New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-10
Burbling Husbands
PEoic Talk as to Just What
Home Work Is

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. The letter in this morning's
Tribune signed Bachelor" had en-
ragged me almost to the point Of reply
ing, when I looked up the letter Of
April 2. to which "Bachelor~ refers
which enraged me so much more that
feel reply Is imperative to my peace
Of mind.
Most women would be glad, think,
patiently to perform their household
tasks without "burbling," as the gen.
tleman of April 2 so elegantly ex-
presses it, if it were not for such men
as he and "Bachelor." who would rouse
any woman to "burbling" by their COM
plete lack of understanding. Funds
mentally, both letters are the product
of the same point Of view-i. e., that in
running home, with or without maids,
there is nothing to do.
Both are unfair. The "Happy Hus-
band" of April takes woman with a
particularly easy problem IN home
making and holds her up as a shining
example. 1t is perfectly delightful
that the gentleman is satisfied with
his wife. but if, under the circun,-
stances, she found it necessary to
"burble" it would indeed be 8 pity. 1t
IS not fair to compare her to tired"
mother to the tired mothers disad-
vantage.
Complicate that MENACE with
couple of children and see what be-
comes Of the cool-looking wife and the
o'clock dinner. The other of his ain
stances" commands more Of my a1-
miration. A house means much more
care than an apartment, ard children
add about 1000 to all household
chores. Still mother" and $4,000
year must help, not to mention the
scrublady.
Now Bachelors" idea is, apparently,
that wonan's sole occupation in the
tome is washing the dishes While the
woman without maid "loafs al. day.
what, in his estimation, becomes Of
other necessary branches of house
work? Beds are not made by accident,
nor will beneticent Providence scrub
the bathroom, dust, pick Up after nj
lord, count tire wash, do tie marketing,
polish the silver or darn the sooks-to
mention only few Of the details that
cut into womans leisure time.
Then there is the big establ. shment
With many servants. l suppose "Bache.
lor," and probably also "ifappy Hus-
band thinh those run themselves.
The servants are turned on like the hot
water in the morning and function
gayly and perfectly all day without su-
pervi sion or thought on anybodys part.
In business, of course, 1t is called be-
ing in charge Of the personnel
The trouble is both these gentlemen
generalize about that of which they
know nothing. Everybody can not and
would not live in an apartment without
N'i''"i dHu very lew women INV IL"
day to loaf
AS for the husband helping with the
dishes-why, "pathetically American!
| don't know if Bachelor" is an Erg-
iishman or merely Ludendorff in dis
guiSe, but, being American myself. pre-.
Ter to lay it to American efficiency. OBJ
Siously the wife cannot do the dishes
before dinner-why not both 90 them
afterward and get away early to the
After all, a great deal depends on
him for whom woman's tasks are
done. To be a dish. washing husband
may be dreadful; to be foor-scrub.
bing wife possibly less dreadful; but to
be the floor-scrubbing wife OF q MAJ,
with the limited imagination Of "Bache.
Tor" or Happy Husband"--"ye godsr
ANN ELIOT.
South Orange, N. J, April 4 1eao