The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-07-16
TN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
WOMAN'S WORK.

WOMAN'o WOhN.
Anything That She Can Do and DO Well
Comes Under This Head.
.If You ask me what Is a woman's
work. said venerable mother in
will tell you that consider a woman's
WORK is anything that she can do and
do well.
Il don't think it makes any special
difference what il Is. 1t may be to
RANT pictures or plow the fields. to
write essays or to run a steam engine
or Il mill. Woman has done all of these
things. and there is no reason to sup
rose that she has been any the worse
for them
There has for years past been an
enormous amount Of what. for want Of
a more appropriate term might be
called digniiicd and sentimental twad-
die indulged in, much of it leaning to-
ward the idea that women. like good
children, should be seen and not heard.
Indeed, according to some Of the most
approved authorities. they should be
seen only at home. except on rare oc-
casions or when home interests demand
their presence outside
These wiseacres forget that there
are many thousands of women who
have really no homes, no families, no
interests save to earn their own iiveli-
hood as best they may. just why they
| should not select their occupation to
please themselves. instead of having
tho world and public opinion select it
| for them. is a question that many in
telligent persons would like To have
| answered.
"As keepers Of bees. poultry young ani-
| mails of all sorts. gardeners, florists.
and even farmers. women succeed admir-
ably, and there are many women who
have made a good living in stoch-rais-
ing. Certainly business which do
mands rs much care and gentleness as
the raising of young animals must be
one we'll suited to womankind.
/ The flower and vegetable garden
offer very good inducements to women,
and small fruits are always in demand.
1t is very rarely that the market is over
stocked. and, in times Of plenty. fruits
may be put up in various ways and al.
ways bring good prices in winter
There seems to be an idea prevail
ing among some very silly people that
tilling the soil is anything but lady
| like occupations: but sensible persons
are far beyond the reach of such foolish
/ notions. Indeed. cultivated and intel
| ligent people are rapidly advancing in
many things. and in none more rapidly
than in their ideas upon the dignity o
labor. Work is necessary for all healthy
development and growth, ant
| is to be commended rather
than discouraged. ldlcness j.
disgaceful, but labor is always honor
able. No young woman should be sat
isfied until entirely competent to per
form some sort OF skilled labor, and Il
do it in n creditable way. Experts are
rare and difficult to find: therefore
they always command good salarie,
and need never be ont of work.
Even though labor for pay is unnec
cssary. there is feeling of pleasure II
| being able to er;ticise or to order intel
ligently what one wants done. Beside,
this. there is strength and satisfaction
in knowing that one knows things, ane
since. while party of ladies were Wis
iting at country house, j. SO chancct
that none of tho men-folks' were a
home. with the exception of farm
hand, young man lately imported
from the Fatherland. In attempting 4
cut some grass upon the lawn this mai
tripped and fell across the scythe, sever
ing the arteries of his wrist and cuttin,
his hand seriously.
'One Of the ladies' tainted: anothe
went into Mysteries: the third caught
towel from nail in the kitchen an
ran to him. The fourth hastened !
the laundrcss for some strips of cloth
and the fifth, calling to the maid for
hat and wrap. made the best of her wa
to the stables. tuclSing up her dress an
ruffied skirts as she ran. and, regarC
less Of slippers or silken hose, harnesse
the fastest horse, and in twinklin
was on the way to the nearest phys
clan. The young lady who had frs
reached the injured man had tied TIL
arm with towel passed site
through it, and twisting it with all he
strength. had stopped the flow Of bloot
The other examined the wound. n
moved some bits of grass from it. close
the edges and handaged it firmly. an
with a fair degree of skill.
"Whcn the physician arrived the tri
of intelligent young women had the sa,
isfaction of knowing that their pre-.
cnce of mind and promptness had save
q life
1T was to be abl. to meet just sue
emergencies as this. that two of the,
had given a little attention to medicin
and surgery, and the other to the be.
and safest way of managing and ha
Messing horse. Some one might dl
, while stood wringing my hands,, or
, of them said when asked why sh
! studied the physicians art.
II spend my summers in the coul
, try. Suppose some accident happene,
and it were necessary to send me
sengcr. how would feel if were I'll
J only one to go. and couldn't go near
, horse without trembling" said the otl
CIR, in answer to like inquiry.
.sWhich hest did xyoman'S work. III