Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-11-04
Invalid Women.


Invalid Women.
What are the causes of the valctudi-
parianism of women? This question IS
asked. and in great measure Sensibly
answered, hy Frances Power Cobbe, in
an article published in Tie Hesperian.
First she advances tue reason that there
Is much inherited weakness among wom-
e,l. but next. of great importance, is the
fact that the suffering of large num-
her of women is caused by their own
habits While well conducted women
seldom become bankrupt financially. the
very hest of them often live far beyond
their incomes in the matter of health
and strength. Their nervous energy EN-
ableS them to postpone. continually the
calls of their physical being for food,
Sleep or exercise. This may be caused
either by affection in which case they
sacrifice themselves to serve others: by
conscience, where they fancy that duty
demands their entire service, regardless
of their own needs, or by intellectual in
tcrests, when they deliberately neglect
the requirements of the body in order to
store the mind with more knowledge.
These women draw large drafts on
tneir physical strength. and absolutely
storing rest and nutriment Their
physical instincts are not 50 imperious
as those of men, and they so habitualiy
diresgard them, that ut last poor nature.
constantly Snubbed when she makes her
modest requests. ceases to press Tor
daily settlement. But by and by she
puts i'll an execution of the whole, anu
then comes the dark and lreary day.
Almost the first lesson woman learns,
in her childhood, is to conceal her own
wants and miseries, and to not put other
people "out of their way" for her con
venience. although she is continually put
ting herself out of her way for others.
If illness comes into the house. the
strain upon her strength is still greater,
and she more completely effaceS herself.
reckleSSly relinquishing sleep and neg
Letting to take food 1t is a common
thing to hear women say. i'll cases of
sickness i'll the house. 81 haven't slept in
number of nights, nor had chance to
eat a decent meal in q week" AS soon
IS the pressure is relieved and the nerv-
GUS tension relaxed. the woman breaks
down" and perhaps never enjoys health
again. 1t should also be borne in mind
that if a woman Goes not think of her.
self, it is seldom that anyone thinks for
her.
Touching upon the subject of dress.
this writer says that there are three rea-
sons for its use, namely: Health,
decency, beauty. and adds that while
women do sometimes violate the rules of
decency they persistently miss the con
ttltons of health, and, aiming at beauty
frequently attain only ugliness For this
last fact the writer blameS the men
greatly, declaring that it is the well got
up woman. not the really well dressed
woman who receives by far the larger
share of admiration.
The snobbery of trying to initiate
those III higher, or at least more wealthy
stations in life, is decried Modes that
might do for Il few thousand women who
can ride in their carriages are franticaIly
followed 10y the millions. as nearly as
they can afford, who have to walk or
llac iii street ears. Tight lacng. all
though not so prevalent as it once was.
sui holds sway to a degree. and we are
reminded that it is the maiden with the
wasp waist who always assures us, smil-
'uG through her martyrdom, that her
clothes are really hanging about her
10 continue: The practice of wearing
decollete dresses, SHINING equally as il
uoeS against health and decencv, seems
10 be gradually receding-fr0m ordinary
d'nners, where it was universal twenty
one years ago. to special occasions. balls
ana drawing rooms. But it dies hard
ana 1t may kill Il good many poor crea-
lures yet, and entail on Others the life
ioHg bad health so naturally resulting
rom exposure of large surface of tbe
SNIn to sudden chills.
Inc thin, paper-soled boots which
'aNe the wearcr to feel the chill of the
iIFelhent or the damp of the grass
Wherever she may walk. must hoyn.
shortened thousands of lives. Combined
"tth these. we nave now the high heels
NlHch' In short period. convert the foDt
mo Il shapeleSS defOrmity, no longer
Nailabic for purposes of healthful pXpr-
SlSe An experienced shoemaker in
"tHed the writer that. between The re-
suits of tight boots and high heels. he
scarcely knew lady of 10 who had
What he could call Il foot at all-they
Had mere clubs. And this is done. ali
, MS anguish endured, for the sake Of
beauty. Bad as stays, and chignUnS. and
hSl heels and paint. and low dresses.
ana al other follies of dress are. | am,
However, of opinion that the eliminating
FOLLY of fashions which has most wide
spread and durable consequences. is tie
mode in which for ages back women
nave contrived that their skirts should
act as drags and swaddlng clothes.
weighing down their hips and obstruct
ing the natural motion of the legs.
Does decency require such a sacrifice
rs this: Does the utmost strain Of femi-
age of robes collantes and decolletc
4fesses. can pretend that a reasonably
!uil, simply cut silk or cloth skirt, reach
aug to the ankles and no longer would
not fulfill immeaSurabk better than any
fashion we have seen for many day
me requirements Of true womany deli
"hcy: 1t is for fashion. not decency,
that the activity of women Is thus
crushed, their health ruined and
through themt the health Of their chill
dren
Nest TO unhealthy dress. il is asserted
"I tins writer that women ms lay their
chronic ill-health 10 an excessive addic-
ION to pursuits that give exercise neither
o the brain nor To the body. Among
These are named those of knitting. net
ING; crochet or worsted work. and ike
,3npioyments. Pursued for Il reasonable
'ehgth of time each day. these ocCupa-
-"ns may not be harmful. and may even
'ct as useful Sedative. but this critic
'i women thinks tuaU il = amazing that
s" many women should spend hpurs each
'"F making the nIegiing little molten %
a Fer At