The wageworker., 1910-05-13
WOMAN AT
THE HEAD
By SADIE OLCOTT
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association

near MelQofI. singular custom Is OBJ
served annually. According to tradi-
ton. 1t dates back to the thirteenth
century. During that era the hamlet
was ON one occasion attacked by
band Of robbers. and the men Of the
village were soon compelled to beat a
retreat
Thereupon the women boldly at
tackled the robbers and not only van
quished them. but also took the leader
and several OF the band prisoners. AS
token Of their gratitude the men
have ever since allowed the women
to celebrate this great event by hold
ing u festival ut stated intervals. and
on such occasions they exercise no au-
thority themselves. but submit in all
things to the will Of the women.
Now. there lived In this hamlet q
pair of lovers. Carl Koopman and
Gretchen Boucher who had often dis
cussed the relative hardship Of men
| and women's work. Carl ayerring that
women have Il very easy time. When
few days before their marriage one
Of these festivals was to come off
Gretchen ordered Carl to report him
self at her home. where she lived with
her father and mother and number
of younger brothers and sisters aged
all the way from fourteen years to
three months. and to remain there
during the day subject to her direc-
tions.
On the day of the festival Carl ap-
peared. good natured. smiling. evident
~ much pleased at the novel situation
CT Obeying his sweetheart for whole
day. He found Gretchen in care Of
the family. her father and mother hav-
ing taken holiday and gone into
Me!dorf to enjoy themselves.
Wash the breakfast Dishes" said
Gretchen.
Carl went into the kitchen. poured
some water into pan and proceeded
to wash the dishes When he had
finished he called Gretchen to inspect
his work. She looked over the dishes
and put her finger in the dishwater
"Stone cold" she said Heat some
water and do them again. Look at the
grease on them"
Carl was trifle sobered at this. but
he was resolved to do his part and
obey orders implicitly He heated
some water and washed the dishes
again. scalding his fingers ut the work.
Gretchen permitted him to put the
dishes in the cupboard. then told him
to do the morning sweeping. He sent
the dust up into the room. and it set
tied on the furniture instead Of the
floor. After an hours work Gretchen
told him to stop. to get some wet tea
leaves. put them ON the floor and do
the work over
Having given him scolding.
Gretchen told him that he was to
mind the baby while she took the
children out for walk. He was to
have the dinner ready by the time they
returned.
Carl saw her depart with misgiv-
ings. The novelty Of the situation was
wearing Off The baby was quite
peaceful fer time. then suddenly be-
gan to bawl. Carl took 1t up and
walked about with 1t for awhile. then
put 1t down again. But the baby was
not minded to be put down Tho
squa wiling recommended Carl took IL
up again. but the squa wiling being re-
newed he repeated the process again
and again In other words. he was
obliged to keep the baby in his arms.
| About noon the child fell asleep on
his shoulder. and he laid it in its
crib.
1t was now time to get the dinner.
and Carl congratulated himself upon
the baby being eliminated from the
problem Gretchen had put some ba-
con In one dish and some potatoes
which be was to fry In another This
was all the cooking he was to do. and
he had told her that he had often done
1t while camping and would have no
trouble He sliced the potatoes and
the bacon and when he considered the
Gre hot enough set the pans contain
ing then on it. having first heated
some fat for the potatoes.
Both the bacon and the potatoes be.
gan to sizZle. and Carl was turning the
latter when the baby woke up. The
child cried to be taken up. but Carl
couldn't well leave his cooking. SO he
let 1t lie till he was afraid It would
burst n blood vessel. when he went to
! it. a greasy fork in one hand and q
towel in the other. and tried to soothe
it. But the baby screamed harder and
harder. az much as to say IF you don't
take me up I'll commit suicide III
spnsms." Carl tried to coax 1t. then
losing his patience. scolded. Neither
had any effect.
Meanwhile the fire was getting very
hot. and suddenly the fat used in cook
ing the potatoes caught fire and threat
ened the destruction Of the house
Carl tried to blow out the blaze. Fail
ing III this he seized cloth and tried
to fan it out. Then the baby ceased
7 crying. and Carl. suspecting something
wrong. looked at and saw that it was
making one Of those gasps for breath
babies make between squawls. He ran
4 | to 1t. 1t recovered its breath and be
gan again TO yell in deadly rage. Car
ran from II to the potatoes. seized the