Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1900-1903, 1902-08-28
HER Wi. ~ Err
ABLE SPOT s. q
BY LAvoN c. CHENEY.

erected by the people OF SnultlsVllIe.
She had been placed in her exalted
position by the male portion of the
community, as shining example of
what woman should be, and used by
it as a prod to the energies of the re-
luctantly admiring and, secretly en-
vious female inhabitants. The con-
census of opinion was expressed by
Deacon Wilson when he said:
"She's the best worker fur ten
miles round, and 'es got git up
enough fur two wimmin!'
From this it may readily be gath
cred that the villagers standard of
excellence in q woman was not beauty
nor intellectual gifts, but ability to
work.
Mrs. Pottsey's capacity in this direc-
ton was never ending source of con-
versation among the women, and the
fact of its being a common occurrence
in the life of this remarkable piece of
femininity to buy calico for a dress
one morning and wear the finished
garment on the day following, was
something of which to brag to less ia
vored communities. And the work upon
it was done entirely by hand, for sew
ing machines were not considered
necessary article of furniture, and
were looked upon as a luxury to be
indulged in only by the very rich, al
though they were sometimes acquired
by the very lazy.
Mrs. Pottsey's browning achieve
ment was the trousers of the late
Mr.. Pottsey. during the llIetlne or
her usband, she mad purchased the
material ma Tor pair OF pantaloonse one me
morning, and that gentleman naa
oonheo a'hose sanie saiineies - eno
afternoon as ne1iig possipie'
neutrality-suspicious. re MS once az
pail bearer during the oDsequlaes OF q
nelghbor.
whether these strenuous exertl on
on the part OF his spouse mao SO wear
led Mr.. Pottsey thai ne was glao 70
seek place wnere WoTk II .lnk !. :
It is lmPoss lDIe 70 say ne nag Deenle
Paiei HseA,I Ht,ie ma ~ lac l II
the energy when tne woman, peslae
wnom ne nad peen opllged 20 spendlln NJ
lie, possessed IN sucn supeTaouiillu l-
anee--and she was net a. al DackWaru
IN showing sher cohtehlpt lot those
wnose<end low We're not equai 20
her own. 1nls, no douDo, wore On MN
70 an extern 1nat renuereu MIN per-
.ectly WILING - sAciiaAse 1no ieai-
l.les q TUG Wori'. 8, ~ e lefa - : loi
u une promises = 1lle 49, - 80.
J Inc lnsc iip.ion W ms 'onio 0one WAS
chaFacteristlc q Ms reiatioh n NE,
for even ~ o'ea1n ne was NO. alioWeu
TO assert himself, Due was iaiu 70 rest
as washington oeloVeu nusDanu o.
AenoDla rottsey.
mere was no suggestion OF meek
ness ABOUT MRss f>opbsey.. Sne was tall i
ana rather tnln Win .snapp5ifng black
eyes anu slnooLn' Dlack nalfi showing
no thread OF white. very courageous,
indeed, would be the hair to dare un-
furl a white banner in ] head. It's
death would be sudden and ignomin-
ious. Common eportprovidedh her with
a sharp tongue. But this detriment. in
the mind of her male acquaintance
was more than balanced by the mate
rial advantages she could confer on a
possible successor to the late Mr..
Pottsey. Naturally, a woman who split
her own wood, MIXED her own COW
and did other things commonly sup
posed to be mans work, had many adj
mirers.
AS Lemuel Jones-called sIazv
Jones'' by his friends. in playful all,l-
sion to his well-known dislike for
manual la Dor expressed it to a select
coterie of his cronies: "You would
not have to do. a thing but lest set down
and take-it easy. she'd do the hnst-
ling. Al woman that'u climb a ladder
and, naint her own house II. iii woman
for me-"
when Mr. Zones one afternoon IN
+errnpted Mrs. pottsev,s strenuous
processes bv KNOCKING At the door she
was engaged in putting the finishing
touches to q .scolor scheme, in her best
room, The predorninating shade was a
sort of blush red In this little COM
munity the color was not dignified
with 4 name. but was simply called
aaniline dve., tt was quite a fadin the
village, and everybody who had any
claim to distinction possessed some
thing dyed to this particular hue. Mrs.
Pottsey had Impaired the Startling
tint to several objects in the room.
The ribbon which held back. the Not
tiflgham lace curtains showed their ac-