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Work and Culture in the Household
by
1895
Our problem is this: How may woman enjoy the delights of culture, andat the same time fulfil her duties to family and household? Perhaps itis not assuming too much to say, that, in making known the existenceof such a problem, we have already taken the first step toward itssolution, just as a ship's crew in distress take the first step towardrelief by making a signal which calls attention to their needs.
The next step—after having, as we may say, set our flag athalf-mast—is one which, if all we hear be true, should come easily towomen in council, namely, talking. And talking we must have, even if,as in the social game called "Throwing Light," much of it is done at aventure. In that interesting little game, after a few hints have beengiven concerning "the word," different members of the company begin atonce to talk about it, and think about it, and suggest and hazarddescriptive remarks, according to the idea each has formed of it; thatis, they try, though in the dark, to "throw light." As the interestincreases, the excitement becomes intense. Many of the ideas expressedare absurdly wide of the mark, yet even these help to show what theanswer is not; and often, by their coming in contact, a light isstruck which helps amazingly. And so, in regard to our problem, wehave the hints; then why not begin at once to think about it, and talkabout it, and suggest, and guess, and throw light with all our might?No matter if we even get excited, say absurd things, say utterlypreposterous things, make blunders. Blunders are to be expected. Letthem fly right and left; by hitting together right smartly they maystrike out sparks which shall help us find o