Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-12
ENGLISH MATR0N DIGS
JOY OUT OF THE SOIL
SAYS ALL WOMEN SHOULD DO
MANUAL WORK
She Manages Large Estate Alone
and Is Her Own Carpenter, Brick
layer, Baker, Tlnsmith, Glazier and
Dressmaker
Special Cable to The Herald.

Special Gable to The Herald.
LONDON, Nov. 11.-All American
women should be interested in Mrs.
Edith Dickson of Yorkshire, for she
seems to have discovered the secret of
twentieth century happiness. It isn't
automobiling, or horse racing, or balls.
or parties, or dresses; or anything, in
fact, which the strictly modern woman
is supposed to crave.
One cannot read her straightforward
story-told practically in her own words
without feeling that Mrs. Dickson is
at least not a fanatic, although she
puts her own theories into practice to
an extreme degree. She boasts the
glorious privilege of living her own life
in her own way. Though possessed of
considerable means, in the form of large
landed estates and a number of fine
houses. she believes in personal labor,
ION principle" She is her own archi-
tect, landscape gardener, carpenter,
bricklayer, glazier, baker. painter,
plumber, tinsmith, and even dress
maker She admits that her attempts at
dressmaking would suit no one else
but herself, for her clothes, she wittily
remarks, are without form and void,
like the creation before the Almighty
set it straight"
Mrs. Dickson is tall, broad shoul-
dered woman Of heavy build, who at
once impresses you with the idea that
she would have made a splendid man.
Her face is broad, the forehead high,
and the chin particularly firm. The
head is massive, and her silvery white
hair gives her a commanding appear
ance. Her complexion is ruddy from
exposure to all sorts of weather.
Though Mrs. Dickson is So, she has now
become wonderfully strong and capable
of doing a full days labor along with
any Of her workmen.
''It isn't an easy thing to manage a
gang of men," she said. II have to
watch these fellows at every turn. I
examine the joints of all the drain
pipes laid down on my place, and If
there is anything wrong they have to
put it right before will pay. Some of
the men, when they first come on here,
try to make trouble; but they soon find
out that I mean business and won't
stand for any foolishness. Some men
won't be bossed by a woman. I don't
try to boss them; but I want them to
know that 1 have made a study of
pretty nearly every kind of work that
has to be done about a farm or a
building estate. When they realize this
they stop trying to do me, and we get
on we'll enough"
"You advocate the simple life-wom-
ans rights-and all that sort of thing?"
"Well. yes" said Mrs. Dickson, taxi
ing up a spade and beginning to load a
WheelbaroW with some quicklime, II
believe in living without luxury. I be-
lieve in good, nourishing food Of the
best quality, studied with a view to
building up the frame and making
muscle-none of your delicacies.
zone good meal a day is, 1 think.
sufficient, and that one take about
in the evening, when my days work is
done. In the morning a light breakfast
meal, with we'll baked brown bread, or
white, made from the best -four. should
be sufficient for any one. I bake all
the bread eat, A light midday repast
with some fruit and nuts, should suf-
flee. 1 like my principal meal late
when my days labor is done and
can rest comfortably afterward.
LAS to work, 1 believe all women
should do manual work of some kind
and should take an interest in socia,
affairs. When 1 first came down here
and before 1 began to work as I dc
now l was so delicate 1 could not have
walked to the top of one of the hills
/ about here. l began working about
the farm and before long my health
became splendid. If all women took al
interest in some sort of outdoor worl
they would never think of doctors oil
medicine"