Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-03-18
WOMEN'S WORK.
The Close Relation of Her Household Work
to Health.

The Close Relation of Her Household Work
to Health.
She was q woman Of mild and inof-
fensive appearance. 1t did not seem
possible that she could hurt a fly.
For years she and her husband had
labored to earn home. Now it was
half paid for. The faithful wife had
risen early in the morning to get her
mans" breakfast; religiously washed,
dressed and spanked the children.
She had kept the house neat and tidy,
and had sat up until late at night to
repair many an unfortunate rent, and
piece out" many an unpiecable gar
ment. Her life had seemed a hard,
toilsome one, but the hope of a home
free from debt spurred her on, At
last the blow camel Her lord and
master came home and announced
that he had Joined a strike, and
would work no longer for a shop that
did not employ union" labor. Then
it was that the little woman arose in
her might. John Henry" said she,
"for seven years l have worked six
teen hours day for board and lodg-
ing, with new dress once year.
You have worked eight hours a day,
and partly paid for our home, and
had plenty Of cigars and beer. You
strike; | strike too. Either you go
to work in the morning or I'll go
home to my mother" John Henry
was thunderstruck A woman strike.
Why it's preposterousl But here was
the cold facts; John Henry faced it,
succumbed to fate, and went to work.
But, suppose my gentle reader, sup
pose the women were all to strike,
what would become Of us? We give
1t up. In order that, like the good
Sunday-school books, our story may
have a moral, will say something
about "women's work and women's
health" 1t is popular saying that
perfectly sound woman is a rarity.
so it would seem. But, why is this
so? In the first place, women dress
unhealthfully. They contract the
waist too much. A perfectly healthy
woman ought to breathe as deeply as
man. Can most women do it? We
think not. They rest the weight of
the clothes upon the hips; they wear
thin shoes with paper soles, and often
have cold feet, with congestion of
blood about the trunk. We like to
see pretty feet; but we really wonder
how many lives pretty feet cost in
these United Statesl What of
wOman's household work? In the
first place, it is monotonous work
No man would ever endure it. So
little change Of scene or faces, with
day after day the same endless toll,
with the same apparently barren re-
suits. Most women become invalids,
not so much from Overwork as from
nerve tire. We hear q great deal
about the poor workingman nova
days; but who thinks of the working
mans wife? Then, TOO, think of the
farmers wife, and, above all, of her
environment. We once examined a
poor woman for lunacy. AS we
entered the house, and found a mis-
cradle rag carpet upon the floor, and
upon the dingy walls, besides the
usual chrome OF some cheerful death
bed scene, we noticed the picture Of
a cemetery, with an unhappy indi-
vidual under weeping willow, she'd
ding tears over a dismal tombstone
Near this was framed memorial, in
black border, Of some dear departed.
A framed marriage certificate made
the collection very appropriate and
TNln hn Il
diversion was saving pennies and at
tending the country prayer meeting.
We dined with them. Our bill of
fare consisted Of some tough, stringy,
boiled beef, some soggy boiled pota-
toes, heavy dark material called
bread, and some celluloid pie. With
euch surroundings-a bad family his
tory-liying on innutritious, ill-cook-
ed food, could any woman help be-
coming insane? We think not. How
shall we prevent the Ill effects OF
Women's work? /. BY intermittent
periods Of rest. Every woman should
provide herself with a lounge upon
which she can throw herself at inter
walls during the day, and permit no
amount OF prospective work to inter
fere with her daily rest. 2. Women
need exercise. Even after hard
days work, let her take a long walk
in the open air Women need more
variety in their work. The introduce
zion Of lawn tennis as a popular game
viii produce generation of stronger
women. For healthy women, horse
back riding is unsurpassed as
IN exercise. Dancing, In modera-
zion, is likewise excellent. Rowing
Is an admirable stimulant of the cir
culation, and, strange as it may
seem, the homely art OF sweeping is
not to be desp.sed. When you take
walk, have an object. Take UP the
long neglected study of botany, geol-
ogy or photography. Have some
charitable work, and don't watch
your little aches and pains. 8. Dress
sensibly. Your husband will agree
with me that you never look so sweet
and lovable as when you wear your
tea-gowns. You don't need to appear
sloyenIy. The most artistic dress is
that which shows the true shape of
the human form, without exaggera-
ton or distortion, and is far more
healthful.--Health Record.