The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-11-29
FAMILY GOVERNMENT.
a Powerful Argument for Equal Rights

n toNt-AAA ~ liAAieAiN aoE A-44sl- -tAS @NS
in the Home, ~
From a book entitled The Fam
ily," prepared by the joint author
ship of Rev. Charles F. and Mrs.
Thwing. we take the following: The
common objection urged against the
equal authority OF the man and
woman in the marriage relation Is
based upon the belief that n the
family there must be one supreme
and ultimate authority. 4 double
headship is n monsJrosity. One only
can decide, and that one is more fit
tinglv the man. To this il may well
be answered that, however true it is
that the final decision of a mOOted
question can rest only on one, it by no
means follows that the same one
should decide all questions. The cen
tral idea OF q true wedlock Is the
idea OF mutual self-surrender. Rights,
duties and privileges are reciprocal
Neither the husband nor wife should
demand more than the other can give,
nor consent constantly to give without
receiving in return.
Two classes OF questions arise IN a
family-tho5e that are personal TO
either the husband or the wIie, and
those that effect both equally. In az
fairs which are common 20 both, ex-
perieuce must decide 10 whom the de,
cision may be more safely committed.
Doubtless, In affairs regarding the re-
larion OF The family 20 the outside
world, the peculiar training OF the
man fits him 70 be the safer guide
But in domestic concerns, such as the
selection and furnishing Of the house,
the oversight OF servants, the train
ing Of the children, the house mother
Is the natural leader. -.
Children naturally belong to both
parents, and both parents should have
by law an equal right to them
and their earnings. No moro un-
righteous law disgraces the statute
book than that which gives to the
father the sole ownership 6i children,
sole control of their earnings and sole
Inheritance in their property. In
many OF the United States, until with
n few years, a father might by viii
dispose Of the person OF even IN IN
born child. This law has been
changed in several States; but the
power of binding out a child, be it son
or daughter, still rests with the father
alone. -
II matters private and personal,
each must at the outset Of married life
recognize the complete freedom Of the
other. The only right TO be main
tanned IS the right OF the one TO yield
a personal desire for the sake of the
happiness OF the other. Neither
should expect to dictate as to what
friends the other may visit, what hab-
its he may indulge, what private ex-
penses he may incur
This, II need hardly be said, Is not
according to the present law. The
husband. as the head of the household,
has the right 10 dictate the policy Of
the family. The wife IS expected to
conform to his habits. tastes, even to
his eccentricitics, provided her health
be not seriously endangered by so do
ing. The husband may even restrict
his wife's calling list, or forbid her
from visiting her relations. The
courts also sustain him in preventing
her from attending the church of
which she is q member.
Mrs. Manly (to visitor)-"It is an
outrage the way people talk. Every
body says that bulldoze my husband
so that he is afraid to say that his soul
is his own. It's an infamous lie. just
ask my husband himself Charles.
my dear, come here!' Charles Cn
the next room)-'1 haven't got time
right now, my dear. " ''Are you com
ing, Charles, or are you not?" I'm
coming. Matilda, Is fast as 1 can. -
Texas SItings.