The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-04
MRS. Gait LAUOS
MARRIED WOMEN
Doubles Original Estimate of New
York Husbands Who Live OF
Their Wives, Making It $4,000.

NEW YORK. Jan. 4.-When Mira
Carrie Chapman Gait gave a jol, To
the public the other day by stating
that $4,000 women In New York were
supporting their husbands she did not
speak rashly, but was combining her
self TO figures cuiled from the last
census. 10 years ago.
Now" says Mrs. Gait. the times
have been SD hard and conditions have
changed SO much that the number IL
probably doubled" which would mean
that $4,000 husbands are living in in
nucuous desuetude while the feminine
half OF the firm thrusts her hatpins
firmly through her headgear and starts
downtown TO her daily work.
The number NJ women who are
helping TO support their families by
working In q way that does not reach
the public-doing fancy work or the
side or making articles for womens
exchanges-can never be known. In
a city with a population OF approx
mately 5,000.0 II Is a conservative
estimate to say that several hundred
thousand women are part sharers IN
the money-making end OF the house
hold"
Why do women do it," she was
asked.
1T usually starts from necessity
she replied. The man gets out OK
work, can find no new job. rent day
and the grocer loom ominously The
woman starts out to see what she can
do. and is simply luckier than the man
in finding employment.
II had a stenographer In my employ
whom | had known before she was
married. Her husband was highly
educated man, teacher in a boys
school but considerably older than
she He was thrown out Of a position.
and il seemed impossible for him to
locate again. Then he tried doing any
thing he could get He took jobs as
night Waterman, and work OF that
kind which 10 man OF his equipment
was distinct comedown, and fo-
which he was badly equipped physical
ly. The little he made was insufs-
Gent TO keep his wife and family. so
she took a couple of boardcrs. and
they really kept the family for whole
winter. Then the wife went back 20
her business, and as the man was
making so little, and some one had TO
look after the children. the husband
Quit his job and stayed at home TO
do so.
But this woman had to contend
with the same Inconvenience tina!
most women meet who have families
and go to business. While doing a
mans work she was not released
from her duties as housekeeper. This
woman got breakfast before she Jeff
IN the morning: then her husband
washed the dishes and Strengthened
the house. but badly. Of course. When
she came home at night she gave the
children their supper and put them
70 bed. and then cooked her husbands
supper.
Now. I contend this" and II was
hard to tell whether or NOT there was
a twinkle In Mrs. Cats blue eyes. or
whether they were brighter with
earnestness, "since all agree that
every girl should be so equipped that
n il becomes necessary she can be SELF
supporting and do what We have
always considered a man's work. but
that every boy should be taught Do
mestic duties. so that II circumstances
force him into staying at home while
bly, and creditably perform what Ia
then his bounden duty."
do you think II right for woman
TO earn money after marriage except
as an absolute necessity"
IF she hasn't any children and net
enough home duties to occupy her
do. | think the woman who sits idly
In a boarding ouse or furnished room
f. an INDECENT creature and parasite.
when there are children someone
must look after them. and nature has
made woman the natura. person TO 90
IL. When she does that she Is working
for herself. her husband and her chill
dren. and is absclved from wage earn
ing. Besides, that is the nearest duty.
public opinion in regard TO mar
r.ed woman being a wage Garner mas
changed wonderfully in the last 10
years. Once 1t was thought disgrace
TO a man IL his wife contributed 10
the family income, but 1t Is not so
now"