The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-09-18
Wives and Other Property.
b. K. Chase, in Country Gentlemen.

e. K. Chase, in Country Gentlemen.
The husband of my friend, Mrs. A.,
had been absent for some weeks, and as
l saw her seated i'll the open door one
morning with her hands outstrecthed
for the mail brought, there was an eager
look on her face, an eager question on
her lips, to which the man answered
with laugh-'No, there's no letter for
you; | always think of my own family
first
The light went from her face; there
was ia briefletter enclosed in her brothers.
but 1t scarcely cheered her-only few
brief sentences, cold and matter-of-fact,
which could not feed her hungry heart
that had bravely taken up the burden
of care in her husbands absence, and
carried it intelligently and uncomplain-
ingly.
AS saw the unshed tears in my friends
eyes, and sad lines in her face, was in.
dignant, and felt like reading a sermon
to the absent husband. He was gener-
GUS, and proud of his wife, but mex
cusably thoughtless. 1t was positive
cruelty to send her that brief page, when
he could have written words which would
have made all appear bright for her lone
ly, care-filled hours. tIf,' l thought
angrily, this cultivated, afectionate
wife, were valuable horse, there would
not fail to be solicitous inquiries and
charges concerning it. II a market
value in dollars and cents were written
over against this possession, how much
care it would elicit from the ownerl
But this woman, with her great and
trained intellect, was labeled wife-a
kind OF property that is regarded as safe,
needing little thought, less considera-
tion, and no affection. If death should
remove this possession, few tears would
tall upon her unheeding face, and per-
hapS fine marble would herald to the
paSser-by her remembered virtues; then
her place would be filled, the husband
unconscious that he may have taken life
where he might have given it; for with
woman, love is part of life.
Is the fault to be found in the nature
or the training of men, that they so
often lock on their wives as matter of
course, and take wife's care and toll
as simply right2 Do some remember
that she is gift in trust, and not a part
of ones legal poSsessions1 Is it due to
ignorance that man so often takes so
much of his wife and gives so little in
return-that he is so miserly of loving
words and acts toward her, with whom
love is a need for the full development
of her powers2
Husbands, could penetrate the thick
crust of business and selfshnesS that en-
velope your hearts, and make you un-
derstand that your love is more to your
wives than the wealth of the world, that
it is a spring of perpetual youth to them,
and that you ought to tell them of it in
words as well as acts, then would l be
content. Are you skeptical of my as
sertions1 Then lay down the paper,
90 to your wife, and tell her that she is
Gays; see II the nard lines 90 not Iaoe-
from her face, and if there is not new
spirit of peace and sweetness in your
home.
If you have let your heart contract
and contract, year by year, until there
is scarcely remnant of it left, and you
know that it is dead beyond recall, never
theless it would be policy to treat your
wife with appreciative words and deeds.
You would get more work from her,
your home would be pleasanter, your
children more attractive, while your wife
viewed only in the light of mere prop
erty-would reflect more honor on you.
People would say: 'How very nice
and young Mrs. Smith does look; she
must have kind husband!' Do you
not know that a worn-out despondent
woman is disgrace to the man whom
she calls husband2 You would never
think of driving poor, lean scarecrow
of horse to town; yet some of you let
your wife go around looking so forelorn
and crushed that every one condemns
you for it. To be sure, many of you
never go about with such wives; 90
not wonder you ale ashamed of them;
they are a disgrace to you. 1t is not
pleasant to herald your neglect to the
world.
But turn about-show your wife that
you do love her, that she is better than
your horse, far beyond your dog, and
that her value cannot be reckoned in
dollars and cents. Teach your boys
that their mother is precious being to
be taken care of, loved and cherished
above all earthly possessions, and your
reward will make you glad.