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DOMESTIC MARTYRS.

Dear Linda, Seeing by “ Shamrock’s ” letter that they had—l speak in the plural, for of course “ Shamrock ” speaks for more than herself appreciated my former letter on rational dress, of which you must know I am a practical advocate, why, of course I shall be only too glad to further extend the interest already excited by your “Home Circle,” which, by the way, is a great improvement on “ Ladies’ Page.” I was reading the other day a very interesting article on the subject of physical exercise for women—a subject I have always taken a great interest in, but which, I am sorry to say, too few women trouble their heads about. Yet it is of vital importance, affecting not only the health ef the body, but also the mind. We women have been used to taking a back seat, to use a colonial phrase, in all matters pertaining to the cultivation of the body from time immemorial, and are only just awakening to a sense of our duties, and not before it is time either.

1 was just remarking to a friend the other day on the number of sallow, washed-out looking .women one sees, and not old women—not in years, at anyrate, though they look old enough, poor things. Now, what ot who is to blame for this ? First, their husbands, for they expect their wives to spend all, or nearly all their time, indoors, to be continually cooking, sewing, cleaning, etc., till they get to be mere automatons, and have no “thought above their housework and their children.

“ Why don’t you take advantage of the sunshine ?” I asked a neighbour. “ It is a beautiful day, and you should take advantage of it.”

“ I can’t. As soon as dinner is over I have an afternoon’s sewing to do.” “Well, let the sewing wait,” I exclaimed.

“Oh ! that would, never do. It would be— ‘ Mother, my trousers are torn,’ ‘ Mother, my stockings have holes in them,’ etc. Some day they will be grown up and able to do for themselves, but,” she added with a wan smile, “ I suppose I shan’t care much then whether the sun shines or not.”

And oh ! what a world of pathos was in those few words. I thought—How many are there whose lot in life is just as this ? Mother is a machine, and will work, work, day in, day out. She never gets tired or rusty, never wants a rest or change. But one day there comes a break and the machine stops, perhaps only for repairs—too often for good. Need this have been P Could not a little time have been spared earlier to rest and recruit ? I think so. .Why does the husband allow this ? Because it is the custom. His mother did it, and his father’s mother too. So it is, and so it should be, I suppose. This is his fault mainly, the mother’s fault partly in allowing herself to be made a slave of to the sacrifice of health, the most precious boon God has given us. So I say to all young wives, yes, and husbands too — “ Don’t sacrifice this precious boon on the altar of domestic comfort, so-called. A little time taken at the right moment and spent in enjoyment of Nature will return you interest a thousand times in years to come. I wish your “Home Circle” every success, and promise you shall hear from me again as soon as 1 have something to write about. Etta.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SOCR18940623.2.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 12, 23 June 1894, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
584

DOMESTIC MARTYRS. Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 12, 23 June 1894, Page 3

DOMESTIC MARTYRS. Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 12, 23 June 1894, Page 3

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