The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-10-23
RICH MEMS WIVES.

RSruink the wives OF W0ultny MOu-
Business Affairs In the Household.
Poverty is relative term. Its mean
ing changes with the changing Of ones
point OF view. Those only are poor
who feel poor. but whether one feels
poor or not depends much upon ones
situation. .,.,.s..,
You can never be sure that a woman
Is rich, says writer in Business Won.
ans Record, because she is the wife Of q
wealthy man; not even though the mar
rage ceremony has made the husband
say: with all my worldly goods l
thee endow." This ceremonious speech
is hardly meant to be taken literally,
but how worse than empty rhetoric it
is when the wife OF the rich man who
utters it has never cent she, can call
her own!
1t is seldom, probably, that a rich
mans wife has not some small sum in
her own little purse; but it is also sell
dom, If we may judge from appear
ances, that she has an income properly
proportional to her husbands. You
can not Judge of this by her dress or
the equipments Of her house. The hus-
band may crafty his own pride and his
own taste by a lavish expenditure in
ornamentation OF his house and family.
He may allow his wife to purchase
freely from the stores OF the city, hav-
ing the bills sent to him for cheerful
payment, yet possibly the wife some
times finds herself literally penniless.
don't think the case is often so bad,
,but it is very evident that some wives
! of rich men are frequently put shame
for lack of ability to give in charity or
in friendship 1.-THE of what their hus-
bands spend upon their own personal
whims and pleasures. School teachers
and seamstresses may be able to sur
pass them in generosity and IN freedom
to indulge their personal tastes
'.Why should my wife want money!"
the husband may ask, 'if she has all Of
her wants supplied? What difference
does it make whether the money that
supplies them goes through her own
purseP" ,.t
No one can tell the wants OF another.
II makes one difference between child
hood and years of discretion. You can
not tell persons taste unless that per-
son has money and time to CRAFTY her
taste. A little of each will suffice tC
r Indicate the natural taste, but there are
women who wear rich silks and jewels
3 in positive discomfort, because the col
ors, styles and combinations are moi
to their taste The one who buys then
for her does not realize that he is seek
ing his own qualification more than hi
wife's.
Once 1t was believed that married
pair could not live happily together i
the wife had separate purse. Tha
was in the day when the laws gave thu
husband absolute ownership of his wife
Her clothes, her wages, her inherit
ance, her body, and even her soul-t'
the extent of controlling its outwart
forms Of religion-were all legally il
the husbands possession. Little b.
little these shameful laws have beef
modified, and public opinion now de
spises the man who does not deal fairl
with his wife.
Yes, times have changed, and man
a happy wife now holds property in he
own name and uses the income fror
her investments just as she pleases
She may even carry on business fo
herself, or have business partnershi
with her husband. Whether this
we'll or not depends upon circun
stances, chief among which are tn
claims OF children; and the good sens
of the parties must determine eac
case.
Marriage is far higher than a mel
civil contract, and pecuniary conside
ations are the least that should i
fuence one. But external condition
have such power to perplex and di
turb that they can not safely be i
nored in making promise for bett
or worse. 1t will never do to blan
the husbands for all the niggardline
that appears among women. A selfi'
wife is sometimes serious check up,
the generosity and public spirit of h
husband, begrudging every contrib
ton to the public welfare. One c.
not help wondering where is the hit
when wealthy mems wives who appro
a good cause, or who desire the readi
of a particular paper or magazir
have nothing to give in aid OF tn
cause, or GO without the desired lit
AZURE. An allowance" does not
ways settle the difficulty, especially
the allowance includes the househC
expenses. Its smallness sometin
causes a meanness toward the kitch
maid and such higgling with huckstt
as creates a widespread contempt
the mistress of the mansion. Or. if
mistress is kind and generous, she m
fail entirely of saving anything fir
the bills she pays for her own p
sonal expenses" f
Why can not wife ask her husba
for what she wants on each occasion
Put yourself in her place and real
the beggary this implies, unless {
goes to him simply as matter Of c.
venience and with perfect assural
of her recognized right to receive;
husband acting as the family cash
who can more conveniently receive s