Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-28
WOMEN OF EUROPE
THE WAY WIVES MUST WORK TO
PLEASE HUSBANDS.
Easy Life Of the Men-Girls as Bread
Winners Maidens and
Market Days.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
1T seems to be a general opinion In Eu-
rope that the American woman Is an idle.
frivolous thing. so spoiled and idolized by
the American lord of creation that she
tyrannizes over him." said a traveller who
has just returned from abroad. Every
where we were greeted with. You ladies in
America don't have to worry about any
thing. The men bear all the burdens.
Everywhere the women expressed SYM
pathy for the poor American man. In one
of the German operas occurs the line,
'Ach, wir armen, armen Buben, sind in
America schlimm daran' Cab, we poor,
poor boys have hard time of 1t in Amer
icaI). Yes. the poor American man is to
be pitied and all because his wife does MT
spread his bread and blacken his shoes FOR
him.
I'm little Holland the hardest work seems
to be done by the women. whether 1t De
wearing a crown or pulling peat boat on
a canal. This latter we actually saw III
Groningen, a city in the northern part OF
Holland. 1t was large boat, heavily
laden. A man, probably the husband, was
in it. steering it safely along past other
similar freight boats. while a woman was
on the tow path, pulling with all her might:
The tow line was attached to a sort OF
wooden yoke fastened to her shoulders and
waist.
Inc markeC lay
Market day Is peculiarly womans day,
and what a busy scene 1t makes! In Hol-
land there are always scores and scores OF
fishwomen. with their two pals of fish hung
from wooden Jokes placed on their Shout
ders There are women with butter, women
with eggs, women with fruit. women with
vegetables; again others presiding over
rows and rows Of long tables covered with
oh 10 a table booth
where flowers sold, for every one. even
the comparatively poor. must have Dou-
quet of fresh flowers. One is sure to find
table of sweetmeats for the children. we
bought some delicious ice cream sand
witches one of these occasions consisting
of two of the daintiest waters with layer
of ice cream between them. Besides the
regular market days. every morning fish
women may be found near the railroad sta
ton or other convenient places selling their
wares They must take what they can get
for the fish. and on bad days. when buyers
are scarce. they get little enough.
The good housewife sometimes sends the
maid to market, but more generally she
goes in person to select the supply of fresh
fruit and vegetables for her family. In
deed. the lady of the house in both Holland
and Germany follows the commendable Gus
tom Of looking after the many wants of
her family in person. even when her wealth
and position do not make this necessary.
For instance. she will let the girl set the
table for luncheon. but after the family
have gathered my lady herself makes the
tea and cuts and spreads the bread.
said cuts and spreads the bread This
should be reversed for. in reality, after
spreading a napkin on her lap she takes the
loaf of bread, spreads one end with butter,
then cuts Off a slice, spreads again, cuts
another slice. and so on, all the time hold
ing the loaf in her hand. Once when we
were entertained at luncheon where there
were two children our hostess passed us
the butter and some slices of bread, ex-
planning that she had heard that in America
it was customary for each guest at table to
spread his own bread. For her husband
and children she had made the sandwiches
as usual The little girl, watching us break
Off bits of bread with the fingers, either
initiated US uDcOnsciOuSiy preferred our
method to that of cutting her sandwich
into neat little squares. as Dutch etiquette
required However. her conduct did not
pass unobseryed without rebuke. Her
mother reminded her that IL she had not
learned to eat properly she would have to
leave the table. L ventured to remark that
we had set the child a bad example Oh
she said. it is all right for you ladies'. but
Sientje knows better
Dutch Cleanliness