Evening star., 1901-12-07
Vivid Description Of the Homes in
Olden Times.
WERE FACTORIES FOR WOMAE'S WORK
Past Offers Little That Could I'M
prove the Present.
THE HARDSHIPs OVERCOME

Written for The Evening Star by Elizabeth Cady
Stanton
The contrast between home life now and
century ago can hardly be imagined by
those of today
The home in both country and town was
then the great workhouse for all the indus
tries. Women as mothers wives, daugh-
ters and housekeepers, with all the natural
duties that pertain to these relations. were
constantly engaged in many forms of labor
practically unknown in the home at pres
ent. They were dreSsmakers, tailoresses,
adept in the use of goose and press board,
spinners of yarn, knitters of stockings.
weavers of all the family clothing. bed and
table linen, dyers of different fabrics and
yarn for carpets and blankets, skilled in
all kinds of cooking, preserving fruit, max
ing pickles, candles and soap, both for toi-
let and laundry.
The spacious kitchens a century ago diff
fered widely from the little bandboxes in
the fashionable homes of today. Every
autumn they were scenes of great festivi-
ties. Huge pigs were brought In to be dis
sected and the different parts classified ac-
cording to their value. The skins had al
ready been sold to saddle and harness
makers. The sides were cut in pieces
weighing two or three pounds each, put
into barrels and covered with brine. Head
cheese and lard were made and packed in
jars, and the sausage meat, ground fine,
seasoned and stuffed in cases. All these
were carefully stored in the great cellar,
already filled to overflowing with a goodly
supply of provisions for winters use.
1t was almost impossible to keep the chill
dren, always on tour of inspection, out
of the kitchen during this hilarious season.
It's attractions were Increased by the de-
lightful negro melodies, for, as a number
of the northern states had only recently
abolished slavery colored help still reigned
and ruled in many families and were the
special favorites of the children.
Many pounds of butter and cheese were
made every year: turkeys, geese, ducks
and hens were fed and cared for, and hum
dreds of eggs creased with lard and packed
in jars for the winter. A large amount of
mince meat for pies and puddings, well
chopped and seasoned, was put into small
pals and hung in dry place for future
use You will see these little tin pals
tightly covered, hung on hooks in the
kitchens of England today where the heat
is supposed to keep them from molding.
Over all this and much more the wives
and daughters held the keys and kept a
careful supervision, in addition to the daily
treadmill and the never-ending cares of
numerous children.
Now All is Changed.
Now all is changed and most of these in
dustries are banished from the home Bread
and all kinds of pastry are made in public
bakeries. Pickles, jellies, preserves and
canned fruit are sold by the grocer. Laun-
dries dispose of the family washing. Butch
ers supply every variety of meat. Men are
cooks and walters in the hotels, restau-
rants and many private families. Men are
hair dressers, manicures chropodsts, mil
liners and dressmakers, and to men women
go for the modern tailor-made suit.
Thus women have been forced into high
er and more profitable occupations. They
now compose the majority Of teachers in
private and public schools and are on the
faculties of the universities. They give
lessons in dancing, music and all the arts.
They have mercantile establishments of
their own and go to foreign countries to
buy goods for them and for other firms.
They are found in all the public Offices as
clerks. copyists and stenographers. They
are typesetters, reporters writer's and ed
itors on daily, weekly and monthly period
icals. They are in the courts, hospitals
and pulpits, and in the theaters, concerts
and on the lecture platform.
We ofsen hear the complaint that woman
has drives man out of his legitimate en-
ployments; but the facts show that man
himself has robbed woman of her legiti-
mate industries.
In the homes even of the richest classes
in olden times women had few opportuni-
ties for intellectual development They read
but little as libraries were scarce and
magazines and journals few. They were
supposed neither to know nor care anything
about the technical questions Of govern
ment, religion, science and art.
The holidays were Christmas. New Year,
Fourth of July, county militia training day
when the troops were reviewed. I'or this
the farmers from far and near came into
town with their barrels of cider, pies, gin
ger bread, apples and cheese for sale, while
the young people had their sports with
full band of music
The contrast in the children's Christmas
stocking then and now is marked indeed.
Instead of jewelry, handsome books, ex-
pensive toys, attractive games and boxes of
bonbons, they had 2j-cent piece I'm the
toe, a few raisins and almonds, bright red
apple, fried cake, a catechism and a long
stick, If the owner of the stocking had
been unruly during the year.
Election day was another marked event
when farmers came to town from all the
country roundabout to cast their ballots
for men and measures. Some voters in
dulged too freely in what was then called
rum, and 1t was not an unusual sight to
see one American citizen held up by two
others while he deposited his vote.
Homely EnjOynents.
Womens relaxations were apple ana
quitting bees. school exhibitions donation
parties, church fairs. dinners, teas, evening