The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-27
DISIIKES HOUSEWORK..
a YOUNG GIRL WHO PREFERS To
READ AND IMPROVE HERSELF.

Some Considerations Upon the Attituds
of the Educated Young Woman of To.
day Toward Work to Be Done in the
House-Meniai Duties Dignifled.
The following letter has been received at
this Office:
Il wish to state my case to you. Two
years ago was graduated at a school for
girls. Since that time have lived at home
with my parents like to read and study,
but my mother thinks l should keep my
self busy for the greater part of the day
about homework and sewing. Now, do
not like homework and do like to study,
and furthermore, it seems to me that
should be doing wrong to give so much
time to Homework when | might be i'm
proving myself Now will you tell me
candidly just what you think about it, and
obhge yours truly, OLIVE"
Just what we think about what, Oliver
You should be a little more definite in
stating your needs in a case SO desperate
as this appears 10 be. What do we think
about your having to do homework when
you would prefer TO study? We think
your preference is not first to be consulted.
The need for your doing it is the first ques-
ton to be answered and you should have
given US some indication of this.
A GRAVE PROBLEM.
But let US begin at the beginning. The
problem you state Is grave one, and one
that is every now and then coming up to
be decWed. With women entering into
the broad fields of the higher education
and slipping the sweets Of constantly wild
ening culture, while the sphere specially
designated as "woman's" still claims so
much of their thought and attention, it is
pertinent to ask and 10 discuss what shall
be the attitude of the educated young
woman of today toward the undignifed
and unpleasant details of Homework.
The pervading opinion in the minds of
men-yes and Of women, too-in regard to
these things is that the instinct for house
hold duties Is innate in the truly womanly
heart. This much is true: The love Of
home and family is Unborn in the heart of
every woman. Household duties she toll
crates because she loves thase others But
no wenaan feels hidden longing for the
ompanionship Of pots and pans, or feels
her whole soul go out in yearning toward
sauces and salads, or recognizes the cook
ing range as next of kin. No woman loves
these things, Nor should she. That she
does them is Of grace and not Of nature.
This proposition may be laid down at
the outset as broad enough to cover all the
ground. A woman ought to do just as
much Of the homework in a house as
actual necessity lays upon her in securing
the comfort and welfare of the home To
do less than this is unworthy; to do more,
merely for the sake of work, is undigni-
iaH nd &c Soi laH to ha
explicit, Olive. How necessary is it that
this work should be done by the women
members Of your family If your father
is able to supply the means wherewith
strong hands that have no other accom-
plfshment may be secured to do this work
for you, and If you should then elect to be
your own newer Of wood and drawer Of
water, you would be lacking In proper
sense Of personal dignity and Of the fitness
of things You could, as you suggest, use
your time to much better advantage.
GIRLS, DON'T MOUNT TOO HIGH
But on the other hand, don't mount too
high horse, Olive Don't feel too keenly
the value of your time and the duty of
improving yourself. Just try to be wise,
healthy minded, sensible girl, and the self
may be taken for granted.
IL appears dlUOgebncr jroOdDle from your
letter that there is some necessity for your
doing your share of the household work.
If it be SO, if in any way the burden of
home cares is the heavier for your mother
or for others because of your withdrawal
from them then you ought to be ashamed
of yourself if you are unwilling to drop |
book or essay or brush and bare your own
young strong arm and bring your own
active brain to the rescue.
The dignity is in the worker, not in the |
work; and if you meet the dullest, mean
est, most uncongenial detail Of household |
life bravely and eheerfaIly, and discharge |
it just as we'll as you possibly can, you will |
find the whole round of mental duties be- |
coming dignified and ennobled. So they |
will minister quite as much to your hap |
piness and to the Improvement Of your |
mind and to your spiritual growth as the |
best books You can read in the greatest |
pumbers.-New York Evoning Sun.