The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-02-12
HIS VIFE,S
Has the Average Husband the Right to Open
Them. Provided she 10 the Average Wiiss
From the Baltimore American.

E''N tr A'tthso "'''S
A few months ago, we all remember 1t, a
letter intended exclusively for the. eyes Of
madame fell into the hands of monsieur. and
presto q sanda in h AZ 1, lifs = a &c, court scene, e e
her billet doux. At that time the question,
Can a man open his wife's letters 2" was first
answered the question in the affirmative, and
now the wife who enjoys the privilege OF
throasht the &c Courtesy ra' Of her husband. Truly.
this Is a pretty how d'yo do"
Happily, America is a law unto herself. and,
so far rs we are concerned. the question re-
mains unanswered. There is not the slightest
doubt In my W mind that il it were, put to
them in France. and declare that a man has
not % Wee versa. Why3 Simply because the
law which is TO decide between a man and his
wife goes in favor Of the man. because men are
the law makers. Now, in the particular case OF
monsieur and madame, cited above. there was a
plausible excuse for the husband opening her
letters. which proved hi suspicious wellfound-
ed; but as American wives do not become en-
tangled in the affairs for which the gay Pa
risian danes are, famous. there Is no reason
correspondence Indeed. If either should have
wife over the husband. for she would be sure
to discover many more escapades than would
he. Putting as lds all such motives as those in
iuencing monsieur. claim that to open his
desire on his part to do SO implies dis,rust and
The idea Of a woman being, treated in her
own home, and by her own husband, as though
she were a romantic school girl, to be watched
by q ~vigi!ant master, and to have her letters in
fsIes at aiI i II It I shou HhS Se aI Sle ase h HhHs not ses 10 DO 20
SOL, 1t is an insult to q wife TO be SO treated,
and any woman OF spirit would resent 1t.
even who consider 1t their prerogative to open
and read their wives, letters. but would raise
the roof Ii their wives should return tho COM
pliment. l have never met one OF this kind and
l hops ! never will. but | am sure such exist.
Such superior lights" Of husbands lead us
What an unequal partnership is matrimony
after all; both parties make the same promises
,tt the alta rh yet t6 only Ss SEs is gs SSB b e Mt to k msp
seem to think that their wives should have no
opinions, friends; or interests otherthan theirs.
m marries she must give IN her individ-
SSality. her opinions, AND her correspondents;
S GnS Is a stu h : ref teIioM n1e se'ns IN s, ias sye rs q +
may seem. She still has q mind and q heart
no, not a h%eart-that she gives to her husband.
not promise him anything, while no bestows all
his worldly goods 3non her which OF course.
H. Charles Dudley Warner. in replying to the
question. Can . man open his wifs's letters"
s susb and Il hs yG Is. fe tSinh q II would xdat b s'n nss S1 =
3 Tiie to sh SAY Isi IT T EDiser ssDsnfi Is q tRe b snst k paTs OF OF
valOr," as manya husband would learn II he
made so bold as to open his wiie's letters.
There is scarcely a wife who does not take
tell him who her letters are from and to read
them TO him. 81; perhaps. lei, him read them
hiimSelf; bat Ms Is a. : very y0s different qtud matter sn%
passed nssd, upon sy c ONE for m whom w thsy were rsss nSs
partners, not because they contain aught
that would not bear the light OF day. not be-
cause the wife Is afraid or ashamed to
things that are none OF his affair. How often
the home letters are, written only t9r da4gh-
Nv cares Ge s. eas be e told her nN that two Would be proud
ly withheld from son-in-law or brother-in-law
Then, there are the letters from dear, intimate
girl friends, who pour out tho secrets OF their
heart upon paper lor, the sympathy and enter
tainment Of sweet Mrs. Jones, but not forthe
but sensible reason for d wife withholding her
letters from her husband was given by IA con-
tes@hp mp not aT ISss s Liners contain tho confes.
sions Of another soul, the condolences OF an.
other mind, that would be rndely treated Il
given any sort OF publicly o Ahs w thsy n sra sna
IN tho eyes of other people, ana II may we'll
happen that a friend %iiI dnsire TO impSrt
would not intrust 10 tho babbling husband Of
that woman"
respondsnce from her . better half" without In
any way rejecting discrsdit on herself. As
when opened by another" Half of the pleas
ure is the eager expectancy felt while breaking
the seal. Imagine how one must feel while
waiting for her letter to BIO read slowly and de-
libsrately and then carelessly or angrily tossed
TO her, l should think she would rather put
them In the ,ilro than read them then. Some
women would.
No. Whether the French think SO or not, a
husband has no moro right to open his wiie's
letters than has the greatest stranger, and IL is
Just as fragrant ? breach Of honor for him TO
nsurp the authority as 1t would be for 9 visitor
much to know on what he bases his right To do
IL other than his Wifs's permission.