Lucy and Ethel's hopes of joining the posh Society Matrons' League lead to a bet with their husbands over which sex - the men or the women - had it harder living in a bygone era. They select the turn of the last century, and as Lucy and Ethel start to bake their own bread and churn their own butter, the men become acquainted with straight-blade shaving and riding home from work on horseback. They all have some "'splainin'" to do when two ladies from the Society Matrons' League stop by for an unexpected visit.

When Ricky sees Lucy sneaking silver items into their closet, he thinks she's a kleptomaniac. Fred and Ricky question her when they see her hide a cuckoo clock under her coat.