The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-11-30
The Press and Banner.
Abbeville, S. G., Nov. 80, 1910
Coming Back at the Editor
Bridge 1t To You.
Editor of Press and Banner:

Editor OF Pr6SS anQ Banner.
Your very readable article, on the bridge
disease in Abbeville, unquestionably de-
serves much Of the praise that men Of the
city have bestowed on 1t, but the n sid
ed injustice Of it deserves as well, q word
OF comment from the affected patients. OF
course you are not serious in the charge
that any mother neglects her children or
even her household duties in the few
hours recreation that she occasionally
takes at bridge. Perhaps, If a strict in
ventory Of the time Of the men OF the city
was taken, for each day, many hours
might be spared from the record Of each,
to bridge or any other pastime, less OBJ
%iectionable than loafing. But it is not
my purpose to make invidious compari-
sions between the recreation of women
and the recreation of men. Perhaps your
sense of justice will suggest which is usual
ly attended by least Objectionable features
One would think from the light vein in
which you speak Of womans domestic du-
ties, that you were writing Of present con-
ditions In India and China, where the
mother is little more than the slave of the
family. II you have not awakened to the
fact, it Is nevertheless q fact, that widows
no longer burn themselves on their hus-
bands funeral pyre. Women have come
to think that they are fit for something
DeLCer CnaH meIe luel, VI eVell IHe SlafeS VI
lordly husbands.
You will grant that two hours recreation
a week is not bad for the mother who new
or spends an idle moment in the house.
Does it make any kind Of difference wheth-
er these two hours are spent In sewing So
~cieties, ladies aid societies or mere Cos
siping parties?
You, who must know something Of the
grinding details Of housekeeping, can not
be unmindful Of the taxing strain that
they impose on every mother. The finest
spring must ultimately snapif constantly
keyed to it's highest tension. Relaxation
is essential to mortal existence. Does
your wife question your right Of relaxa-
ton exercised In hunting, fishing, travel
ing, talking politics nor mere idling? Then
by what right do you shut of or select her
mode of relaxation, so long as she In the
exercise of it, deports herself as a lady
should?
Most wives, embracing even those af-
fected with bridge mania, love their hus-
hands, and are fond Of their society, and
yet even some Of theseafter being deprived
OF their husbands company for the entire
day will see them only through the hnr-
ried evening meal after which, they go
out for cards or such amusement as fancy
suggests. Can you diagnose this malady
or can you suggest a remedy? Perhaps a
wife may some time bridge her troubles,
not in retaliation, but in mere forgetful-
ness.
And you object to the hats. Now, candi-
dly, what makes the difference between q
hat as seen on a sweetheart and the hat as
seen on ones wife? 1t can not be the
mere difference Of who fOots the bills. And
yet, the hat that made u perfect angel Of
ones sweetheart i'll becomes the same
woman as his wife Perhaps il man knew
better the true woman's heart, and real
lied that she would preserve appearances
as a means of holding the III time too
tickle affections of her better half, he
would more readily excuse what to him
seems but extravaganza. Explain it as
you will, no woman ever dresses eXtrava-
gantle in a mans eye, except his wife, and
if she clings to homcly cunventionalities,
he will he the first to c~riticiSe her appear
ance, deep down in his heart. You say
that "Diagnosticians have traced the
cause of this disease (bridgel to lack of
wholesome work.. And pray who are the
diagnOsticians? If the former editor OF
the Press and Banner had spoken so in
nucently of wOman's work, his lack of
practical knowledge would have saved him
from woman's censure. But what of the
present editors, each Of whom has chill