The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-18

To Suppose That the MI-tres. of the II ouse
Has So Good Position Her Cook.
do you want to know OF fraud which ought
to be exposed 2" said certain bright little
woman to the reporter the other day.
"Of course"
well Pm it."
"You?"
"Yes. I'm whitcd scpulchre. Tn popular
fallacy. Pm u delusion and snare and a false
prophet"
Nonsense! What do you mean 2"
We'll. am supposed to be mistress OF n
fine house. with money. and servants to do
everything for me. am not? or course. am.
And you think my life is one long LAZY luxu-
rious round Of doing ~ ! please? Precisely.
knew you did. And you envy mo. And when
you think Of mo 1t is with capitals. as n Happy
Housewife? Just 30. Well. now tell me. do
you ever lie awake nights wishing you were
my cook? All! you do not. Nor my waitress2
No. Nor my maid? Not oven that Well. Just
let mo inform you that you are deceived.
am not n Happy Housewife l don't think
such thing exists. I'm slave. misor-
able. abused downtrodden. fettered slave!
III you want to enjoy life that is rs free ms
the ocean wave. as full OF solid satisfaction
as 1t Is empty of responsibility. become 4 cook
or domestic servant OF some sort Any day
OF good homes. fat living. and substantial in
comes. Once ensconced. she has her regua
work. at regular hours. with ample compensa-
ton. She does not have to rise early nor re-
main up late. Her mind Is not distracted by a
MULTIPLICITY OF duties Sne 8 eole TO plnn her
jus h1 When She will Ie free .A'' ~ '''' AA'"'
But. greatest. Of ali privileges. II the cook
wearies Of the fare; or doesn't like her mat
notise s IS tire trsd q Sew ri ana sGnEs
hsr MIND to tS"t eject s Newport or p@s
upon her she cnn HE herself to the Pier: or II
she pines for religious advantage. her weeks
wages Will quickly transport her 10 Ocean
Grove. In fact. she can roam tho wide world
Der, and there is NO one to say her nay; -
winter to take her back to tho ould coun-
thry' for tho summer. and she doesn't lenye
furniture behind for moth and rust TO- c2rrnnt
good homo with salary Mt whatever time and
mo ne he old Man Of ho the Sea On
ross. hoassm"id. health Gi Inspector; Or nurse,
seamstress, Justice OF the peace. teacher. con
lessor Adviser, and Judge In my own house,
any human being. But In addition must de-
eide on the wardrobes of myself; my children.
my household Affairs. / must be- iortired by
dressmakers; must wear myself out, in per;
iunctory social duties; must hear and attend
to the calls OF charity; must cultivate music
art. literature: be 'up' on the latest novel.
my church work. and must entertain people
who will rend my personality md my acts In
tatters after they descend tho front steps
Suppose am tired and want to throw of
the care OF all those duties. Can II Hardly, l
am chained to them. The children must he
fed. clothed, and trained. The house and that
10 tho bugbear OF half the women living-the
house must be kept going"
Why don't you Just close 1t up and 60
away" ventured the reporter.
CLOSE 1t up! That shows that you don't
know anything about it, II close 1t up. the
pets: the thieves carry oil tho silver and hric-
brnc: more burgla lars cut up the lead pipes.
and the water hoods the house must and dust
by mould. and weeks OF work will not make the
place habitatlo again. Then. too. II have
them 90 lest l may never see their like again.