The Washington herald., 1909-01-29
FROM WOMARS
POINT OF VIEW

A woman travelling over the country and
for the sole purpose OF breeding discon-
tent IS a sorry spectacle. I imagine that
gifted lecturers would be likely 70 take
exceptions 10 this statement. but main
tain that lectures which picture home
life as a prison where women are slaves
70 mems needs are not calculated 10 make
the thousands OF wives and mothers con-
tent with their lot, and home IS the cor
ner-stone OF civilization.
We need homes in this twentieth century
quite as much as they were needed in our
grandmothers' days. and somebody must
run them. Since men are the breadwin-
ners, the task naturally falls upon fem
mine shoulders. know il IS the custom
10 cry down hOusewOrk, but the fact re-
mains II must be done by somebody-not
even the most ardent advocate OF femi-
nine independence has found a way 10
eliminate it from daily life. Imagine the
condition OF the business world il all
women were turned into il to fight and
struggle with men for existence The
thought is not pleasant, il is not likely 10
come true, for there IS a host Of women
who would be OF no use in business, but
who manage to make life pleasant for
hardworking men
These are days OF great inventive genius
and Housekeeping has received its share
OF attention. There IS q multitude Of
labOr-Saving devices, and housewives have
no excuse for being without most Of them
Gas ranges have eliminated the worst
feature Of cooking. and washing machines
for clothing and dishes have conquered
two bUgbears OF Housekeeping Nobody
pretends 10 say that. with modern ap-
pliances. h0useWOTk is harder than type
writing or selling merchandise-the hours
Of work seem TO be the point over which
disputes arise But the periods Of rest
possible TO systematic housekeeper
should be taken into considers ton. as
well as the privilege OF yielding to sick
ness before il becomes compelling.
-
The statement that a woman at the
head Of a home produces nothing and
uses everything IS absurd. She produces
very great deal in the form OF comfort.
health and happiness. and for more than
one, usually. I have never yet seen a
profession or occupation that wasaa frac-
tiOnal part as important as looking after
the welfare or the family. but women are
being converted 10 the belief that their
talents are wasted in the home circle.
Talents. forsooth, Many OF them have to
scratch hard and continuously 10 exc out
an existence when suddenly thrown upon
their own resources. 1 never believed in
allowing real talent TO 20 to waste. but
better that than e comf0rtless home.
shall never forget the home Of "a
nous poetess whom / used to visit as a
child. 1t was unspeaksbly slack, and
there were two children growing I'D in il.
Poets no not write all the time, I learned
at that time. but this one did not think
1t necessary 10 spend the long periods Of
waiting for inspiration in doing anything
useful To this day I cannot understand
why she could not have combined writing
with other work Women whose names
viii never be forgotten have done IT, I
should Ike 10 meet again d young woman
in whom I was interested a few years
agO-I would ike 10 know II she has
changed much in her ideas She was
keeping house for an invalid father. and
having no special talent for anything else.
/ she decided to be a perfect housekeeper.
she was that then. as far as could see.
but her ambition was not satisfied
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