Boy did I laugh when I read this article. With a few modernizations it could easily have been written for current times.

The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser 31 May 1890 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18989427
In this 1890 article Robert J. Burdette lays out his plan to ensure a life of ease if he was a woman. It sounds a bit like he is plotting to use similar tactics if he ever gets the chance.
I love all of these little tricks he mentions though; ensuring the fire goes out every time you touch it and ruining the laundry, both with the reasoning your hopelessness means you will never be expected to do it again.
His strategy on bread cracked me up, making the first loaf so hard that when it is dropped on the dog it kills him, serving the purpose of not being relied upon to bake bread again, and getting a new dog. Mean, but funny…
The nasty tactic to get the shady back seat in the cart was very inventive, although the driver you poke with the umbrella might not think so, and the plans to get all the attention in the theatre, church, the cricket and the tennis is probably similar to those practiced in crowds every day by those who love to be noticed.
I bet you all know someone who uses these kinds of tactics.
Just thinking about how a man would be able to point out so clearly what must be done in order to get out of having to perform unpleasant duties made me realize that many men do this every day!
Don’t deny it… we’re onto you. Do you do the laundry or does she? At the slightest hint of you turning on the washing machine does she bustle in to save her whites? Do you try to stop her? Hmmm…?
Do you use as many dishes as possible to make something simple like a sandwich, ensuring that you will rarely be relied on to make dinner, as the thought of the cleaning up after you have finished is too much for her?
I know this is a gross generalization, and I apologize if it doesn’t apply to you. I do live with three males though, two of whom are in training for self-sufficiency and one I have given up hope on, yes Man, you know who you are… 😉
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