The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-06-26
UNNECESSARY DRUDGERY.
Household Inconvenience Which Mo.
chanicaI Skill Might Remedy.


chanical Skill Might Remedy.
Closet-room is no mere feminine fancy,
but the good sense of the SEX 1t is as
necessary to a housekceper as corn
bin is to a farmer or a tool-chest to
a mechanic-that she may have some
where to put things So that they shall
be out of the way when one wants to
move, and in the way when one wants
to find them. 1t should be ample and
we'll distri buted, so that she may not
have to be endlessly moving one thing
to get another. If a farmer had his
grain in such shape that he had to shovel
out a hushel of oats every time he want
ed bushel of corn-and then put the
oats back again-there would he sound
of saw and hammer in that barn, and
new arrangement of things, if there
was tree left on his farm and saw
mill within hundred miles.
Many labor-saving inventions are yet
possible for the household. There will
be machine to wash dishes, and such
cooking stove as Mrs. Livermore sug-
gests, to which no woman shall bend
the knee. They will come when do
mestic work shall be held in such high
honor as to enlist the best mechanical
genius of the age in its behalf. So long
as the kitchen is cried down, like the
jail, for those to keep out of who can,
and those to endure who must, it will
be likely to be little more inviting than
the aforesaid Jail. Let our woman's
rights advocates only begin at the right
end-combine all their argument, wit,
learning, persuasion, and agitation for
improved domestic facilities, and they
can make American manhood do
any thing they want done. The
are even now working in this direction.
of reform in dwellings and appliances
Why not have a woman's domestic con-
gress that shall offer handsome premi-
ums for improved implements, plans of
dwellings,, etc. Say $1,000 for the best
model of cookingstove as high as
table, so that every culinary operation
could be performed without STOPPING,
and as efficient otherwise as those now
in use. Then, by publications and adj
dresses at public gatherings, and suita-
BILE agencies from house to house, make
their improvements known to all their
sex.
There is no reason, for instance, why
any woman should now be lifting about
the old, unmerciful, iron kettles weigh
ing some part of ton, when she can
have those of agate-iron ware, to be
moved easily by the feeblest arm. As
an immediate practical resource it is
not much for man.
There is a merciless cruelty in many
of our rural districts, which mission
aries might we'll be sent to correct, in
the name Of Christianity and humanity.
The farmer, besides all his costly i'm
proved machinery, has his ''hired man"
for blowing and narrowing, for sheep
shearing and moving and reaping and
feeding stock, and solid, imported
host to do his threshing, and his wife
has them, toto cook for, to wash for,
and make beds for, and sweep for. Yet
she can not have one ''hired girl" to
help in all those heavy tasks and pay
her as much per week as some of these
men are paid per day. No wonder the
increase of insanity is remarked among
farmers wives. When we see how
things 60 in some districts, we only Won
der there are any sane ones left. Church
going used to be their one outlet; but
with the spread Of infidelity in many
rural districts, this is now often denied
them almost the year round, and in.
stead of ride in the fresh air and
chance at least to sit down in the
sanctuary and have thoughts of rest in
Heaven, there is a great company to
feed, and Sunday is made the hardest
day of the week. -Home-Maker.