Woman and the Primitive HomeBy Mrs. St. Clair Stobart(See page 144)(From “War and Woman.”)
By Mrs. St. Clair Stobart
(See page 144)
(From “War and Woman.”)
In the days when such proverbs as “The woman, the cat and the chimney should never leave the house”, “Bonne femme est oiseau de cage”, “A wife and a broken leg are best left at home”, were current in every household, there was some reason why women should remain at home. Forwithin the homewere conducted—by women—all the industries of life. In those days women not only made jams and pickles, cured the hams and bacon, concocted wines and medicines, they also designed and embroidered all the curtains, tapestries and carpets; the making of beautiful laces, the spinning, the weaving, the sewing and the knitting of all the garments was committed to the charge of women. In those days when the control of all that made life worth living was with woman, she did not need, nor did she seek, outside occupations, which indeed consisted chiefly of the less intellectual pursuits of hunting and fishing. There was plenty of scopewithindoors for the intellectual, industrial, and artistic faculties of every active-minded woman. If it is true that woman was more honored at that time when she remained indoors than she is now, this wasnot becauseshe remainedat home, but because all the arts and crafts of life were in her hands—within the home. But now all this is changed, through no fault of the woman herself, and, except for the young wife and mother who has plenty of occupation in the rearing of her family, there is not enough workwithin the homefor additional active-minded and able-bodied women, the numerous daughters, sisters, cousins, aunts, who need occupation, but who have no family of their own because there are not enough men to go round.