Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-25
|EN NOt71dn s Lite and LOuc
The Womsn Who Loves But Does Not Work
BY wINIFRED HARPER COOLEY

dfion Of life in cities craniped the
family into n tiny fiat; and people stop
ped having so many children: and one
way and another, women were emanci
patcd from the heaviest drudgery, until
many OF the rich and well to do found
themselves virtually idle. Towns and
cities are full Of women who thinl
themselves busy because they have en-
gagcments all day with dressmakcr
matinee and dinner. They are com.
rlctely non productive. being supported
w style by man.
They would tell you they arc domes-
tic, as opposed to the women VINO are
Ia the bread winning game. But that
does not prove that they are especially
keen on home making tasks. They would
say that they preferred love TO 0
career" and married, giving up .
fine vocal future" We nave TO ue
shown that they have received or given
any more love than their sisters, who
are laboring everywhere!
Love is matter Of emotion, senti-
ment. When will we cease mixing il
with housekeeping Industry in or out
of the home is q matter of ability and
conscience, Of temperament. But love
Is volatile, delicate perfume that can :
rot be captured and forced into bottle.
Because woman lives In home and
at least nominally keeps house for a
man, she is said to be one VINO Is
Domestic and loves her husband, the in
ference being that women who do not
do household tasks Or contine all Of
their life TO the interests Of one house
cannot love.
There are, of course, thousands Of
domestic women, especially young ones,
who really do live for love. They are
cngrossed In husband and babies, and
do not broaden their horizon to include
the wider problems Of the world. Then
there are girls who never marry. who
labor In shops and factories, or are
prominent doctors or teachers or artists.
Which OF these sets of women are
happier? Or more useful to the world
in the long run?
Of course. no one doubts that there
must be mothers. 1t Is n valuable con-
tribution to give humanity fine, healthy,
mentally and morally strong sons and
daughters. But many Of the mothers
who produce such are so wise and
capable and understanding Of the
worlds ills that they do not confine
themselves to the domestic tasks, bu,
uid in dozens of philanthropies and
outside movements.
into perfect units. lovely family groups,
Ideally charming and congcnial and
happy. how wonderful life would be
Theorists who oppose women's interest
in educational and civic matters out
side the home always talk as If th.,
utopian condition prevailed. But II
does not.
Let us assume, for the sake of argu-
mcnt, that women are divided into tbs
two classes.-those who merely love ant
do not work to contribute TO the world
and those who are economic laborers
but spinsters. knowing tho excitement
Of the big worlds struggle. ant
triumphs, and independent money. bu,
missing the cmotiona! thrills OF honey.
moons. We have discussed the first
kind. She is not always to be blamed
for being a parasite. Often she married
young. having no practical education
or training. Love in the wild. romantic
sense usually pales or dies after g
| few years. Does she long for the fur
and self-respect Of her sister who has ,
career? Perhaps her husband prove.
coarse and matcrialistic. or stupid nnt
uninspired.l Does she play the old fem:
nine game because she must-but VOW
ing secretly that her daughter shnl
plunge into tine frecr life?