Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-23
A Hardship Of Marriage.

Col. T. W. Higginson in the woman's Journal
We are constantly told that the life-work of a
wife is as arduous and as absorbing as that of
hes husband. We are told that if she does her
duty to her family she can have no time to study
metaphysics or to put slip of paper into a bal
lOt-box. l think it was the conservative Dr.
Edward H. Clarke who declared that the duties
of the mother of family required as much toll
OF brain and body as those OF the captain of a
ship. Grant 1t all; grant that she works as hard
as Der husband does. If SO, the inference is ir-
resistible that she earns her share of the family
income. Tie fact that he receives the money
and pays the bills makes HIM the treasurer of
the family. that is all; and he has no more RIGHT
IMAM any other treasurer to take airs upon himself
and talk nonsense. When he pays out money! to
her. it is not as gift but as earnings.
In many cases the money all came az her
dowry to begin with. In many other cases She
does her full share In the direct earnings of the
income. AS rule, am told, actresses and
women VINO sing In public support their fam
lilies. Including their husbands. In our New
England farming regions the wife's work is not
only as hard as the husbands, but a consider
able share OF the direct money-getting comes
upon her. For farming in New England, while
Yielding comfortable support. yields but
little in the form of money; and in many cases
the greater part OF the actual cash receipts
during the summer months comes through
the energy OF the wife in taking city board
ers. In farm house near nv summer
abode a cook is hired at four dol
lars week while the boarding season lasts and
a second grl' at three dollars and a half. Tn
another farmhouse near by, the young wife of
the farmer does all the work herself. with tho
assistance of little girl of twelve; and she
does it as well and for nearly as many boartlers.
Considering merely the wages she saves her
work is worth nearly dollar day. and con-
sidering the profits she brings to the establish
ment, it is worth probably three times that.
Yet probably the payment Is generally made
through her husband as treasurer and what
ever money she spends would be regarded by
her neighbOrs as ''given" her by him. And ifthe
farm is paid for by their joint accumulations.
the neighbOrs would consider-and indeed. the
law would assume-that it was paid for by him
and belonged to him.
am perfectly willing to admit that in the
majority of cases this whole matter settles
Itself, but there is large minority OF cases
where the wife is kept, during her whole life.
In false position from a false theory of treasu-
rership. There are no doubt cases where a man
earns great fortune while his wifes existence
Is that of butterfly. These cases are rare.
taking one family with another. The wife works
as hard as the husband, and the fact that his
share involves the handling of the money does
not make 1t his money. 1t belongs to both and
what he pays over to her is not a gift. bnt a
matter Of right. sThis was q present to mo
from my wife," said rich man, showing an or.
nament. bought with your money ?'' said a
friend, loosely. ''No!" he said, .iout of her
own hard earnings. She keeps house for a man
of YOUR acquaintance "A-