Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-01-17
A woman's study Of Husbands.

We hear much about the art of win
ming q husband. Let US take a step
further, and make study out of keep
ing a husband. If he is worth winning,
he is worth keeping.
This is q wicked world, and man is
dreadfully mortal. Let US take him
just as he is, not as he ought to be. In
the first place, he is very weak. The
wife must spend the first two years in
discovering all these weaknesses, count
them on her fingers and learn them by
heart. The fingers of both hands will
not be too many. Then let her study
up these weaknesses, a mesh for every
one, and the secret is hers. Is he fond
OF good dinner? Let her tighten the
mesh around him with fragrant coffee,
light bread and good things generally,
and reach his heart through his stom-
ach. Is he fond of f1attery about mis-
looks? Let her study the dictionary
for sweet words, if her supply gives out.
Does he like to hear her talk about his
brilliant intellect? Let her pore over
the encyclopedias to give variety to the
good thing to study up, at all hazards,
in its delicate shades; but it must be
skillfully done. The harpy who may
try to coax him away will not do it alb
surdly.
Is he fond of beauty? Here's the rub
let her be bright and tidy; that is half
the victory. Next, let her bang her
hair (metaphorically) and keep up with
the times. A husband who sees his wife
look like other people is not going to
consider her "broken down." Though
it is a common sneer that q woman
has admitted that her sex considers
more, in marrying. the tastes of her
friends than her own, yet it must not
be considered ludicrous that man looks
at his wife with the same eyes that 9TH
er people do. Is he fond of literary
matters? Listen to him with wide.
open eyes when he talks of them. A
man doesn't care so much for literary
wife if only she be literary enough to
appreciate him. If she have literary
inclinations let her keep them to her
self.
Men love to be big and great to their
wives. That's the reason why help
less little woman can marry three times
to a sensible, self-reliant woman's none.
Cultivate helplessness. Is he curious? ?
Oh, then, you have treasure; you can
always keep him if you have a secret
and only keep it carefully. Is ne jeal-
GUS? Then, woman, this is not for you;
cease reading; cease torturing that fret
ted heart which wants you for his own,
and teach him confidence. Is he ugly
in temper and fault finding? Give him
a dose of his own medicine, skillfully
done. Is he deceitful? Pity him for
his weakness, treat him as one who is
born with a physical defect, but put
your wits to work-it is q bad case. It
Is we'll not to be too tame. Men do not
waste their powder and shot on hens
and barnyard fowls; they like the
pleasure Of pursuing wild game-quail
and grouse and deer.
A quail Is a good model for wife
neat and trim. with pretty, swift way
about it, and just little capricious.-
Never let yourself become an old story;
be just a little uncertain. Another im-
portant fact is, don't be too good; it
hurts his feelings and becomes monoto-
nous. Cultivate q pleasant voice, 30
that this very mortal man may have his
conscience prick him when he is in
Jeopardy; its pleasant ring will haunt
him much more than q shrill one. 1t
of the babies, and looking after vexa-
tious household cares, and smiling
when he comes home; but it seems
necessary.
"To be born woman is to be born q
martyr" says a husband who for ten
years has watched in amazement his
wife treading the wine-press of her ex-
istence. 1t is pitiful sight to some
men. But if the wife does not make a
study of these things the harpy will, to
steal away the honor from his silver
hairs when he is full of years and the
father of sons and daughters.
At the same time, gudewife, keep
from trying any Of these things on any
other mortal man but your own. These
rules are only evolved in order to "keep
q husband" The poor, weak creature
would rather be good than bad, and 1t
is weman's duty to help him by every
means in her power.-Argon~0t.