Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-08-13
MTSCELLANEOUS.
what Wife Gives Her Husband.

MISCELLANEOUS.
What Wife Gives Her Husband.
"In marriage, a man gives everything and
a woman nothing" heard a gentleman say
the other day "Of courseit is m object to
woman to marry, and none to man."
Now, I'm not strong-mindod," nor desi-
rous of proving that women suffer wrongs
which can only be rightod by their possession
Of the ballot-box; but when hear a speech
like that above recorded l admit that it makes
my blood boil. Naa gives everything, docs
he? Certainly be gives half Of all his worldly
possessions, if he chooses, and provides, by la
Dor Of some kind, generally the raw material
of household comfort; but woman, so to speak,
cooks that raw material for him. lie hires the
house, or buys it she makes Of the house a
home When she marries, if she have one par
tcle of common sense, she knows that there
lies before her path where duties are scattered
thickly-duties that may be sweet for loves
sake but which of themselves are SO hard that
man would nerer take them up.
1t is not her purse, and as much Of her time
as she chooses that the wife gives that is the
husbands portion Of the marriage contract
She lays upon the altar her person, her liberty
and all the hours Of all her days, to be used
for him and for his offspring thencclorth while
they shall live Yes, and she knows this If
you who hold your brides hand at the altar,
holding there a true, good womauS hand, be-
lieye that what you can give her to eat and
to drink and to wear are her temptations to
wiiehood, youaremistaken. The lortune-hun-
ter feminine is Of the same brand as the for
tuue-huutcr masculine, aud lis as rare. To win
her bread decently is now possible to any girl
or woman, and it is only one made of the stuff
that dcgcnerates into a Formosa or Anonym
who marries merely to have her bills paid for
her. This creature who gives you nothing, to
whom you give all, as you vainly imagine, takes
the great burden Of wifchood upon her shoul-
ders because she lores you-because, TO minis
ter to your comfortin health, to be your nurse in
illness, to share your joy or sorrow, your pros
perity or adversely have become the cheerful
pleasures Of her life.
You do not know, perhaps, that the game
Of housekeeping is as intricate as the game Of
chess, and that it is one that must never be
lost; that this regular provision Of your meals,
this beautiful arrangement of your household
belongings, this making Of the home, is a work
Of care and thought and time that, i'll or well,
the wifemu supervise; that an hours neglect
would be manifest for whole day that to
make all comfortable for you, your wife mus:
abandon her relaxations, her friendships, the
dolce far aienie Of her life almost altogether;
that she, unless exceptionally we'll of, may
never take a morning walk or read a fJy0gite
book, touch her piano her pen or pencil, unit.
she is sure that all the household tasks are ac-
complishel How often that moment arrives
let women decide It's hard to come to the
end of a circle. do not mean to represent
wife as being in a constant state Of wretched-
ness and toll, Of course, but that she accom-
plishes her task chceriulIy, and feels well repaid
by loving word and loving kiss, for aching
limbs and weary hands and intellectual depri-
gation does not make this gift Of her time less
valuable.
Do you suppose also my good man, that
woman sacrifices no personal privileges on her
wedding-day? You are very much mistaken,
if you think so. No matter how you may turn
out-and there is no guessing at that before
hand-you must be the only man in the world
to her thcnceforth She must have no more
Of those charming half-seutimeutal friendships
which are so dear to feminine hearts. Iustead
Of trying to please as formerly, she must bear
about with her the dignity Of matrouhooG, and
this is a hard lesson for some girls to learn.
Single, she may always feel entitled to an
escort, visit places Of amusement, dance, walk,
enjoy herself socially with any respectable sin
Gle gentleman. Married, according to code
Of manners and morals, which, if severe, safe,
she has no such privilege. If her husband does
not choose to take her TO see or hear anything,
she must stay at home. And here the Ameri-
can fails il his duty, as a general thing The
Frenchman would be ashamed to visit the
theatre without Madame The German takes
his better half under his arm, even when he
goes to beer garden. An Englishman con-
siders it respectable to Sc take his wife along,
be enjoys himself; but the American
leaves his wife to enjoy her 'dista and her babe,
while be visits the theatee, opera and ballroom
with some masculine friend, and suffers uo