Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-06
WHICH SHALL IT BET
A Woman's Temper Trials From Her Own
Point of View

Point of View.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
keep Your Temper" was the heading of ar
article In The STAR week or so ago. 1 did
not read it. Undoubtedly it was a good article
but the title grated upon me, for was at the
time using every effort in my power to get rid
OF my temper. In truth, I've never found any
difficulty in keeping mine fresh and active
especially in dealing with those who reign in
the kitchen.
There have been times when nv amiability
WAS cause OF remark among my friends, and
have myself entertained fears lest should
grow tame and uninteresting In consequence
of my sweet disposition, but was not keeping
house at that period. Now am, and find there
10 sufficient life in my temper to prevent ms
wings from growing, although in my heart i
do not think 1t renders me more interesting
What Is to be done for the ladies who are in
the thraldom of the stupendous power of stu.
pldity! To keep ones own brains from soften
ing and find the article for another skull, too
10 be wise as q serpent and harmless as q
dove!"
Mine is not an isolated case BY any means
for complaints of retrogression in self-contrci
and genlleness are as prevalent among house.
keepers as Is the grip. and the consequences
are as Dire morally viewed. What is n poor
woman to do when she knows from past ex.
perience that every word she utters to her maid
by way OF instruction is so much breath lost
that the thing she directs will be done in
exactly the opposite manner, in every particu.
lar, from her direction?
IN THE MORNING.
II, for instance, she INDUCES in five minutes
longer sleep in the morning. innocently trust.
ing that she may do so without danger, and
then hurries down to the kitchen to SEQ if the
breakfast Is all right, finds little or no fire in
the range, no heat In the oven to bake the rolls
which were ordered, but have not been made
the tea kettle lukewarm with no evident inten.
ton OF coffee boiling. q chilly looking frying
pan with a nondescript mess in it instead OF
the turkey hash SO infinitely explained and
appointed hour for breakfast Shall she keen
her temper then or dispose of it? have tried
both ways, yet cannot say which is tho better for
all concerned. l have really held myself in
such perfect control that the delinquent maid
had no idea but what it was all right and as
wanted it. but the breakfast put upon the table
was OF my own connecting, eatable but moth
Ing to boast OF Or remember with happy
thoughts.
ANOTHER WAY USELESS
Then again 1 have stormed; have made tina,
woman fly round the kitchen like q teetotum
not caring whether she was mad or pleased
have told her in the plainest language NV est
mate OF her mental capacity; have accom-
plished breakfast at the hour appointed ant
sat down to it weak and disheartened; smiled
upon my family while all the time my sou
wrirhed in pangs of remOrse over my want OF
self-control and my harshness with that poor
ignorant fool But in half an hour I have
heard a burst Of song from that fools throa
or the plaintive strains Of ''Oh, Yes, Love
Jesus" My soul has recoiled, but am none
the happier for knowing that what has cost me
30 much loss of self-respect has had but pass
ing effect upon the object of my wrath-se
passing, indeed, that may know Of q suret,
the same scene will occur tomorrow, same time
and same place.
woMAN's HARD LOT.
One must be an angel to be q woman! Ont
who can be calm and serene through all these
petty vexations Of her life. 1 do not intend
here to dilate upon that subject, and instance
woman's trials Of temper because am one
myself and know that point OF view best o!
| course men have equal difficulty, but are they
not angels-almost? With the privilege they
take to themselves Of the safety valve the uss
of strong language affords they have the ad
vantage Of us, and beside they are not ex
pected ito smile and smile and be q vixer
still" The question is, shall we men and
women keep our tempers or not? II yes
wherefore? II no, what shall We do with them;
EMMETT.