The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14

everything we wore. together with COW
eringS for the beds and linen for the
table.
There was not the least question as
to what women should do in those days,
the only inquiry was for the Lords
strength and patience to do enough of it
for the pressing needs of existence.
But there was joy in seeing the
good cloth growing under our hands
all our own work. from the time the
wool ran about on the Sleeps back, and
the linen rustled in the blue eyed flax.
can feel the scratch upon my neck
and wrists OF those new homespun
gowns even now. There was a hun
dred years of wear In the coverlets,
they are hanging W for curtains now
and boasted of as "grandmother's
work." What we are all doing in these
days I cannot tell. Everything is so
brought in all ready to use. we seem,
for the most part, to be just beating the
air. and firing ourselves out trying to
pass the time!
log cabin with one fire?" Not a bit of
1t. That would not have been natural.
We were just as full of vanity and
striving after style as you are now.
For what Is life without new furni-
ture?" Lowell was not the first to ask
that, by any means
Our only notion of ample plenishings
was gained from our mothers descrip-
tions OF what she had known in New
England. To reproduce q few Of these
elegances of tradition was our constant
aim. AS we grew older we succeeded in
getting an additional room built on
with a small fireplace Of its own. This
we regarded as a long pull forward.
hn tl1
trait of a maiden aunt, our chief art
treasure. Looking down upon us in a
large lace collar. and a genteel smper,
this picture was to us an admirable OBJ
ject. and the standard up to which we
strove to furnish. But what could we
do? The days of making artistic some
things out OF nothing were not yet. A
splint rocker and chairs, a shelf of an
cient brown leather covered books,
black silhouettes framed and hung on
the wall, these are the chief things
] can recall. In one moment of desper-
alton we laid down our toughest home
spun coverlet for rug. Our father,
starting to enter the room, paused upon
the threshold as he perceived this ar
rangement, and briefly commanded,
Take those bedclothes up from the
floor" and we. with disappointed
hearts, obeyed.
AS You will imagine, there was no
crowding to afternoon teas in those
days, no flying all over the country for
health or pleasure. The greatest social
treat was to get an afternoons use of
the old horse. and ride along the bride
paths through the cool woods to visit
the mother, or a neighbor. The baby
always went along. and think of one
day when. after had climbed into the
saddle with mine, the old mare yaulteu
over the bars back into her pasture,
leaving Us on tine ground on the other
stoe Did 1 give it UP then? Not at
all. No more than YOU would have
done tour abroad for one little mis-
chance. Besides. was to be conquered
by that animal? I went in and caught
her, backed up into the fence corner,
took UP the baby and mounted again.
know that women now seem to pos
sess everything heart can wish. but
that grand feeling we used to have that
we were producing something. I miss
every day Of my life. OF all the work
we did we liked spinning best My
sranddaughters think it hard that I
will not let them bring my old wheels
to the front. and have them standing
about in halls and parlors as is the
fashion now. But will not have play
things made Of those old wheels. There
are too many serious thoughts and old
memories the sight of them brings back
to me. The sound Of the wheel to a
woman who knew how to use 1t seemed
to fit in with every word of her mind,
but best Of all with trouble. When
things went wrong we would 60 up
stairs and spin it off," The wheels
We're always brought out after a fu-
neral. AS we went back and forth and
drew out the thread the sound seemed
soothing and sad. and akin to our tears
Nothing has ever replaced this treas
ure Of the past.
"Grief, thou hast lost an ever ready
friend. now that the cottage spinning
wheel Is mute"
1t has always seemed to US that In
this recital grandmother touched the
true key note of the unrest Of today
The creative possibilities Of the early
times are not with us. Each woman
has no more her daily task Of definite
productive work set before her
Would we spin and weave? the fac
tories pour upon us fabrics Of every
degree Of excellence and beauty. Would
we cook. wash and iron, and spend the
time in busting and arranging this mis-
cellany Of objects in our homes? If we
do this how shall we dispose of the
army Of other women who seek these
occupations. and are In need Of all
things? Even the impulse for literary
labor seems discouraged by the avail.
anche Of printing loading our tables
and far beyond our power to read and
assimilate.
We walk, we drive, we haunt the
gymnasium and tread the bicycle, and
try. In short, every substitute for those
labors which gave our grandmothers
strong backs and tranquil nerves. Yet
as grandmother used to say, Is it not al
done, often. with sense that we are
only beating the air?"
But while this Is true, let us imagine
ourselves confronted with the necessity
for going back to the old labors and
living the old life from day to day. with
it's every toll and limitation! How many
of us are there who would not shrink
from it utterly?
In seeking to make this estimate OF
the comparative happiness Of oul
grardmothers and ourselves it Is to be
considered that we have thus fan
touched mainly unon the material side
of the question. The greatly changed
conditions Of life have laid a necessity
upon us little known to any ancestress
Her horizon was presumed to be linl-
lieu ~ tHe WelluIe VI UtT
She felt little responsibility upon pub.
lie questions of any description. The
burdens of her day did not include the
anxious problem brought unon us by
the vast increase Of population. Now
the cares Of the outside world press
upon every woman of any degree Of
leisure or social power. A new outle,
has opened for energies released from
the old forms of labor in the needs
Of this great multitude. restless and un.
satisfied, who cover the land, where the
peaceful forests used to stand. Deer
poverty is here. such want in body ant
soul that the diligent and faithful wo.
man may be busy all day long in bet
tering the condition Of those imme.
diately about her. Every dweller II
America has birthrigbt Of peace ant
plenty, and 1t Is our work to bring eaci
one to his own.
1t Is for women, as we'll as for men
to watch the "lug pole" of our civillza
tion, and seek to replace it's weaken
ing fabric with that which shall en-