St. Paul daily globe., 1890-12-21
GIVE WIVES MONEY.
Mrs. Harrison Says That
Husbands Ought to Do
So.
HelpmateS Of Several Sena-
atorS Give Decided
Opinions.
Mrs. Lamar Says Southern
Women Do Not Need
Allowances.
How Mrs. Senator Spooner
Kept Her Own Bank
Book.

is one that enters into not only the
homes of our statesmen at Washington,
but into every American household,
writes Mrs. Grundy from Washington.
Shall the wives and daughters of the
United States have to call upon their
husbands and fathers, day after day, for
every cent they use, or should fixed
allowance be granted 10 them, and out
of this they be expected to pay their
personal expenses and those OF the
household?
This is subject upon which | have
interviewed, this week, some OF the
most noted women of the country. L
found that every woman | called upon
had decided view upon the subject,
and none more so than Mrs. Harrison.
the wife of the president. called upon
her at the White house, and was uShered
into the upper private corridor, which
has served so long as the private sitting
room of the presidents family. Mrs.
Harrison said:
$50 far as l am personally concerned.
l have never given the matter serious
thought. But l must say that l think
every woman should be allowed some
settled amount for her household, as
well as for her personal expenses. l
believe such an arrangement is largely
the secret of domestic happiness, and
though few men will agree with me in
this, L think it would prove more
economical plan in the long run. Much
domestic discOrd would thereby be
avoided, and all members of the fam
lily would be happier.
81 fhinlr ouito importont fhof
the girls of the family should have an
allowance as their mothers, and GER
tain amount should be given to them
regularly for their spending, as soon as
they are old enough 10 realize the value
of money. This is especially so in
these days of reckless extravaganza,
when children are not educated as they
were i'll former years to household
work and thus left to the mercy of clr-
cumStanceS. How often do we see girls
reared in luxury compelled by loss of
means and misfortune to earn their
own living, only to find themselves
totally unframed in all practical KnoWl-
edge.
Nothing so completely fits one for
every emergency in life, whether it be
for prosperity or adversely, as good,
solid education in the all-important
comprehension of just estimate of
money. and how else can this be OBJ
tanned except by careful training in that
much neglected branch of home educa-
tiOn?"
$50 then," asked, ''you are decid-
edly in favor of the allowance theory?"
''MOSt emphaticalIy | am" replied
Mrs. Harrison, ''but [ think that in re-
gard to the amount circumstances
should always govern cases, though
piOptv-ninn cacRC ont Of aVprV bun6rad
will be all the better for the discipline,
even if they incline to extravaganza.
Every wife, thus trusted, would en-
deavor to prove herself worthy of the
confidence reposed in her, and our
homes would be all the happier for tine
system.
After ALL" concluded Mrs Harrison.
it will make very little difference what
Importance l or any one else, places OH
the question, for more than half of those
who read will never, perhaps, think of
it again, and, if they do, they will 90 on
just the same, holding their own views
and carrying them out to suit their
fancy.
ut all reminds me-" she continued,
''of the truth contained in the cele-
brated sermon once preached by some
Jealous saint to the fishes:
The sermon just ended,
All quickly descended;
The pike went on stealing,
The eeiS went OIL ceiling;
Much delighted were they,
But preferred the old way
Mrs, Dimmick had listened with much
interest to; the conversation, having.
upon my entrance, laid aside her book
--"All Manner and Conditions of Men,
and quietly remarked that the subject
reminded her of an acquaintance, who,
possessing settled income of her own,
was very punctiliOuS in regard to even
the smallest item of expenditure. AS
an example of this she went on to say
that upon one occasion this lady visited
the pOStOffice in company with her hus-
band, and, having forgotten her purse,
borrowed the desired two cents required
for stamp from him. Upon their re-
turn home she conscientiOusly paid the
amount, to the no small amusement of
the rest of the party present.
''All the same," added Mrs. Dimmick,
81 do not mean this as an example in
opposition TO the advantages to be de-
rived from the fixed allowance theory.
On the contrary, am thoroughly in
sympathy with Mrs. Harrison'S views,
and believe that every one is the bet
ter and more careful for the possession
of a regular allowance, no matter how
limited it may be-"
What Mrs. Field Thinks.
Mrs. Field thinks that, without doubt,
every woman should be allowed a regu-
lar income, without which. she asserts,
there can be no real domestic comfort.
u have never considered the subject
but in one light" she observed. ut
never occurred to me but that everv
wife enjoyed the same privileges as nv
self. Not having any children,I am not
entitled to discuss that bearing of the
question, but | am of the opinion that
girls would be all the better for little
more practical education of this kind.
In the first place 1t teaches them self
reliance, and this is sure foundation
OF character, either with girl or boy.
"ln these days when the question of
moOted, and women receive the same
collegiate education as men, for what
purpose is the additional knoWled
unless to enable them to compete favor
ably in all respects with the so-called
lords of creation? And if they possess
the required knowledge, why should
they not be trusted with the financial
part of the household management? L
cannot recall a single case within nv
knowledge in which the wife or
daughters do not receive their regular
oSiPNhNs anu Al OrOiy CooC IllO Iult
proves a success to both parties inter
ested.
Every women feels natural pride in
her ability to make both ends meet, and
whether she be married or single, she
will invariably aim to live within her
means, as soon as she realizes that there
is limit to her eXchequer. On the
other hand, she does not know where to
draw the line, and is thus led into reck-
less extravaganza.
Mrs. Nandersonss Story.
Mrs. Manderson, wife of the senator
from Nebraska, says that personally
she has never found it necessary to re-
quest any regular allowance from her
husband, as she and the senator makes
up the family, and as everything is left
to her discretion. She thinks, however,
that the Importance of trusting wife
with regular sum, according to the