Evening star., 1923-03-11

u, OesnS utterly "edfy ol II dtA'
she sat her down and. while
the baby cried and the stew
burned, she wrote the fol-
lowing: .r 49,
Dear Elsie Robinson: I do not be-
l.eye that one can be aware of the
rea! facts regarding housework un-
less, they have had experience and
been through the mill. Housekeepers
and mothers, those without money to
hire things done. are. in sense,
slaves. We run q. laundry, hospital.
schoo!room, dressmaker's establish
ment, nursery and every other busi-
ness. and our salary is room and
board, and they are none of the best
Everyone around your ONCE works
at less strenuous work, less nerve
raclsing work, and gets as much or
more for Il. Now do not mean that
we are actually slaves. but I lack
a better expression for It. I use that
expression because slaves work for
nothing but room and board.
PERSONALLY. like TO manage i
house, think II profitable and happy
work and we'll worth our time. But
perhaps you can advise me as TO tho
best way to improve my condition.
I am unable to do my work this am.
so the floors aren't swept nor the
dishes done. I have overworked for
three babies and now It will have to
stop. I need medical attention badly.
In fact. some have committed suicide
In such a nervous condition as mine.
I cannot keep up payments on my
doctors bill. already too big. yet with
no Improvement to show for It. some
would suggest the clinic in such a
case. but there Is no strength to get
there at 9 am. Nor can I care for
my children properly as wish
"Ail these circumstances lead me,
and other mothers to wonder II there
aren't other things we would prefer
to do. We do not underate mother
hood. It Is here that battles are IN
deed fought, but can you blame US
for being tired? We marry for love,
and then we find ourselves the moth
ers OF too many children. The hon
est truth Is that We are dissatisfied
becaus. we are not decently comfort
able, but many think II IS because we
long for something big and wonder
full
Mothers earn all the praise and
song and prayer Of Mothers Day.
We earn It by hoping, sacrificing and
suffering, physically and mentally.
Mothers health is lost, up all night
wondering about the baby while 9TH
ers sleep. And her salary Is only
more work. more suffering. poor
health and room and board. Do YOU
see GU, reasons for longing and walt
ing?
:: = j. y
T>HE cry in that letter Is echoed in
i the heart Of almost every house
wife who reads this page today. And
lest she and they discount the value
of the following advice, let me hasten
TO state that I have been through
the mill" and know all about the
hurt Of that cry and the reasons Tor
it. No woman can know more about
the grimness and greasiness OF the
household grind than the woman who
writes this article today. SO, when
I give you my valuation Of house
work you may know It was gained
by calculation, calluses and-cussing
And here is that valuation:
fIousework is the easiest job on
earth for a woman.
At once I hear your violent protest
But consider the nerve strain and I
maintain that the home Job affords
the least possible nerve strain for
woman. 1t gives plenty Of DISPOSE
tion-strain, which is quite a differ
ent thing. OF that terrible fraying
Of tho vital forces which the busi-
ness woman knows. the housewife
knows little or nothing.
Housswork isn't an easy JOB. II Is
a very hard Job. And II every other
Job were conducted with the same
unsystematizsd program. economic
waste and unhealthy personal slant.
this world would be Bedlam. House
work is = hard and maddening job
largely because housewives make 1t
sc.
The majority Of brides start wrong.
They aren't really looking for Jobs
they. are looking for romance, FOR
some ono who will make them
happy" protect them from rude con-
facts with life and. above all. pay
the bills. When these rosy illusions
concerning the marital partnership
are stripped away they become i'm
msnsely sorry for themselves. They