Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-24

healthy adult woman should be sup.
ported by any ono. unless she Is caring
Tor young children. or maintaining
large home by her own labor.
The thin excuse of looking after
home which Is really cared for by
servants cannot cover the truth that
the 'housckeeper" does not keep the
house One sees innumerable fat. we'll
groomed women idling their lives away.
supported by husbands, to whom they
give nothing but their society. II that
is an economic factor. one may say
that the men also give the wives their
society. In addition to all the support.
Many women go into the commercial
world for the reasons above; they are
conscientious. and see no sense in prey
ing upon their overworKed husbands.
They have supported themselves before
marrying. and do not wish to throw
over their work merely because they
have met and married man they ioved.
Until babies come they feel that their
lives will be suddenly idle. and often
babies never do come.
Other women labor because they have
great gifts. which they have spent
thousands of dollars in developing, and
an earning capacity rnat II would be
cruel TO annul. 1t may be they have
talents in music or some OF the arts,
or have finally made n name for them
selves which has monetary value. 10
state arbitrarily that a woman shall
cease being an architect or singer or
church organiSt or sculptor merely be-
cause she is wife. is to put premium
on spinstcrhood. for many n girl loves
her profession dearly. and will not re-
nounce il for the work Of kitchenmaid.
These. It may be argued, are the
rGre and exceptional women. Folks
always expect n few geniuses to go on
with their life work. even when making
n change in their domestic status-but
the average. garden variety OF girl -
only too glad to quit her salaried Joo
to be a mans darling
Again. the absurd confusion of senti-
ment with finance. Just because a
Young man falls in Iove ne does not
cease all human activities ana throw
over his Job. II he did he would starve
and lose the respect of the whole world.
Why then should woman, because OF
sentimental emotions that arrive in her
| life give IN all her intellectual and
financial activities? 1t is the old back
ground of baby bearing that sapred
woman's physical life and rendered her
irconnhlc Of outside labor which preju"
dices the public. Until she has babies.
| however. she is not just n female. but
| is a human being, with all the activities
of her brothers.
Extreme feministS claim that even n
mother often does better to pursue her
profession and make money, II she lF
gifted. securing with the large added
! income an expert baby nurse or trained
| Kindergarten to give the little one a
hish grade care she herself cannot. All
women are not natural mothers just
because they bear children,
This. however. is dcbatable, whereas
the proposition that every other adult
should contribute active labor to So
ciety is not. The childless woman
surely should work.
There IS still another reason why
married woman work for pay: the
double income is so desirable. Many
n Young couple could marry years be-
fore they do If the girl went on with
her task and brought in the welcome
nav envelope. Strange how strong is
custom it never seems to occur to the
couple. longing to marry. yet grieving
over the bows small income. that this
solution Is possible! They wait year
after year. dreaming OF that possible
raise" that will make marriage a
reality.
It is time for men and women tc
think independently. and act ms they
feel is right. 1t is n brave man who
,risks having his friends think him in
competent or lazy because he lets
his wife work. There are. however, d
growing number who take the common
sense attitude that her Greer is as I'm
pOrtant as theirs. and that they would
rather brave the unklnd criticisms OF
conservatives than hamper her in hei
own development.
The double salary is indeed JOY. and
many young professional people are able
to maintain charming home. travel anC
have innumerable pleasures on his and
her salary which they never could in
dulge in on his alone.