The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-21
INVALID WIVES.
What They Can Do to Help Make
Their Homes Happy.

Their Homes Happy.
BROOKLYN, N. Y, Dec. 2O-That there
is great deal of work for the industrious
and conscientious person to do in this world
l do not think any one In his senses Will
deny. Such laborer feels that he has not
only his own duties TO perform, but no is
under obligations to do a little extra to
make up for the shirkers aud the disabled.
The drone is to be found in almost every
human hive, and the nursing and the doc
tors bills OF our invalils add RESPONSE
bill y and an expense which fall heavily
upon the heads OF familioi. On these
accounts many husbands and fathers leave
their homes daily with the conviction that
they must do something more than they
have ever been able to do, in order to meet
the expenses, which they cannot, by any
Ingenuity, lessen. The overworked wife
aud mother sees him go, IL she loves him.
with pain in her heat, fearing she knows
not what OF calamity or break down. lie
she happens to be the invalid, under such
circumstances heaven help her. fsr her
lot is desperately hard to bear.
1--WE love each other as devotedly
as ever" such an invalid wrote me not l5ng
ago, 'but | have been i'll. and most Of the
time in bed, for the last three years, and |
cannot shirk the fact that | have ruined
both the business aud the health OF my hls-
band have been such n care at night that
the poor fellows sleep has been constantly
interrupted, aud this has brc ken him down
and destro cd his ambition. We have four
children and with very limited means, you
can imagine what our lives ere. / KNOW
that my family would be better nR If I
were not with them, and 1t would only
be little while before they would recover
from the shock of my taking of, but hesi-s
tate from fear that there may be an Their
state Of existence-alth0ugh do not beieS o
there is-and that may find myself an UNI
welcome as well as an mustered guest. Per-
haps you know Of other cases like mine. l
would be glad of word"
"How many OF these men do you suppose
left their homes contented this nornngp
| This question was as led me by a gentleman
| who had taken me through the stock ex-
change menagerie. II am acquainted with
many of tbem," he went on, land some OF
the most reckless and audaclous on the
| floor to-day are those who are worried to
death about their families Sometimes I
think that women have little the best Of
| it, because in cases Of despe ate illness. for
| instance, they can stay at home and watch.
| II there Is little glimmer Of hope, little
| change for the better, they can take heart,
| but we poor devils live at such times 10 lsed
| up 10 the last pitch waiting fr the yellow
| envelope which shall contain the WORST
| i nhu bUDukIk II tut3 0IlbSt Oub
| here was an obi ct lesson which / can never
forget. 1t is easier to stand and watch than
| to 20 away and wait Tor news. aud / agree
with my II lends that in this respect women
| do have ''the best of it.n Now, from my
heart pity the husband OF my correspond
ent. With such thoughts In her head she
must be very difficult patient to manage.
know many such invalid, and l wish
could speak some word that would
be Of service. Recovery Ia impos-
sible when mind becomes poisoned
| in tais way. Now, have an
odd impression about tots case. / think
this wife aud mother could do great deal
| better il she tried. she has let go when
she could have kept hold. feel so sure or
| this that l am not going to ask pardon IL
have mlsjudged her. | am acquainted with
some chronic invalids who are not only the
greatest comforts and inspirations TO their
| families, but to whole zhoorhoodg. They
plan, and manage, and strive in every way
| TO gain health. They would no
more mention the word suicide in
connection with themselves than they would
mention murder II connection with their
dearest friends Why, / know some In
vaIids who could not be spared. so precious
are they, 81 unselfsh and heroic. My friend
writes coherent ald intelligent letter. She
| is not In the least demeated, neither Is she
very ILL IL she were she could not have
written me at such length. She may have
iudiscrees symDataizers. Instead OF beIug
bracel Dy her friends she may be material
ly weakened. Nervous prostration is my
| correspondents malady. That is tad, but
it "a not iDcurable. / have known
a persistent effort Of the will to
accomplish wonders 10 troubles OF
this kind. ] am not going TO preach about
the wiclredness Of dwelling upon suicide.
but the very thought is a sin against her
husband, tho man who has been so loving,
80 patient and so unselhsh. IL 10 slight
strain upon my patienes to DO compelled to
ask woman In possession OF her senses TO
reflect upon tho heritage Of SHAME an mis-
cry which her ssif-de truction would entail
upon her family. By her own confession
| she has been the cause OF trouble enough.
| Nov, II ahe cannot b. cup and doing" let
/ her do lying still. She can be patlsnt, sho
can be thoughtful OF Others, sne can re-
fuse 10 take a hopeless view OF her own
case and perhaps II shs tries bard she may
DO able 70 allow her hus and 70 sleep nights,
and 20 help 10 bring back his health and
business energy. ana very sorry for my
c9rrosp ludenf, and very. very sorry for her
husband aid children. ~ al sach sader
ers / have pns wurd, aud that word IL
strive Tbs spirit can dominate the body
- an exleut which 20 ssiiish and sentimental
iuyelids aDpeaFs impossible.
ELzAaoR KinK