Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-11-15
Deer ". B. Frie,l d 8

Dear VI. y. friends,
Well done. Farmers Wife You have
certainly introduced a sensational topic.
possibly stirred up a hornet 's-nest il the
brothers do-as We are told-take peek
al cur column.
joint control OF the pocket book! Well
that does sound nice, and as YOU say, il
ism / Bit fair fer the overworked wife 10
have TO beg every cent of wages she has
doubly earned, 10 pay household expenses.
But how many Of the VI. B. sisters would
stand braveiy forth and own to being thus
unfairly treated7 Not many III venture
TO say, though many may be in a state
OF rebellion.
But there are some arguments in favor
of the wrong side OF the question. II
John does the marketing we are saved the
fuss and worry Of deciding " hat will best
suit his appetite, unless as IS generally the
case he comes TO the housekeeper for a list
OF eata bies. " hen we remind him that
certain commodities ''are OUT. of course
II little irritating TO be met with: lis
that grist Of sugar all gone sc soon; " hat
IN the world have you done with it?' or
Nv hat? Butter again. why / bought six
pounds last week, when II has lasted
fully three weeks. But never mind the
little growl. the larder is always replen-
ished and We are saved the troubIe OF CO.
ing 20 the store to order, an important
item in busy woman's calendar.
Then II We were given cur righttui
share OF the pocket book. We should lose
the pleasure OF boarding away the milk
and eggs money, the price OF a few
chickens, or the loose change that anv
smart woman may capture, TO hold for a
benevolent fund. There are SO many pit
Die cases one feels she must help. vet
hates 10 beg the money from a stingy
pocket boCk-i0 or Is cents for postage
10 send good reading or a bundle OF silk
z44-at+ -, n 4,vr s,..
tea for another, there Is the bundle OF dish
towels you have undertaken to sell for
another poor individual (vou send fun
price and a trifie for goodwill, then sell
half the lot and retain the rest TO dis
tribute among friends at Christmasl. You
would surely grow extravagant in lend
ing 10 the Lord" with free access to the
pocket kook.
John takes pride IN seeing you comfort
ably clothed, yet somehow you will go to
the boundary of sha bbiness before max
ing your necessities known. When a new
hat is limited at he says at once: "A new
hat OF course; did ever deny you any
thing in reason2 Only get a decent hat
and don't let the milliner put on too steep
price" Certainly it's not exhilarating al
ter you have pinned the artist OF felt and
feathers down 10 the lowest limit, to
hear John say scornfully: Two dollars
for that thing? why have not spent two
ooilaIs On mats tor lnree years; ana as
you did not price his headgear you can
not safely contradict his statement.
But then these trifies are more than off,
set by some unexpected opening OF the
pocket book for the purchase of the exact
piece OF furniture you have been longing
for. Then, too, John is sure to patronize
all the labor saving inventions for wo-
mans help; you can count the patent
kitchen utensils by the dozen.
Oh, let the pocket book remain closed
II John SO elects, you will find life still
worth living. Natural evolution will
some day set the matter straig ht, and bal
lot-box and pocket book will open to the
twentieth century woman.
Yours for the right,
JANET.
have heard of women who had to pay