Mexico weekly ledger., 1885-06-18
Bill Nye to Ethel.
Always Cash in Advance.

Hor SPRINGS, ARK, April 9.-"My
dear sir: Wouldiit be asking too
much for me to request a brief reply
to one or two questions which many
other married women, as well as my
self, would like to have answered?
81 have been married now for 1--WE
years. To-day is the anniversary OF
my marriage. When l was single L
was a teacher, and supported myself
in comfort. I had more pocket money
and dressed fully as we'll, if not bet
ter, than 1 do now. Why should
girls, who are abundantly able to
earn their own livelihood, struggle to
become the slave of a husband and
children and tie themselves to a man
when they might be free and happy
Il think too much is said by the
men in a light and fippant manner
about the anxiety of young ladies to
secure q home and a husband, and
still they do deserve a part OF it, as l
feel I do now for assuming a great
burden when I was comparatively in
dependent and comfortable.
"Now, will you suggest any advices
that you think would benefit the yet
unworried and self-supporting girls
who are liable to make the same mis-
take that I did, and thus warn them
in a manner that would be so much
more universal in its range and reach
so many more people than I could il
I should raise my voice! Do this
and you will be gratefully remember
ed by ETHEL"
1t would, indeed, be a tough.tougl
man who could ignore thy gentle
plea, Ethel-tougher far than the
pale, intellectual hired man who now
addresses you in this private and un
derhand manner.
You say that you had more poke
money before you were married thar
you have had since, Ethel, and you
regret your rash step. lam sorry t.
hear it. You also say that you wore
better clothes when you ere single
than you do now. You r alst
panied over that. 1t seems that mar
riage, with you, has not paid an.
cash dividends. So, if you married
Nh. Ethel as a financial venture, i
was a mistake. You do not stat
how IT has affected your husband
Perhaps he had more pocket none.
and better clothes before he married
than he has since. Sometimes tw'
people do well in business by them
selves, but when they go into part
nership they bust higher than a kit
If you will allow me the free En-
glish translation of a Roman expires
sion which you might not fully un
derstand if I should give it to you il
the original Roman.
Lnts of self-supporting young Ia
dies have married, and have had t.
go very light on pin money afte
that, and still they did not squeal a
YOU do, dear Ethel. They did no
marryfor revenue only; they marriet
for protection, This is little pc
iitieal bon mot that I thought of my
self. Some of my jokes this sprins
ere jokes that / thought of myself.
No, Ethel; if you married expect
ing to he a dormant partner durin!
Inc day, and then to go through Mr.
I,thel's pockets at night and declar'
q dividend, of course life is full o
Litter, bitter regret and disappoint
u,ent.
OF course 1 want to do what i
light in the solemn warning business
>.will give notice to all simple young
"s.men who are now self-supportins
:rhl happy, that there is ne statute
! Iuiring them to assume the bur
,.~as of wifehood and motherhood
unless they prefer to do SO. If the,
n'w have abundance of .pin-mone,
aud new clothes they may remain
:. gle if they wish without violating
lie laws of the land. This rule il
n n good when applied to young ant
disappearing young men who wea
rt,d clothes and have funds in thei
! ckets. No young man who is free
Ii ppy and independent need inves
HI money in a family or carry a col
irsy child twenty-seven miles and tw,
;,,i,s in the night unless he prefers ii
i; i those who go into it with th'
i.-!lt spirit, Ethel, do not regret it.
would just as soon tell you, Ethel
if you promise that it shall go n,
further, that 1 do not wear as goot
c,,thes as / did before I was married
] don't have to. My good clothe
i.ave accomplished what I got then
;'.r. played them for all they wer
worth, and since I got married th
lea of wearing clothes as q vacation
:ias not occurred to me.
Please give my kind regards to MI
Ethel, and tell him that although
10 not know him personally, I ca
not help feeling sorry for him. Yer,
sincerely yours, BILL NYE.
xUys--