New-York tribune., 1890-06-13
SETTLEMENTS.
From The Boston Courier.

From The Boston Courier.
There are more husbands who unkind through
than through deliberate selhshness or
hardness of heart and therefore il is well that there
should be as little left for the working of thought
Bazar' Colonel L. W. HigginsOn discusses the secret
unhappness which is caused by the fact that wives
are obliged to go to their lords for whatever money
they need instead Of having fixed allowance paid 10
them at stated times. 1t is one of those things which
one of the most fruitful causes of disagreement which
exist The lack OF some such arrangement as THIS
has brought many couple to the divorce court. ana
IL is 10 be questioned whether it would not be well for
morallsts to make point Of the establishment Oh a
fixed proportion Of husbands income as one OF the
essentials in marriage
There is in this country feeling, not as rational
ments is cold blooded and argues lack of sentiment
Americans are at once the most hard headed and the
prosac tendencies of the age, have in this country
contrlved to keep certain naive sentiment IN regard
sentiment Of the peasant folk in the way we look upon
marriage. To have any forethought III the matter Is
iowsrd one who should be all or can be nothing The
idea of marriage settlements Is regarded with dstrust
| and with sentimental horror II would perhaps be be
cynical 10 inquire whether the masculine desire TO hold
the pursestngs has not consciously or nnconsciousy
increased thi; feeling IT. is sufficient that it exists
be slaves after the fashion general among some Oriental
nations II is Of course fitting that they shall not be
the stricest restraints The position would not in
this age and time be looked upon as an especially en-:
on the other hand ii fitting that the wife be looked
upon partner with her husband II Is certainly
but reasonable to give her certain independence III
| the matter Of dsposlng of the funds of the firm.
"Either wife should be In the domestic establish
ment recognized partner, is the way in which Colonel
HigginsOn puts it, with the rights of partner, or
she should be salarled officer with the right which
that implies In no should she be mendicant"
| There Is perhaps way of preventing her being u
mendcant II the husband, who is generally the wage
Garner does not give her at least fixed portion OF
his income. With people of fortune there should al
ways be regular settlement in the European fashion
Sentiment Is good, but II sentiment live through
the social ceremonies and observances with which
cagement and marriage already surTOl nded, there
Is little danger that II will be crushed by
able business arrangement for the future: If there
is little money In the family, there should be reg
Mar sum fixed which shall be regularly paid to the
wife TO be used at her own discretion, and for which
she is accountable to nobody. II il j. not more than
Z cents week, at least let there be some fixed and
vnfailIng sum upon which she always count
Thare arc many men who honestly believe themselves
70 he generous TO their wives, who yet are uncon
cionsly cruel in this matter. Let them begin to-day
II they are in earnest TO stop this cruelty and give
20 their wives whatever weekly amount they are ahlc
70 afford 10 be used by the feminine portion of the
| household at pleasure. The result viii be an aston
iSbment even to the most sanguine; so much are we
prepared to risk In the way OF prediction.