Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-05-09
&rashin9tun Standard
HINTS ON HOME-llFE.
Isolation of Women on Farms


Ii is generally thought that women
on farms have life very much apart
from other women. This Is not alto
cether the fault OF their husbands.
Women are ap: to get i'll the habit OF
Shaving at home and the more they
do SO, the harder it becomes Ia " get
started" MANY a farmers wife IS
using strength and time to secure an
extreme ncatness in her home, to pre-
pare elaborate dishes, to trim her chill
dren's clothes unnecessarily or to ex-
eel her neighbors in the number OF
patchwork quilts or carpet.rag balls,
who hasn't time to drive or walk to n
neighbor's. That ncighbor, as well as
herself, may be hungry for woman
companionship.
The farmers wife need not think
she is working for her husband and
her children alone, working from " sun
to sum-" for by go doing she may be
bringing on Il sickness and perhaps a
fatal one.
The farmers wife needs as much
time, if not more, for recreation, than
the hired girl, who has part OF Sunday,
part OF Thursday and her evenings to
use as she wishes. The former should
consider it her duty to know more
than she can possibly learn at home
and by mingling with others she will
at least learn that she is not the only
burden-bearer, nor has she monopoly
OF life's blessings.
OF course, there is always some wo-
man who "goes" leaving work I'M
done and children uncared for, but
there is no need of going to the other
extreme. We can "do for" our famil-
les in other ways than in manual
labor. The mother who never takes
drives or walks with her growing boys
and girls regret it when they are gone
from her arms forever.
Then, too, she ought to 60 out alone
at times, that she may commune with
nature and with human souls as she
herself needs. Many women never
learn to drive, or if they do, have to
wait for man to harness the horse.
There is scarcely woman who cannot
have horse to use if she is reasonable
about it and can drive and harness it
herself.
Then to learn to walk. Take walks
the days you have sitting down to do.
Have a stool and use it while ironing
plain pieces. wiping dishes or pairing
vegetables or fruit, and when your
work is completed, change your apron
and take brisk walk.
A woman who goes out seldom is
apt to notice what others are wearing,
and in return to feel that she is the
"observed OF all observed" In that
connection, advice is here given for
women to get styles in millinery and
wraps and dresses that are not very
pronounced and that they are not liza
BILE to change, or if they do will not be
90 noticeable. Extremes in fashion
are quick to 60 out of style and the
farmers wife who buys "the latest"
craze, who goes out seldom and does
not want to always wear her best, finds
her garments old.fashioned before
worn out.
1t is we'll for those who have long
drives in dust, sunshine, wind and
rain, to avoid flowers, feathers and
much trimming, as such things soon
look faded and old. Remember money
put into good materials, especially
good gloves and shoes, makes a pleas.
ant appearance much more than shod-
dy goods do, however up-to-date in
style.
With an all-wool walking skirt.
plain jacket or cape, cl0se-fitting hat,
with neat glove and shoe, the farmer
women need never fear she is conspic-
uous by her clothes. II she is very
stylish she should let that bent ex.
haust itself in fashionable wrappers
and tea gowns and in house decora-
lions. These will be worn out when
the style passes away.
Provided with good umbrella,
macintosh aud rubbers, she should
be able to get away from home to
church on Sunday and once thro' the
week to visit the school, friends or
club. Yes, l think the farmers wife
can be club woman.
By making our lives attractive for
ourselves we make it attractive to
others, and who does not know OF
many men who would gladly Ego to
farming, but for the opposition of the
wives who dread its drudgery and iso-
lation? If we find way or make one
to get away from home occasionally.
who knows but others will be benefit
ted thereby?
"How does she manage to 60 so
much and get her work dones" How
often have we heard that said of some
energetic woman, and have you not
said, while faithfully hugging the
hearthstone, 81 work all day and &C.
complish nothing?" Try going out
more and see if you do not return to
work with renewed interest.
1904 Will Do Is Well.
st. Louis Globe. Democrat.
If it is deemed advisable to put off