The Worthington advance., 1882-10-05
A Hardship ofAIarrlago.
Colonel T. w. Higginson in the Woman's
-. Journal -t z


Colonel 7. W. Higginson in the Woman's
-.l...... +. Journal. v
We are constantly told that the life
work Of wife is as arduous and as ab-
sorbing as that of her 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 in-
to ballot box. I think it was the con-
servative DR.. Edward H. Clarke who
declared that the duties of the mother
Of q family required as much toll OF
brain and body as those of the captain
ofa ship. Grant it all; grant that she
works as hard rs her husband does. II
30, the inference is irresistible that she
earns her share Of the family income.
The fact he receives the money and
pays the bills makes him the treasurer
OF the family, that is all; and he has no
more right than any other treasurer to
take airs upon himself and talk nom
sense. When he pays out money to
her, 1t Is not as gilt, but a. earnings.
In many cases the money all came al
her dowry to begin with. In many
other cases she does her full share in the
direct earning of the income. As rule,
| am told, actresses and women who sing
in public, support their families, includ-
lhg their husbands. In our New Eng.
land farming regions the wife's work Is
not only as hard as the husbands, but
a considerable share of the direct money!
getting comes upon her. For farming in
New England, while yielding z comfort
able 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 a farmhouse near my summer
abode, a cook is hired at four dollars a
week, while the boarding lasts, and
q second girp' at three dollars and
q half. In another farm house near by,
the young wife of the farmer does all
this work herself, with the assistance of
u little girl Of twelve; and she does it AZ
we'll and for nearly as many boarders.
Considering merely the wages she saves,
her work IS worth nearly dollar q day;
and considering the profits she brings to
the establishment, it is probably worth
three times that. Yet probably the pay
ment is made through her husband rs
treasurer, and whatever money she
spends would be regarded by the neigh
bors as "given" her by him. And If the
farm is paid for by their joint accunula-
tions, the neighbors would consider
and indeed the law wonld assume-that
it was paid for by him.
l am perfectly willing to admit that in
the majority Of cases this whole matter
settles itself; but there is q large minori-
ty of cases where the wife is kept, dur
ing her whole life, in false position
from false theory of treasurership.
There are no doubt cases where man
earns great fortune, while his wife's
existence is that of q butterfly. These
cases are rare; taking one family with
another, the wife works az hard as the
husband; and the fact that his share in
wolves the handling Of the money does not
make it his money. 1t belongs to both,
and what he pays over to her is not a
gift but right. .'This was present 10
me from my wife," said a rich man
showing an ornament. "Bought with
your money!" said a friend loosely.
"No!" said he, "out of her own hard
earnings. She keeps house for man of
your acQuaintance!" i