The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-12
DoEsTICKs RESPECTFULLY INQblsKfH
WHAT DO THE WOMEN WANT US TO DC
ABOUT THE WAR!

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herself what she wants Ia most eases
it is as hard to satisfy woman as it would
be to content captain who would sci
you to steer his chip aud Wouldn't tell
you whether he wanted you TO 60 to Jer;
sey or to Japan. They wouldn't be sat
isGed, whatever you do. Especially in
the matter of war. Particularly in the
matter of the present war. Your wife;
or mother, or sister, or whoever may be
the woman that owns you, refuses to be
content, no matter what you do If you
don't join military company, she sulks;
insinuates that you are a coyard, turns
up her nose, and "wishes she Was iftah,
If you do join said company, she scolds
about the expense, grumbles about the
loss of time, and growls whenever you go
to drill though in spite of her growlingi
she always saves the choicest part of tbs
dinner FOR you when you do come.
Then she laughs at you, and calls you 4
"dressed up monkey" the first time she
sees you in uniform and then, as soon
as you are gone out of the house; she
rushes over to Mrs. Jones to tell what d
"sp'eldid officer her husband Is. and
how magnificent he looks in his hew
military dress. Then, if your regiment
is ordered away, aud you lasinuate t,ai
"business affairs will keep you at home;
all her fire is blazing In an Instant, and
she uphraids you for backing out at the
critical moment, and insinuates that ,ou
are "play boy soldier" and then she
wishes she were ulan-shcd d show folks
how to fight. Then, when you fnaly
make up your mind 10 go to the seat Of
war; she burts into wet tears which spots
your new uniform and tarilish the lace or,
your sleeves, and thinks. "you ought to
be ashamed to go off and leave your fam-
i ily." She vows ''she don't believe you
care straw for your wife, or cent fof
your sweet children - she "knows you
would rather he anywhere than at home"
and wishes she were 4 man she'd teach
the President better than to send meu
away frorn their families"
Then. when the day comes for you I'd
start, she VOWS that she "wilI never speak
to you again if you persist in goihg.".-
Then, when you take paper out 0f your
pocket, and pretend to read furlough
from the commandant, excusins you and
giving you leave to stay at home, she
throws her apron over her head, sits down
on the floor and howis aloud, "to thirE
sac should have coward fof husband"
that her husband should be afraid I'd
60 to the wars" And then, when you
tell her that it's all mistake, and that
you are going after ali, she howls louder
than ever. because "she knows you will
be killed." or she feels it in her bones
that you will come home with two VOID
en legs, aud theu how can you lake her
to the Academy on opera night? Then
she resorts ln turn to every one of the
immense lists of female tactics to keep
you at home; she weeTs, she bauters,
she pokes fun at you-she wishes she was
a man-sle gets mad-sbe sulks-she
threatens to go home to her mother-she
coaxes-she won't ever live with you
another day"--she scolds, she en,reats,
and as Il last resort she faihts --ih this
case she always falls into your arms, if
you make an offer to catch her; if YOU
don't offer, aud if It's early in the morn.
ing, and she hasn't made her bed vet;
she'll fail on the bed but if the bed is
nicely made up, she'll fall on the carpet,
SO as not to muss the bed if the faintina
dodge don't work, and you still are re-.
col 10 ha
and that she'll never speak to you again"
and then, in order to prove the bitterness
Of her hate, she goes off and packs your
haversack full of the dainties and delica.
cies of the season then, after ALL at the
very latest moment, she comes aud throws
her arms around your neck, aud whispers
that she cloves you best of all ia the
wcrld,' and that she'll ''be such good
girl until you come back" and that
shell take such good case of the chill
dren," aud that ''you mustn't fret about
her," and that she will write every bless
ed day, aud that you must write AS often
as you can, and that she "lOtes you best;
best and thousand other little mes.
sages for you, bat all kind and loving,
and all told without a tear--for She
doesn't cry now until you are out of The
house; then when you are gone, she
weeps like shower bath Tor half an hour
then suddenly stops short, wipes her eyes;
aud doesn't waste another tear uutii she
sees you again. That's the way they all
do; and talk as peacefully as you cant
she is never satisfied in her heart till She
sees you in Uniform.
"Good morning, Mr. Henpeck, have
you any daughters that would make good
type,setters 7" "Not exactly. but | have
a wife that would make frst.rate 'deua'"
The reason the officers are so numerous