The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-08-04
His Wife's Letters:
From, the Baltimofs American.

A few months ago, we all remember
it. q letter intended exclusively for
the eyes of madame fell into the
hands of monsieur, and prestol a
scandal in high life, court scene, a
divorce and madame is left to the peru.
sal OF her billot doux. At that time
Me question, "Can a man open his
wife's letters?" was first raised, and
over there in France the Court an
swered the question in the affirma-
tive, and now the wife who enjoys the
privilege of breaking the seals of her
letters does SO through the courtesy
OF her husband. Truly, "this is pref
ty how dye do"
Happily, America is a law unto her.
self, and, SO far as we are concerned,
the question remains unanswered.
There is not the slightest doubt in my
own mind that if it were put to our
courts they would follow the prece-
dent set them in France, and declare
that man has the legal right to
open his wlfe's letters, bit not vice
versa. Why? Simply because the
Judges are men, and we all know that
every 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 madam. cited above,
there was plausible excuse for the
husband opening her letters. which
proved his suspicious we'll founded,
but as American wives do not become
entangled in the affairs for which the
ray Partisan danes are famous, there
is no reason why man should not
investigate his wife's correspondence.
Indeed, if either should have surveil-
lance over the other it should be the
wife over the husband, for she would
be sure to disco yer many more escs.
pades than would he. Putting aside
all such motives as those influencing
monsieur, / claim that to open his
wife's letters is not the right of any
man, and desire on his part to do
SO implies distrust and suspicion of
his wife.
The idea of a woman being treated
in her own home, and by her own hus.
band. as though she were romantic
school girl, to be watched by q vigil.
ant master, and to have her letters
intercepted by him, who may not give
them to her at all if it should best
please him not to do sol 1t is an in
suit to wife to be so treated, and
any woman of spirit would resent it.
Yet there are no doubt men in our
own city even who consider 1t their
prerogative to open and read their
wives, letters. but would raise the
roof if their wives should return the
compliment. have never met one of
this kind and hope l never will, but
/ am sure such exist.
Such superior lights" of husbands
lead US to sermonize a little.
What an unequal partnership is
matrimony after ALL both parties
make the same promises at the altar,
yet only one is expected to keep them,
and that the weaker member. Most
men seem to think that their wives
shoul have no opinions. friends, or in.
terests other than theirs. Now it Is
all folly to suppose that because q
woman marries she must give up her
Individuality, her opinions. and her
correspondence. She is still arespon.
sibie being in the eyes OF God and her
fel ow creatures, strange as it may
seem. She still has mind and q
heart--no, not a heart-that she gives
to her husband, or is supposed to-;
and by the way, she does not promise
him anything while he bestows all his
worldly goods upon her. which, OF
course, must include his letters, while
in reality he takes hers and keeps his
own.
Charles Dudley Warner, in replying
to the question. "Can q man open
his wife's letters?" said that would
depen upon what kind of a husband
he is. think it would be nearer right
to say it would depend upon what
kind of a wife she is. Discretion IS
the better part OF valor," as many q
husband would learn it he made SO
bold As to open his wife's letters.
There is scarcely wife who does
not take her husband sufficiently into
ler confidence to tell him who her let
tiers are from and to read them to
HIM, or, perhaps, let him read them
himself; but this is very different
matter from having them first open
ed, read. and passed upon by one for
whom they were not intended. OF
course many women receive letters
that never reach the eyes of their life
partners, not because they contain
au.hs that would not bear the light
of day, not because the wife is afraid
or ashamed to show them, but SIM
ply because they contain things that
are none OF his affair. How often the
home letters are written only for
daughters or sisters eyes! How much
of the family care can be told her
that would be proudly withheld
from son-in-law or brother in-lawl
Then, there are letters from dear, in
innate girl friends, who pour out the
secrets of their heart on paper :or the
sympathy and entertainment of
sweet Mrs. Jones, but not for the
eyes of sarcastic Mr.. Jones. A very
laughable but sensible reason for a
wife withholding her letters from her
husband wasgiven by contemporary
not long since.
She said: "These letters contain
the confession OF another soul, the
confidence of another mind, that
would be rud Fly treated if given any
sort OF publicity. And while husband
and wife are one to each other, they
are two in the eyes of other people,
and it may well happen that friend
will desire to impart something to a
discreet woman which she would not
intrust to the babbling husband OF
that woman"
That's the whole thing in nutshell.
So we see that a woman OF honor
may keep her correspondence from her
"better half without in any way
rejecting discredit on herself. As
someone has truly said. "The charm
of a letter is gone if read second hand,
the aroma escapes when opened by
another" Half OF theplea sure is the
eager expectancy felt while breaking
the seal. Imagine how one must feel
while waiting for her letter to be read
slowly and deliberately and then
carelessly or angriIy tossed to her. !
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