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

~ of the human race, the widow is
most so. If 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 if he be not of the
strictly ideal kind-and it 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 woman's
status in society; he provides for her
and the children according to his means
and is q decided help in the latter's edIi-
cation and bringing up. When he dies
intensifies 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 LaboTer's Widow.
OF course. the laborer's and artisans
wife is hardest hit by husbands death.
Very few workmen are paid well enough
to allow them to accumulate consider
able savings, and II 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 laundering for gorgeous
funerals. which is eagerly fostered by
constituencies undertaker-sh sharks, and
these latter usually manage TO get the
greater portion OF the widows mite fur
nished by benevolent and other soci-
cites.
1t is deplorabie fact that the aver
age widow of laboring man finds her
self opposite nothing" one month after
the husbands death
What is she 10 do? 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. |
~ III
Ave 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 I
the population OF all civilized countries
as a whole, it is found that every So l
OcO 600 of the people number among them /
2 200, 600 widows
Without Regular Income.
widows are absolutely without regular /
income. living from hand TO mouth. not
knowing 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
charity.
As TO the occupation and business ca
pacity of the average poor widow, the
figures are interesting.
laSorers.. 121 .000
Factory girls. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. 4s 800
An average Of $1,000 make a precari-
Gus living by doing chores. while % 900
live in the poorhouse. or by the aid of
charity.
In all civilized countries the mortality
among widows is excessively high.
fact undoubtedly due. in part 70 depres-
sion OF spirits caused by the husbands
death. by the loss OF social position and
Of a regular. or at least satisfactory, in
come. All these privations necessarily
interfere with the mental and physical
health Of the stricken person.