The Washington times., 1903-09-20
The Widow Lot.

~
~ of the human race, the widow is
most so, IL the statistics of the
various civilized countries are to be
credited. She is most sorely oppressed
by poverty. Mortality among widows
is greater than among married woman.
and she is often subject to insanity,
consumption. and other ills OF which her
more fortunate sisters are free.
Incontrovertible figures show that the
husband plays an absorbing part in
woman's life-even il he be not of the
strictly ideal kind-and II is deemed
proof OF woman's power OF endurance
that the widow has not yet combined
with her sisters to demand. as a class.
aid from the state. Since her natural
protector and provisioner is gone. the
government should be made to stand
by her.
The average husband fixes the womans
status in society: he provides for her
and the children according to his means
and is decided help in the latters edu-
cation and bringing up. When he dies
the weight of these important duties
intensiies the agony caused by his de-
mise. and the average widow rightfully
doubts that she is equal to the burden
suddenly put upon her shoulders.
Lot of the Laborer's Widow.
or course. the laborer's and artisans
wife is hardest hit by a husbands death.
Very few workmen are paid we'll enough
10 allow them TO accumulate consider
able savings. and if they do. temporary
cessation of work or sickness or other
misfortunes frequently absorb the great
er part of the accumulated funds. Burial
or sick funds often come to the widows
aid, but they constitute a temporary
benefit, at best. The majority of poor
people have a hankering for gorgeous
funerals. which is eagerly fostered by |
constituencies NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. and /
these latter usually manage 10 get the I
greater portion of the widows mite fur 1
nished by benevolent and other soci- |
et.es.
1t is deplorable fact that the aver /
age widow of laboring man finds her
self opposite nothing" one month after
the husbands death.
What is she to do? A profession she
has not; knowledge of some handicraft
or trade was also denied her. Friends?
she had some as long as the funds from
The burial societies lasted Now they
are busy elsewhere, and-their advice is
scarcely worth having.
Here is the widow with her children.
one or two. at the very least, sometimes
five or six. The little ones want to be
fed, clothed. lodged. and bedded. They
demand care and controlling eye morn
ing. noon. and night.
That this sum OF duties is beyond the
widows power in most cases calls
neither for explanation nor excuse. Here
are some interesting figures Taking
the population OF all civilized countries
rs a whole. it is found that every So
'e0 GOO of the people number among them
J. 200 GOO widows
Without Regular Income.
or that number an average of 400 600
widows are absolutely without regular
income. living from hand TO mouth. no.
showing where The next meal for them
selves and children is to come from.
Many belonging to this great army de-
pend. of course, upon public or private
,harity.
As TO the occupation and business ca
'acity of the average poor widow, the I
figures are interesting: Il
agricultural laSorers. 12i,000
factory girls .-............ 4s,sOO
An average Of $4,000 make precari- {
'us living by doing chores. while %. 600
i've in the poorhouse. or by the aid of !
haTit-
In all civilized countries the mortality
mong widows is excessively high.
act undoubtedly due. in part. 70 depres- I
ion OF spirits caused by the husbands Z
cath. by the loss OF social position and T
( regular. or at least satisfactory. in I
ONE All these privations necessarily
Interfere with the mental and physical
ealth OF the stricken person.