Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-14
Co-IYorker. Together.

Co-worknrs Together.
Tolstoi may have begniled many
minds by the subtle charm of his writings
half-formed faith that his view OF social
life Is the correct one. A faith that Is
rather that of dreamer than practical,
for few, even among his admirers, have
shown any willingness 10 become their
own shoelnakerS or wo0dsawers. Even
more rare is il that women OF rank or
with money, choose TO be their own
cooks, housemaids ,nilliDers 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
ntfle room in the existing order OF
creation for creed teac hing that men
and women must all serve alike. That
there IL service for all is not disputed,
but the parable of the talents still holds,
aud 10 some is given one service aud TO
Others another.
There ia no more reason that q woman
shall attempt all the work peculiar to
her sex than for 4 man to he his own
tailor, shoemaker aud hostler, vet there
5 reason why every woman should be
"um potent To judge OF the quality of the
service she receives.
Not altogether idle was the boast of a
lOling husband, man high in place,
who said that his wife had made her own
dresses aud bonnets since she wac ten
years of age, and not unmerited, for she
$ one of the Washington ladies noted for
excellent taste In dress. Yet, were
tnItn
example the less fortunate. although
quite as tasteful sisters, would be forced
INTO some occupation less adapted 10
their strength ard talent.
Iuterdependcuce Is the link that binds
humanity. II is the keystone OF the
arch that spans the highway of social
progress and, like the arch, the founda-
ton stones are as important as is the top
stone.
1t is not that all should work alike,
but that all should be alike respected in
their work that will conserve social har-
nony, and give permanence TO the
social structure. The woman who can
study face. the contour OF the head,
ana shade and complexion and design
bonnet that is becoming TO it. is an artist
and merits the term, the girl who uses
the needle to construct is simply
worker ard merits her share of praise in
40 far as she does her work honestly.
The woman of bright ideas who with n
scClptors 3 eye takes in the peculiar
Ites 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 ta"te that is
equal 10 the harnoniZing.
The banquet il successful in proportion
knowledge OF chemical action and of 10
gradients and skill in combining, are
called in requisition before the desired
result is attained, and then TO complets
the work triumphantly the dining hall
must itself be delightsome. Into this
also enters not skill in ono art but
knowledge of many.
Is one who chisels q statue, who paints
. picture or sings song moro worthy of
respect than are these artisans? Or is il
necessary IN order ~ insure u betteriug
of social conditions that each one should
90 for themselves all those things that
ara requisite TO proper enjoy meut OF
life? Surely not. This is essential that
n ell work Avowed to he honorable the
worker receive merited respect, the
woman who washes clean the cup rs
much as she who with skill converts IT !
INTO a thing of beauty. That every call I
ing promoting human welfare, thereby |
adding 10 the cum of human happiness,
10 honorc1. aud the followers receive /,
that enCour cement which 1t is in every ,
one - pOwer TO beStow.
Necessity Eny lay urou one the duty .
of doing work for which there is no apti- /
tude, then II should be done rs best one
eau, ana with cheprfuness. but without /
such necessity the creed OF ToIstoi, If (
carried out, would be autagouistic to the .
real interests OF society, for then the ,
possessor of ten talents must deprive the 7
owner OF one talent of the opportunity TO
exercise II, and thus compel the folding
in n nnyk:E. II is then not so much that
women do with their own hands us that
they recognize work well done and show
20 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 into 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, ana whose
/, Ell, jeweled-slippered though they NAV
be, have walked III forbidden paths,
though their talents be many and their
brows are crowned with the chaplets of
Mme.
Chnf on Fashions