Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-01-28
A Woman's Opinion.

The theory of cooperative living, and the
practice of it are two distinct propositions.
And most especially is this true in all that
appertains to woman's life and work in the
colony. There are two kinds of women in
these cooperative colonies of today, and at
Equality, perhaps, it is not different from
what it is elsewhere. These two varieties
are the woman who came because her hus-
band wanted her to-a large per cent of the
female married population-and the woman
who had figured it out in her own upper
story that the civilized ~ world is all askew
and that it is her duty to set to work and try
to help find the combination of the distracted
old machine this that the blissful dream,
'Peace on EARTH good will to men" may be
resolved into the actual, happy fact of plenty
and unlimited opportunities for all OF this
last there are not many, but it may as well be
said in justice to all that the woman who
came because her husband willed it, being
usually of the gentle, wifely character which
accepts her lot uncomplainingly,) will ''wash"
as well generally, as her more forceful sister
who came lighted by the wayside fire of en-
thusiasm generated at the lighting plant of
Principle. In fact, they all do as well as
their natures and the environment in which
they find themselves will permit them to do.
But women abroad contemplating coming
here ought by some means to be made to rea-
lie the change they are about to step into
when they come to Equality and SO save
much inconsistencies and regret. At home
they are monarchs of all they survey in
cottage. perhaps, and the grounds surround
ing it. They have their routine of house
work-breakfast and dishes, children to get
off to school, house to tidy up, dinner and
dishes and then little leisure to rest or visit
unless sewing or mendng claims attention
Then there are washings. ironings, house
cleanings, ETC., TO be worked in somehow
plenty of work to keep the good home-mother
going all the time.
MAN works from sun to sun, Woman's
work is never done" is rhyme for the
struggling masses out in competition. but at
Equality colony when the hours labor per
day for females prevails, not even poetic
license can make it available But the mid
dle-aged woman coming to east her lot here
has trodden her domestic tread-mill for years
reader, do you realize the force of habit
and to be expected. all at once. to enter a
new and devious path which people try to tell
her is lined with flowers of ease on one side
and buds of luxury on the other makes her
feel da2ed to say the least The ease and
luxury may be somewhere in the neighbour
hood but they are exotics of shy habits and
the women OF Equality haven't crowned
themselves with these intoxicating blossoms
yet scarcely so. However, the change from
doing ones own work carrying out in multi
trdinous detail the endless task of isolated
housekeeping TO that of working in COM
pany OF woman at a single branch for five
Tor morel hours per day is very great. One
would naturally incline TO think this change
is for the better but SO long, il seems. has
woman worn the chains of domestic slavery
that at any effort to strike them off, She like
the Prisoner of Chillon might be heard to
murmur:
Ny very chains and grew friends,
SO much long communion tends