Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-07-15
Politene.s Between Husband and Wife.

The Transformation worked in lover after
marriage has long been a pet subject with satir-
lists. Before the nuptia knot is tied the suitor is
all devotion. No business engagement is per-
mittcd to infringe on the evenings consecrated
to his 1fancee. If she drops her fan, misplaces
glove, or needs help in putting on her shawl, he
Is instantly at her side the most eager, the most
patient. the most delicate Of all servants. She
has only to express wish to visit some place Of
amusement, and 10! he waits on her even be-
fore breakfast and though it rains as if deluge
had come. But when the irrevocable VOWS are
said and the honeymoon comfortably over, q
change too often comes over the obsequious cav
aler. The latent selfishness of the male ami
mali begins to develop itself. The wife has to
pick up her own fan, search for her own gloves
shawl herself unassisted, 60 to church alone, get
to concerts when she can. Sometimes the poor
creature is happy to win even civil answer
from her rude, dogmatic lord. Men who would
be civil to even strange servant, OF woman
think it quite natural to be impolite to their
wives.
Yet there is nothing by which even selfish
man can more easily benefit himself than by
respectful, wel-bred and considerate attention
to her he has sworn 10 love and cherish =
Sooner ortlater an imperious or exactlng hus-
band makes an Indifferent or careless wife,
Talk of love as you may, eulogze the forbearance
of woman till the language of praise is exhausted
and still the fact remains that as our sex has not
Il monopoly of human nature, feminneiiesh and
blood feels injustice finally quite as actually as our
selves. 1t may require years to make long
suffering woman as indignant as man would
become in month but she will get indignant al
last, her affection will as inevitable decline, and
the sweetest boon of life will be lost to the hus.
band forever. For money, which is falsely said
to be able to purchase love; and loye, whether
at the sick bed or by the household heart does
what no paid service will. AS the truest happi-
ness which well-regulated mind enjoys is IN
the family relation so there can be no true domes-
tic felicity where there is injustice on one side
and its consequent alienation on the other.
1t may be said that if husband does
love his wife sincerely there is no necessity
for these little acts of politeness. They are
tri6es, we are told. But life is made up OF
trifes. Did the lover despise them once be-
cause they were trifiesl Was not something OF
his earlier success attributable to the assiduity
and delicacy with which he piled his gratified
miss with these trihes2 Will she think the less
of her husband because he shows how thought
full he is of her comfort, even in these trities =
Believe us, if woman's affection is retained nndi.
minished, in spite of the rudeness OF her husband
toward her, it would be vastly increased if he
exhibited little of the lovers courtesy-if he
was consderate in tribes. 1t seems the strang-
est and most incomprehensble thing in the
world, if we look at it dispassionately, that sell
fish men think the only person they can neglect
with impunity are those on whom their happl-
ness principally depends. They are too stupid
ly blind, to use one of their pet phrases, to see
that politeness to wives pays For it is only
uf selfish husbands that We speak. Those who
respect, love and reverence woman, as true wo
manhood ought to be respected, loved ard ven
Grated, need no incentives to be courteous and
considerate to their wives.-Balt. Sun.