The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-26

N+%Nt-
are doing all that lies in their power to
render homes miserable, husbands sulky,
and wives discontinued. There never
was a greater fallacy on this earth than
to suppose that the average man whistles
tOr wife as an intellectual companion;
he only requires her to say, "Ow "Ahw
admiringly ut intervals, and accord him
the nnreasoning homage unaCcountabIy
denied him by his fellow men.
The average man resents a word i'm.
plying his wiie's divergence from his
views except in household matters, which
he calls contemptuously "woman's prov.
inCe," and which, warned by tue disas.
trous results;produced.by his occasionally
attempts at interference, he wisely leaves
to her administration. He meets her
mild representation, that she cannot help
having nm opinion, with n sncer that "of
course she goes in for woman's rights,
and wants vote" which, being a aensi-
bic woman, is about the last thing she
would desire; and she probably fails to
see why such an accusation should arise
from her gentle divergence Of opinion on
the ultimate designs OF Russia. She is
quite aware that she has read and
thought great deal more on the subject
than her husband has, and his imperative
command to "hold her tongue and not be
foolish" fails 10 secure complete obedi.
ence. She feels aggrieved and discon.
tented, and inclined to wish herself an ut.
ter fool, like pretty Mrs. Fetherbrain,
who does not know that two and two
make four. She endeavors not to express
All opinion, but her silence ia q protest
which wounds her husbands aggressive
vNnity-he has an uneasy consciousness,
which ne would not allow torture TO
make him confess, that she is Cleyerer
than he is, and he hates her for the su.
periority, and snubs her TO relieve him.
sell OF the feeling Of it.
But matters are not greatly improved
il the wife is not an intellectual, but a
sensible, honest and straightforward wo.
man. She loves her husband dearly,
gives up her pleasure and her comforts
for his without murmur, denies herself
any little indulgence il it any way inter.
feres with his slightest whim, and keeps
silence when money which should be
spent in the house or on her comfort is
on his selfish amusements.
But she is honest, and cannot say that she
thinks thing either wise or desirable
when it appears to her distinctly the re-
verse; and loving her husband with all
her heart, and being both sensible and
straightforward, she cannot refrain from
expostulation when she sees him about
to do something which appears to her to
be either wrong or foolish. And this,
showing that she does not absolutely
adore and worship him, thinking that lie
can never be either wrong or mistaken,
is sore grievance, quite sufficient to ex-
tinguish all thought Of her constant and
patient self.abnegation. Indeed, this,
which s.like most other supreme virtues,
its own reward, is seldom honored by
having its existence recognized. Had
she not the excessive honor, glory and
pride Of being his wife? and is not that
sufficient to render it the duty Of any
moral woman duly to thank Providence
for her unspeakable good fortune?
Ashas been already salt, the women that
men really like are real fools, and those
who have the superlative talent to ap.
pear so; the former they love, though in a
sighting, contemptoOus manner, regu-
lated chiefly by personal attraction; The
latter they adore, and are led unsuspeCt-
ing slaves by the fair gaolers, who, il
outwardly adoring, inwardly laugh ut
and despisO them. The fools attract men
by physical beauty, by their utter alb.
sencc Of intellect, and therefore Of any
power Of wounding the cherished mascu-
line idea Of mental absolutism, and by
their generally kittenish and coaxing
ways. AS rule, they are utterly devoid
Of any deep feeling, but petting and kiss
ing are about the only occupation besides
dressing and flirting OF which they are
capable; and they have just tho instinct
to know that men are very amenable to
the caresses OF pretty woman. II istruc
that the charm only endures while she is
young and pretty; but even when she is
old there is the fact that she has never
wounded her husbands egrcgious vanity
as have her intellectual and straightior.
ward sisters; she has equivocated and
romanced and made things generally
pleasant and received certain amount
Of general federation. Moreover, she has
no sensitive feelings, no comprehension
OF the value Of the words justice or inins-
tice; her husband has called her fool
times beyond number; and il he has
spoken loudly or Grossly she has cried, at
his tone rather than his words; but The
word itself has made no impression upon
her, and the next time he gives her a
careless kiss shc dries her tears and
adores him more than ever.
The assumed fool is the mistress OF the
situation; she has comprehensive brain
with a distinct turn for intrigue, and
both honor and truth are 10 her words
and nothing more. She knows how dex-
trousIy to ilatter mans vanity, to let
him believe himfelf the wisest Of man.
kind when in truth every sensible word
he utLers is due TO her direct inspiration;
she can with an imperturbable counte.
nance hear him say, when some one nd.
dresses her on particular subject, "Oh,
its no use Of your talking to my wife
about such things: l never can make her
understand then" while she is conscious
that every argument he has used has been
learned directly from her. Her powers
Of invention are both unbounded and ar.
tistic. When storm is seen 10 lower ON
her lords brow she is ready with some
pleasant fiction, some Mandatory phrase
Of an apocryphal admirer, and she has
her recompense in the renewed sunshine.
Naturally she soon acquires supreme
command; and it is power which such
women love, and for which they are
willing to undergo any trouble or dis.
comfort. She lets her lord know
nothing but what she Judges requi-
site, suppressing all possible disagreeable
details and sottening those that must Of
necessity be known; and she reaps her
reward in IN alteration that knows no
bounds. II Is true that he has mot the
iaintest conception Of what he owes her,
nor yet q suspicion Of the utterly double
life which his wife lives. he Is happy,
delighted and adoring; abe is sublimeiy
eontemptuous Of the vanity Of which, new.
ertheless, she takes such full advantages,
and utterly careless Of the affection she
excites, excepting in 10 far as Il conduces
TO her own ends. She disguises her in.
talIacA aa "a vat,,I1,. -. n n . = =. :.