The Washington herald., 1908-07-06
FROM WOMANS
POINT OF VIEW.

What was intended as a blessing 70
women Is proving something else. accord
cordng to the charges made against us.
The apartment. with its cOnveniences and
it's janitor service, has relieved women OF
the hated drudgery OF homework. to be
sure, but It has left them with an amount
of time on their hands which is not be-
ing put 10 good uses.
I think road-minded persons of both
sexes recognize the value OF recreation.
Life is so strenuous and nerve-racking
that we need an antidote as regular as
the work which claims our first atten-
tion. But when recreation becomes n
dissipation II ceases TO be beneficial and
daily sessions Of bridge whist, teas or
matinees are too exacting for any woman.
When time is saved from wholesome en-
plOyment 10 throw away in such fashion,
there is good ground for complaint by
those most affected by the physical and
mental condition of the mistress of a
home.
I am almost ashamed at times OF the
poor showing l make in comparison with
clever women whom l meet. and am an
average worker. I find a matron, we'll
into middle age. subject 10 long and wear
ing attacks OF neuralgia in the vicinity OF
the vital organs. making pretty clothes
for herself and others. and finding time
for her hobby, embroidery She keeps
her pretty home like a new pin with no
assistance. save that Of the laundress. and
enjoys n reasonable share % social lie
I T,a h,,t -k-
ably loses no time I'm what a man calls
false motions" She has a clear idea OF
what she wants 20 accomplish before be-
ginning on any piece Of work, and there
IS where she has an immense advantage
over women without system.
Rcady-to-wear clothing has driven home
sewing to the narrow confines OF the
sort OF pride in making their Under
clothing and sheets and pillowcases.
I made as they are found in ordinary shops.
| found no favor In feminine eyes till the
/ fad for avoiding labor seized upon the
/ sex. Nowadays beds are made up with
/ coarse. flimsy articles, badly made and
without the necessary wearing qualities
/ that slender purses demand. The time
saved by such purchases would be OF
some account If Il were devoted 20 the
/ interest OF health-in long walks and out
door amusement-or to the cultivation
of the brain. Given to frivolous amuse-
ments IN excess II Is worse than wasted.
| Commercial enterprise has its finger on
the public pulse and wants are filed
with an alacrity that puts dollars into
/ the pockets Of merchants as we'll as those
behind them. SO we behold n fun stock
OF ready-made wearing apparel, lacking
the daintluess and fneness OF homemade
garments and lasting hardy half as long.
a window filed with white wear. Of many
grades and corresponding prices, at
! tracted the attention OF a fairly good
| looking pair Of women the other day
| "Oh. look at those corset covers"' cried
one. so cheap, too. FOR all that lace and
tucking"
Cheap they certainly were. in more
than one sense. but the woman's sense OF
beauty had survived, for she was at
tracted wholly by their appearance. She
was not a wage Garner. for no one Of that
class would have been likely 10 be
sauntering through the streets at that
hour. But she probably would not spend
! time In making her own clothing. even
when 1t means a saving OF money. Our
| grandmothers had 10 do such things for
themselves, and so there was less useless
| fancy work In their day. Now every
store that sells materials for such work
give free instruction and tine classes are
| always comfortably full. Fancy sewing
can be dropped at viii. you know.
BETTY BRADETsN.