New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-27
SETTLEMENT on WIVES.
TO tho Editor Of Tho Tribune.

To tho Editor OF Tho Tribune.
Sir: A statement lately made In journal devoted
to wOmans wellbcInc, that husbands arc uhs'hcronS
to their wives, and on the other hand. that wives
careless prodiga Of that which they arc ~ no
pains to earn brings up again the vcxcd question OF
O wfc's allowance II the English custom OF settihg
On tho wife at marriage n certain fixed sum were u''
rule here wherever possible believe that there woaiu
be fewer unhappy marriages. American lovers are 100
sentimental q rule. ~ allow any business ma''ers
TO take up their time, and would, no doubt resent
the offer ~ papers Of settlement, savong Oh pur'
chase. Tho Enrlishman, pointing to our frequently
divided homes, TO the number Of divorces III our
courts. Justly at such sentimcntallty. In moS'
the American bridegroom only furnishes moro
less detailed proof TO tho family OF the BRIDE of
tho state Of his finances. II may be he Is an OH
friend and they left TO surmise but KNOW notiIh5
definitely. How much suffering would be saved scnai-
tive II 1t the custom for the lawyers Of tho
brides family to meet the lawyers 81 tho BRIDE
groom's In purely business way, and to arrange
some kind Of settlement Ia favor Of tho future WIFE,
II she rcccycd at her marriage from her husband or
father u definite yearly allowance Of even hundred
dollars 1t would probably be NOR, valuable then than
ut any time In after years. In the case VI portion
less girl. the husband shoud provide an allowance
and usually do 50 unless he Is man who IS I'M
able to save property Of any kind. In that case tho
rea>onabcness Of hi, marriage is certainly ~ be quc,
toned.
While good woman feel any thing but 'oatcmpt
for the marriage dc cOnvcnancc,' yet 1t Sc"' 4" El'
that 1t would lie a very sensible thing II the one an
whom all the hardship Of mn unhappy marriic" i'.i,
should be protected IN some definite way from, want
when perhaps she IL ply scaly unabl; To caro- Tor
hcr>ef
Theirs arc certainly many fairly good mon blind 10
their wvc,' INDY idual needs men Who frl tt'i htN1
done their duty II there i enough To- eat ~ Inc hN"
and IL In the eye, IL tho world she l. cared pr IL"
wife IT ,u,h man ind, III some case, that be -
unable ~ obtain necessary wearing apparel ana 10
must resort 10 pity economics. and l. continually
familiar IN her household BY the want ~ money to
supply her PERSONAL needs. There l. probably but ono
person IN tn" house who fails to this. lie has
heard from his hoy hood II wonauS rNtrNaGanf" aii
f,rl II l. necessary Ia guard hlm>" against Ill "N,
p"ndIturrS In woiLau'S drr-> ~ which h" dp"r not
conn lch,nd the need. 4 sensitive and proud woman
will endure. and unwilling to ak viii r'fH~" all uNi
tlr clothes. People who her wonder why Nh"
h., become dowdy since her marriage. III" k' -
away from her old friends, sally they forget h"T
and she lccbnI"- BY degrees domestic druiG', Ia"
tired rs nl.htfd and top pvi>h With her cNhau ted
nerves Ia BE- companion for man or Woman. Tho
way open Tor all Kind, Il domestic inf'ity and "A
house divided against Itself II /, not IN human
nature that one individual shont be entirely depend
cnt on another for all petty personal needs without
at times feeling ~ humiliation: neither l. II ri>'
able to suppose that another, though hUud by l"NH
and Law I" provide, shall not sometime, question
whether those nc'GS are resSlticN. Causes 81 differ
rncc enough arise. even lc;erc Young married pro
10 "a great blessing II every Wifi could have little
purse enough for small needs. for her enir" per-
sOnnl nrcc->itlc-. a tn" case might be, T.. l.. h.
brooklyn Feb. l., 1870.