Iron County register., 1882-04-13
Household Finance.

t'money question" between husbands
and wives. Although with the nuptial
oath the husband does with all his
worldly goods the wife endow, too often
the memory of the obligation dies with
the word of promise on the lips. When
a man takes a woman to be his wife he
assumes the broadest obligations to pro-
vide for her comfort and support. A
man of wealth is bound to enable a
woman to sustain herself creditably in
the circle in which they move = the poor
man to administer to the comfort of his
family as far as within his means. The
ethical code does not obligate the afflu-
ent man to indulge his family in prohi-
gate extravaganza, nor the poor man to
make provision for his family inconsis-
tent with his income. The inconsiderate
and reckless waste of money by some
women provided with unstinted means,
and the endeavor of others whose means
are limited to pretentious display, are
equally to be condemned. There are
some men who do not realize, or, at any
rate, who seem to forget, that their
wives have any rights in money matters
which they are bound to respect. A
wife to this sort of a husband is much
the same as a servant. Does she require
money for family necessities, she must
render account for the expenditure of
every cent. If shopping is to be done,
she must go to him for money to pur
chase even spool of thread or to pay
car-fare. This is humiliating to a sensi-
tive woman, yet such instances come
under observation every day. A man Of
delicate sensibilities would himself feel
humiliated that his wife should be placed
in such position. And yet the man
who never thinks to provide his wife
with small change is careful enough to
keep the wherewith in his pocket to
supply his cigars. his drinks, his lunch
cons, and other incidentals, regardless
of the fact that woman, too, has daily
incidental expenses. 4
The ssmean man. treats his wife in
this manner out of pure cussedness.
There are others, however, who make
the grave mistake of not recognizing
the ability of their wives in pecuniary
matters, and treat them as though they
were children who do not know the
value of money. These two classes
comprehend all married men, for the
man who is TOO stingy to give his wife
the money which is hers by right is
mean. Advice would, be wasted on him,
but kicking might have potent effect.
As to those men who question the fnan-
cial shrewdness and ability of women,
careful observation should convince
them that as general thing good wives
are even more prudent, thrifty and eco
nomical fnanciers than men. Put mon
ey in your wife's purse and send her out
shopping, and she will, nine times out
of ten, make 81 go as far again as you
will. Hundreds Of prosperous men to-
day owe their success to the counsel
and advice of their wives, to whom they
have confided; nor are they ashamed to |
acknowledge it. :. Many are the bank
rupts who would have continued in pros
perity had they but followed the advice
of their wives; they will tell you SO
themselves. Every day we see noble
wives, who are cast upon their own re-
sources by the failure of some reckless |
speculation on which their husbands en-
tered, assume grave responsibilities and
display wonderful powers of energy and
Every day we see women
whose entire lives have been of domestic !
devotion left widowed and destitute,
with the burden of family upon their |
shoulders, display a per-
severing industry, thrift, and financial
discretion which ought to put to shame |
any man who would question the |
fidnciary ability of woman. Let every
husband consider his wife entitled to a
fair share of hisfaincome for personal
Hid with la the interior e details % Of the homes
trusting implicitly to the judgment and
of the wife, and the cases
will be rare where the result will not be /
greater domestic happiness, as well as
pecuniary advantage. - PAiladelphia