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH ]

1.-THE grandfathers worked Il hours day
for living, the fathers worked IL, the
toiIers Of the present 9 and 10, but their
children will work hours probably less.
Whether the demand for q working day
of eight hours with the same wages be
granted generally now or not, it is plain to
see it will come eventually, as even now the
desired end is being conceded in spots. In
the poem of Mrs. Osgood, so popular in the
schools, she says: "Labor is worship;" and
urges very POLITICALLY that labor is
life, and health, and rest from
sin promptings and petty vexations, but
still it requires little showing that men do
not banker after such worship, or women
either, but ardently long for the joys of
leisure, the sweets of rest, the freedom OF
the will to pursue their own devices and de-
sires in the pursuit of happiness. In order,
however, to appreciate the sentiment that
Labor is Worship" and all the other pretty
things said by the poets on the subject, no.
body wants too much of it. The great and
general impression is that little OF it may
be health and rest, but like the 'long
prayer" at church an abbreViation Of the
time would be most grateful to the majority
of mankind.
LABOR IMPOSED AS A CURSE.
The poem, however, does not tall in witt
the old Genesis story that labor was imposed
upon mankind as a curse for the dis
obedience of the first husband and wife in
eating of the forbidden fruit. There in par
adise they had love, luxury, leisure, all that
could most delight the soul, and yet like
pair of "5looming idiot" they destroyed hap
piness In the world, and introduced original
sin. The ground was cursed for the sake Of
Adam, thorns and thistles it was decreed to
bring forth to make the work of getting
living out OF it hard, and to make him earn
his bread by the sweat Of his face until he
should return to the dust out Of which he
was made.
But whatever may be thought Of labor
whether imposed as a curse or bestowed as
blessing-given for form of prayer or
worship-it is certain that nine-tenths of the
people of the earth have to engage in it, and
in the "demnition horrid grind" to ind food
and clothes, and their best condition Of lie
as it is, whether they desire to do so or not.
DRYDEN saws mankind has natural re-
puenance for labor" But the necessity e1-
lists for it all the same. The doctors say
that labor adds to health and the cure of
disease, but this must apply only to where
1t il carried on with moderation.
WRECKS FROM ovERwoRK.
Look at the people upon the streets.
How many workingmen of middle age there
are who have q weary, overstrained, used-up
look, while the women are as plainly over
tired, shattered and broken down. All have
too much of toll, too much of poverty. too
little pleasure and enjoyment of life. Eight
hours a day is enough for any one to work,
either man or woman.
Tlor ~ rh ha I'd
man whose toll has to be governed by the
seasons, or the demands that make cessation
a loss cannot come up to the general law.
The crops upon which the living of all toll
ers depend must be gathered when in proper
condition, regardless OF rules of trade, or
Knights of aborregulations, or Federation
edicts. But in city shops, and trades where
the work goes on withouL reference to
weather, the eight-hour law could
be adopted to advantage. 1t would
also be boon to the miners,
to the clerks in theehops, and to hands en-
ployed in factories. All shopping could
lust as easily be done inside of eight hours
as ten, as all buyers would soon adapt them
selves TO the new rules.
RECEPTION OF NEW IDEAS.
It takes long time apparently for a new
idea to grow. People resist innovation
simply because they are afraid of change.
Plenty of takers say this plan would never
work in the world, but just such people
fought the telegraph-said Stephenson's
iron horse would never run by steam. But
it can be tried at all events, and the
people will either adapt themselves to it or
let it 60.
In the old days OF the nation,
when the pioneers were laying the
foundations of the country, it was
co nsidered q sort of sin to devote
any time to the luxury of leisure-or rather
to the pursuit of anything in which the
worker took pleasure. Reading was deemed
by the good housewives a waste of precious
time that might be given to piecing quilt
patches. In families OF old, reading was only
allowed upon Sunday in the intervals of 60
ing to church. The catechism and the Bible
OF course took the lead, but Flavel's
method Of Grace" or Doddridge's Rise
and Progress of the Soul might be INDUCED
in with propriety. But the frittering away
of time on anything that could not make or
save money ON week days was most sternly
repressed. But even in the days of Jonathan
Edwards human nature reyolted against
such strict rules.
NO REST FOR WOMEN.
Then, as now, however the commandment
that on the seventh day "Thou shalt do no
manner of work" is ignored in the case OF
women. They have always worked on the
Sabbath. Their three meals a day have to
be prepared, their children have to be
washed and dressed, their rising up and ly-
ing down have to be sanwiched with toll
decalogue to the contrary notwithstanding.
Now how are they to secure their weekly
holiday, and to have their days work re-
duced to eight hours? In the hospitals,
under orders from the doctors, nurses are
only on duty eight hours day, but when
women nurse their families or their relatives
at home, and have no money to
pay help, they are at work If need
be tor "a hours day, and this too for
days and nights in succession. Thissubject
is q broad and deep one. The martyrdom
OF the kitchen and the nursery needs to be
talked over and thought over by both women
and men. A broken-down wife is an aflic-
ton that many men bear-by some patiently
and sympathetically, by others impatiently
and perhaps brutality. Itcannot be doubted
that il their hours OF toll could be short
ened homes would be brighter and lives
happier and longer.
A RAY OF HOPE.
Natural gas has done much 10 save labor
In the homes, but it Is too expensive Tor the
mauy, Women still have TO carry coal,
take out ashes, drudge and scrub, and cook
and wash, and sew and darn, and at times
have FIVE or SIX children to nurse through
the measles and whOoping cough and all the
rest of it, taking up both night and day.
What is needed for relief is that Prof.
Perrv's prophecy should speedily be realized
and everything in the household from sew
ing machines, mangles, sweepers, down
to apple-parers, be run by electricity.
He adds that with properly constructed ma