t',::s ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doe. 



IS IT A LASTING BENEFIT FOR WOMEN TO HELP WITH 



OUTDOOR WORK? 



By MRS. JKNNIE R. ROHN, Easton, Pa. 



The idea of outdoor work connected with this subject, will be con- 

 sidered as meaning work on the fields and around the barn, such 

 work as falls within the line of men's work. A short consideration 

 will suffice to show that this is not woman's place of regular duty. 

 There may be certain conditions under which it is allowable for 

 women to do outdoor work, but then it must be such work as is 

 specially fit for them . 



There are more than material benefits which must be considered 

 in this world. Often what seems to pay for the time being does 

 not in the long run. There are women who work in the fields with 

 their husbands, doing any kind of work for the only reason that thus 

 they might save that much expense which would be required to 

 pay another hand. Now women are not physically created to do 

 that sort of labor. The result is that what is saved there, will be 

 required to restore the ruined health of those women. The house- 

 wife certainly should not be confined continually in her kitchen, 

 but should find time to take advantage of the healthful influence 

 of outdoor air; and yet it becomes a serious question whether she 

 shall breathe that air as a laborer upon the field. Woman is to 

 be the helpmeet of man, but not in that sense. Her sphere is the 

 home, and she is eminently fitted for her sphere. She was thus in- 

 tended by the Divine Maker. Although in this age of ours the mew 

 woman" is making herself prominent, and wants to take men's 

 place, yet I hold that it would be far better for the coming genera- 

 tions if she would keep her place, where she is needed and for 

 which she is adapted, namely, the home. 



The house, the yard and the garden constitute the home. This 

 is the kingdom over which she should be queen. Woman's nature, 

 you know, is peculiarly inclined toward the beautiful and the good. 

 I hope the men will excuse me for praising those of my own sex so 

 highly, but those of you who are husbands will agree with me when 

 you consider what good taste your wives displayed in choosing you 

 as their husbands. Women love the beautiful, you see; of course 

 this is not saying that the men do not. But it is woman's duty to 

 make the home beautiful and tastefully arrange things, and keep 

 everything neat and tidy. The men should not be greeted by slov- 

 enly housewives at the threshold, when they return from the fields. 

 Men, too, have some sense of what is tasteful and artistic, and de- 

 light to see their homes orderly and cleanly. Where the family is 

 large, much attention is required of the mother. The children must 

 be looked after and cared for and trained; besides the husband must 

 not find a button off his pair of newly washed trousers, nor a hole 

 unpatched in his blouse. She must see that toothsome meals are 

 ready, and that the larder is well supplied. Her flower plants must 

 be looked after and her gardens kept clean. 



