The profound satisfaction of a day's work done well is something I hold dear to my heart. To me, work is not a burden, I thoroughly enjoyed being able to work and have something come of it, and to be compensated for my efforts. Work provided me with a purpose, a sense of self-worth, and the knowledge that I did not have to rely on anybody else.
While I enjoyed working and getting paid for it, work would often take something out of me, and I enjoyed my little ritual to relax. I would sit down in a comfortable chair, pour myself a glass of whiskey, grab a novel with a good detective story in it, and light up a cigar.
The cigar, with its robust scent and smoky allure, beckoned to me. It was a moment of release, a transition from the diligent worker to the one who deserved a moment of relaxation and enjoyment.
As I lit the cigar, I inhaled the rich, comforting aroma, and my troubles seemed to dissipate into the swirling smoke. Although it was considered “unbecoming” to smoke cigars, especially for women, although even “nice” gentlemen had stopped the habit, I chose not to deprive myself of this simple pleasure after a hard day’s work. People began to complain about the smell of cigars, however, so while in the office, I've had to take to cigarets instead.
At home, though, I found solace in the simple act of savoring the cigar, in the knowledge that I could embrace both the world of work and the world of leisure without compromise. The cigar became a testament to my desire to live life on my own terms.
- Vivie Warren
I stumbled upon a historical journal entry that provides a unique glimpse into the life and mindset of a 19th-century woman, Vivie Warren. Vivie's perspective on work and her personal indulgences, particularly her fondness for cigars, offers a fascinating perspective on gender roles and societal norms of her time.
Vivie's commitment to her work and her brazen delight in being compensated for it reveal a strong sense of independence and self-worth. Even knowing she was most likely paid less than a male counterpart doing the same job as a woman “was typically paid a lower wage than a male employee” (Wooten, Kemmerer), she saw work as a source of purpose and empowerment, contrasting with societal expectations for women during her era.
Her ritual for relaxation is equally captivating. The choice of a comfortable chair, a glass of whiskey, a detective novel, and a cigar is a departure from the norms of her time. Her description of the cigar's allure, with its "robust scent and smoky allure," is a testament to her desire for moments of self-indulgence and escapism.
What's particularly noteworthy is her defiance of societal conventions, particularly in regard to smoking cigars. She acknowledges that it was considered "unbecoming" for women and that even "nice" gentlemen had abandoned the habit. Her choice to continue enjoying cigars is a bold declaration of her right to live life on her own terms. This highlights her character as a "New Woman" in this era, "a woman who received an education and sought white collar jobs, further [challenging] the 'natural' place of women in the home" (Petit).
While the practice of smoking cigars has largely evolved, Vivie's journal entry offers a valuable historical perspective on how one woman challenged societal expectations and found empowerment through her work and personal indulgences. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of individuality and the capacity to break free from the constraints of one's era, even in the face of criticism and opposition.
Petit, Jeanne. “Breeders, Workers, and Mothers: Gender and the Congressional Literacy Test Debate, 1896-1897.” The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, vol. 3, no. 1, 2004, pp. 35–58. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25144354. Accessed 17 Oct. 2023.
Wootton, Charles W., and Barbara E. Kemmerer. “THE EMERGENCE OF MECHANICAL ACCOUNTING IN THE U.S., 1880-1930.” The Accounting Historians Journal, vol. 34, no. 1, 2007, pp. 91–124. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40698352. Accessed 17 Oct. 2023.