Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19
Husband and Wife.

My wife is not a so-called woman's rights
man; but she does believe in respecting and
protecting womans rights. Now, the occa-
sion of her souls being stirred is this She
has been reading in one OF our papers story
one, she says, of the common kind-which
represents that married woman is by vir-
tue OF her possession, bound to be cheerful
and happy at home, as well as abroad that
she is bound to greet her husband when he
comes home tired, cross and perplexed, with
smiles and sunshine. Now, my wife is of
the opinion that there are two sides to this
question, and thinks that some one should
present the other side. She wants to know
what right man has to go home cross and
remain cross until he is coaxed and petted
into good nature by the woman who, as
his wife, is obliged to remain at home, per-
haps, all the time, through cares which are
as much his as hers. My wife is of Biglow's
opinion-what is sauce for goose is sauce
for gander and, hence, she thinks that some
one should be employed to write word of
advice to the men, telling them that, if they
wish to retain the angel or the angelic spirit
which they married, they ought to do their
fretting before the world, and not at home.
She says Tell them, if they would have
sunshine about the house, TO deport them
selves as sunbeams, not as clouds. My wife
is of the opinion that men are in duty bound
to take little more responsibility upon
themselves as regards making a pleasant
home But then, she says, what does the
average man care about home 1t is only
place for him to eat drink, sleep, and
dress in. Home She says that it would
be we'll for young ladies in those days of
sweet converse before marriage TO ask the
would-be husband what his idea of home
is. Possibly, ii this were done there would
be fewer cases of those scandalous divorces
which are now so common. The fact is,
looking upon this question from woman s
position, my wife has reached the conclusion
that a true home is not made except by the
united efforts of the two whose interests are
as one. The wife alone cannot make home,
neither the husband alone but both, work
ing for the accomplishment of this high aim
| shall gain their object. She says Ask the
discontepted men who have so much fault to
| find with the way their homes are conducted
did you ever talk to your wife and come
TO an understanding as to how things should
be managed, and then did you faithfully
perform your part Have you expressed a,
much charity for your wife as you have ex
acted of her for yourself ? In fact, have
you done as you would be done by Now
straws show which way the wind blows, and
so these few pointed questions show that
women, after all, possibly may not be alto
gether to blame for unpleasantness in the
| family. Certainly we cannot too seriously
consider any of the questions which pertair
to home economy, as home life is or should
be the fountain of social religion, politica
and national life. Make our homes pure
pleasant and instructive Of good, and il
shall be good for all to have home. Wher
men sing, " There is no place like home" i
is too often with them an ideal home, wher
it should be and might be real, if they a
men would bear their burdens as patiently
as women bear theirs.-Meihodist.