The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-01-29
WOMEN'S DUTIES
ARE LEGION
Dorothy Maddox Thinks Their
Lives Are Empty.
Petty Cares EnvirOned by Four
Walls--The SeIf-Imposed Tyr
amy OF Fashion.

Our lives are empty though our hands
are fun. Yes, in spite of oar duties, and
they are legion, we lead lives So empty
! says Dorothy Maddox, in the Philadelphia
Inquirer, that 1 marvel more women do
not fill the suicides grave OF the cell Of
ina dhouse. Petty are our ares, and en-
vironed by fur walls. The tTead-miIl Of
each hour leaves small cnance for seeking
a broader sphere. We have become the
worlds bust because OF our curiosity,
beca use of 1;Ir chatter, because Of our Keen
interest in trivialities. We are not such
fools as to be ignorant OF the real va iua-
ton set upon feminine brains. Why should
we not bind ourselves down 10 common
places? What escape Is offered us into
the broad and breezy realm where man,
favored mortal roams III undisputed free
dom?
Look how we are hedged about. We
love our homes. In order To keep them
in genteel touch with tnt extreme ciyiliza-
ton OF the hour we must circle "A bout them
until Overwrought vitality refuses longer
service. We love our husba nds, and yet
we lose step with them at every turn.
Our sphere is cont ra cted. Men realize this.
They grow FESTIVE at the slowness of our
pace. We are deserted for those who can
supply mind friction. We love our chill
dren, but .rothcrhoOd entails q honda ge
which the save driver of Egypt would
have considered barba rous.
We compel each othec turecOgnize a : im-
portant, matters OF no Importance. Over
the drop OF a skirt. the swing Of a ribbon. the
fluff OF fTlill we eXpend precious thoughts,
precious moments that gTaver topics should
claim. We low down, We worship the few
yerishabe rags We wear. We dare not
rebel against such self Imposed tyranny re
cause we ar ablectly afraid OF each other
IL Is revcTiS'i attention II senSpless things
that fills our world with chattering Great
uresin petticoats with empty pated wOuIen.
It's conscientious attention to duties small.
but eXacting, that corners rs, that bars us
FROM participa ton in concerns which would
enTichour minds. that q ctsas "A dra gDet when
ambition longs for an upward flight.
WHO darss blame us for childish curiosity
that keeps IL all -shiveT a nd a -sha ke along
with mob OF other women that we may
see few yards of tulr whiSked from
church door TO carriage steps Who ia res
blame rs II We are ever ready To run down
a bit OF gossip; chase after a startling Gus
tune and gawk spellbound when anything
unusual co mes alonge
Critics say. 1t II wOman's way" / saw
In all fairness that IL is because Of our
limited opportunities foc development. Tn
derstand. In" opportunities are often many.
Time and money are needed to embrace
them. Both are generally lacking. Women
dwarf their lives at the altar Of matrimony.
The ceasrleSs FOUND OF home duties does
not give some uf US time to read the daily
paper. Men sheer at Sucl a statement tits
true. Let hem attempt Ia shoulder our
cares To men they are pigmies. every one
of them. Neglected they seem To tower
above Us Hike many threatening giants.
We have been tutOred to look upon the
pretttest tasks az having the right 10 ella i'm
our closest scrutiny. We step into our
groove without a murmur. Somsof US might
broaden IL we would. | shall have my say
about such women later; some OF Us are
poor, phtherhiC beings. whom fate has TIED
with thongs that cannot he broken. Escape
for such j. not possible. They 20 down to
thel: graves with souls shriy eled and spir- /
its broken.