Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-16
Two Types of "Farmer.' Wives

1
Editor Kennebec Journals:
| Your remarks on Farmers Wives
a few days ago was of interest.
| Roughly l think they may be divided
into two great classes: Farmers.
| wives and women who live in farm
houses" There are of course many
| degrees of each of these but | will en-
| deavor to describe an extreme of each
of them. There is the type which /
| hope is rare, although the tendency of
the times seems to multiply the spe-
eies She is as rule the most exact
| ing and at the same time the least de-
serving of womankfnd. She demands
| as right about everything for her
| comfort and convenience. irrespective
of the fact that such cost money and
have in the great majority of cases to
be worked for, and yet fatty refuses
| to help in the acquiring of such con-
| veniences; getting a pail of water on
occasion OF feeding chickens and such
things are way beneath her. Possibly
she may condescend to have gar
den If her hardworked husband acts
as gardener.
Water on tap, electric light and
power for running things at the house
are mere necessary trifies which cost
! nothing in work or money. These and
many more she demands and expects
from the man, who, today. is the
poorest paid, in proportion to the mon
ey he has invested and the labor he
puts forth, of any man in any class of
this great and progressive country,
and yet what class of men have done
more to put the country where II is
today? She reminds her husband of
what he would have to pay for such
services as she renders when pre-
haps he has to work all daylight and
more for the necessaries OF lie. her
logic, therefore, is that the HUSBAND
and children, if there are, unfortunate
". any, should go without things
which are absolutely necessary In or
der that she may have money to spend
on Injuries for herself, which is very
wjfely and motherly of her, and as re-
cards children. doubtless. she would
mapnanimously agree to have them II
II were POSSIBLE to incubate them, but
as science has not so far reached that
stage. she absolutely refuses to have
ANYTHING to do with such nuisanees
Sllch type OIL Wouidh SAAOaA~ e-0
have sacrificed herself to the service
and companionship of any man. much
less a mere farmer. She mas now
ever. place in this workaday Worlo.
She might, for instance, by amt OF
hard study and much self improve
ment Join the suffragette ranks OF
engage in other useful work either Tor
the emancipation of her sex OF the
oood of others, but never, never IN
f,ict herself on any member OF the sex
sba processes to despise and whom
she treats as half weakling ana naii
fool.
Compare such with the real farmer s
wife. the good, true, home-loving. W.
manly woman, and they are legion,
God bless every one of them. Tney
a "a the salt Of this old earth, the ieas-
on which makes men respect ana rev
erence womanhood and keeps a stout
heart within him when things go
wrong which is not seldom. on
farm. compelling him to thank dou
that life is worth the living aIter an,
the true helpmeet that FARMER
above all men, needs If he is 10 SUI
coed. and the kind of woman the ma
iority of the farmers in any country
must have if it is to keep great. ohs
il a working woman and her husband
n working man, and both are proua
If the fact. She is not ashamed Oh
he;pp seen feeding the fowls. getting
4 NAH of water, or riding a hayrake IN
having or any other of the hundred
and one things that the true helpmate
viii do on occasion should necessity
arise and provided she wishes ana mas
the health and strength to do so. Is
she not thus conserving her huspahu
fortunes and often saving MIN anu
Incidentally herself the necessity VI
hiring the first hobo who comes aiohs
and values himself at a couple OF doi-
lars a daye And if her HUSBAND Is
half a man he will thoroughly appre-
| ciate this help and on his part con-
slider It his duty and privilege II neeu
nc 70 occasionally dry her Dishes
nurse her baby, hang her washing on
a cold day and the numerous o.nu'
things that make up her days woiN
Such people as these are the ones .'a.
make good on the farms ana arc
among any countrys best citiAeps
Let MS take off our hats to SUCH ane
honor them in every possible way anu
Thus help to do away with the foo,lsn
| snobbery that exists on many farms
| today.
l repeat, God bless every one %
| tbem as He has blessed their mem
| folk. and grant them the happiness
| and success they deserve
| Faithfully yours,
/ WIN IT