Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-10

circumst ances alike honorable to all. But
it is rather uncommon 20 find third who
peICeIves the Limitation of his position
from any other one. 1t is easier In any
relation In life to understand what is due
to ones self than to measure our own
actions toward others. The beam of per-
sonal importance continually narrows the
vision, and makes the focus of our inner
sight uneven and weak. And perhaps In
no domestic relation is II so difficult TO
maintain a well-poised place as when one
is the third person.
The third person feels intuitively that
ne has personal freedom, tdat he has right
to go or stay, according to agreement or
as his own will may lead him-that he Is
virtually a free lance. He has a right to
ibis place. Either he has chosen it him
self, or blindIy OF willingly let others put
him there Ali this Is true, but there is
the same limitation to his freedom when
dwelling with others as for any other
human being. His rights are his, but
they are not TO be cat through or from the
rights of others.
A home brings special cares and Tespon-
sibilities which no one is more quick to
perceive than the care-free third person.
But rare is the tdird person, man or
woman, who will admit with anything like
equal readiness that, having burdened
themselves with building household, It's
united heads lave right TO certain priv
ileges which are inherent in this same
home-founding. Establishing household
does not give its a founders right to con.
duct it as seems best to them; a right to
do whatever IN their eyes seems most con-
ducive to family pleasures-Go be hos
finances after GIvll own method, to govern
their children and direct their servants, to
accept advice or not, to make mistakes, and
to learn from them.
This does not mean that the third person
has not part or lot in the family life. That
would be an injustice to him, for, having
accepted him as a member, the family is
bound to give him all that a seat at the
hearth, stone signifies. He has a right to
be considered, respected, and to be made a
sharer Of the family joys and pleasures
whenever the latter are in toe line of his
tastes. But, on the other hand, he OF she
has no right to assume a critically superior
attitude in the continually arising domes-
tic problems. He has privilege TO be
helpful, to be comforting, and often to be
adviser and counselor, to the perplexed
first persons when they seek aid volun-
tarily.
To keep steadily on this neutral ground
of ready yet restrained friebdliness is
difficult, but in no other way can the out
come of three-sided household be peace
full. The husband doubtless may be in
considerable, careless or exacting; but al
though the wife knows this, she sees
other qualities, and the third person will
never find the key to the mysterious cur
rent uniting them if he be critical and
severe. The wife may be wasteful, snowy,
or lazy. No matter. The husband chose
her. Criticism only angers him, aud I'M
sought advice of a lofty superior manner
authorizes any efforts on her side that gen.
tie kindness might cause her to put forth,
And when she is thoue htful, judicious
woman, she is yet human, and criticism is
the more CALLING. Her life is like a huge
derrick, towering high in the air, but
guyed 10 the earth with the steel chains
and twisted ropes of love and duty in
many and equal directions, and she must
revolve on her central pivot and carry the
burden, or do the work that she knows
needs to be done, although the power that
moves her seems triAing and the relults
small.-Agnes Bailey Ormsbee in Harper's
Bazaar.