New-York tribune., 1901-07-28
LIFE IN THE COUNTRY.
VIEWS OF A ''RUsTICAToR' WHO THINKS
1T A STRENUOUS MATTER AND
HARD ON WOMEN
HARD ON WOMEN.

Going into the rural part OF Northern New-Eng-
Land this summer. several observations were forced
upon the mind of "rusticator," as the native
population jocosely calls the summer visitor.
Life is a strenuous matter in these small coun-
Try towns, she says, "even when the vacation sea-
son is upon them. And 1t be intensified
strain IN the winter. This strenuousness shows
most strongly in the faces and figures of the
women. The men take things more easily. Their
farming other business gives them wider in
terests, and even the most respected citizens are
content to while away evening stormy
afternoon sitting barrel in the village grocery
shop, relishing the last bit of neighborhood gos-
sip Their faces usually heavier than those
OF the women, and dull, rather than discouraged
looking.
''It has almost passed into proverb that the
chief recruits to the insane asyluu,s farmers
wives and from small, quiet centres whose
horizons have narrowed that at last the con-
traction shuts out reason The tendency to this
dreary state of things Is far from being the
woman's fault: It is her misfortune. and one does
not have TO look far for the cause It is not want
Of money but want of opportunity and the it
because-it-alwa as-been-so attitude
which limit her horizon.
farmers wife and small shopkeeper's wife alike
rise betimes IN true Scriptural fashion. because
forsooth. breakfast must be out OF the way and
dishes washed before o'clock There is almost
a servant hired help is more bother than
good" is the invariable assertion. All the rest of
the morning is spent in housework chiefly In the
kitchen making cakes and pies and cooking a mea I
dinner, which is seldom served later than 1880
o'clock. By the time dinner is eaten-this function
never takes overlong-the food set away and the
dishes washed, all in the heat of MONDAY the
housewife has earned a respite But leisure has no
especial value of its own: it is only a stopping
time until the next piece Of work must be taken
up. Perhaps she lies down for half an hour al all
events she changes her morning wrapper for some
thing more pretentous, and then sits the
porch for hour two darning stockings or
doing inevitable sewing. keeping her eye on the
children meanwhile. for a nursery maid is an
undreamed OF luxury.
Supper is light meal often a cold one served
early to get 1t out of the way'-the main am
bition apparently regarding any meal. Then in
the evening comes half hours reading, perhaps a
drive neighborhood call and afterward early
to bed. for tired nature will itself against
the morrows early rising. So one day follows an
other.
What is the OF IT alp" one is tempted to
ask. beyond the mere getting through with life
like the getting through with eating? There is
no repose-thc word is an unknown one-there Is
little content, because the demon Of work is al
ways nagging the conscientious woman There is
Of course. the surface cultivation. which comes
from reading the average local papers and the
chance magazine but there is seldom any appreca-
ton OF good literature. even less of music, and
virtually none OF art. One longs to help these
women, to ft them out OF the everyday common
place into the eternal verities of life its laws OF
harmony and proportion, its light OF inspiration
from the real books and the best music and the
finest pictures. The germ OF appreciation must
exist in most OF them: they Of too good stock
have 1t otherwise
'ghey are not lovely women. were
meant to be. True. does not always find fem
mime loveliness In the larger centres OF life but
one does find Il far ottener there the better
classes. such as many OF these same in the
country towns really They have little per-
sonaI beauty. Hurrying up get early break