Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-29
A DISCUSSION OF BRITISH WIVES
1t Brings Out the Fact That Their ii us lands
Do Not Tell Their Incomes.

1t Brings Out the Fact That Their Hus bands
Do Not Tell Their Incomes.
1t is now possible, says the New York
World, to extract what little lesson
there is to be had from the correspondence on
English Wives which the London Daily
Telegraph has been printing for many weeks.
The letters were principally from complaining
husbands. After reading them one is forced to
the conclusion that there is vast amount Of
dissatisfaction in English middle class house
holds. Many Of the letters are foolish and
others very rude. but the fact remains that
the British husbands consider themselves en-
titled to growl
Several fairly sensible men criticise the cult
nary abilities Of their wives. They demand
soup. The British housewives cooking capac-
ity is too often limited to joints, beefsteaks,
chops and puddings. In this respect she is far
behind the continental wife.
One whose allegations are more doubtful says
the British wife is an inferior needlewoman.
Once he saw the wife of an Italian friend pluck
hair from her head and with it rapidly sew up
a small rent in her husbands coat. Charges
against the British on this ground have, how
ever, been Indignantly denied on all sides.
Perhaps the most foolish husband is he who
terity in handling firearms and in riding an
unsaddled mule" II he wants such person
let him try to get her, but the other fellows
have not the same need.
The most interesting and psychological cor
respondent signs himself Resignation" and
expresses the opinion that most husbands are
dissatisfied because they have got the wrong
wives. Every man has an ideal wife, but seldom
finds her. Such is his own sad case. Often the
ideal is only to be found in higher social rank
than his own. This is a trouble that writer's Of
novelties have already made very familiar
OF his own wife this man is good enough to
remark: II do not saw that my worser half is
not fairly affecuonate woman | cannot al
lege. as some of your correspondents do of their
hepmates, that she has either an angelic or a
demoniacal disposition. She is small minded
as all women are; sets great store upon the con-
ventionalities as most English women do; thinks
her husband might be great deal better off if
he tried to improve his position-here. again,
being in agreement with settled conviction
that he is lucky individual to have been blessed
with her and that she was extremely good ma
tured and condescending to have married him. -
And again: ''She never dreams that | entertain
any doubt as to the superior advantages l have
enjoyed from her her ole sacrifice in sharing my
home and spending fve-sixths of my income"
He adds plaintively that he is only permitted to
smoke in the garden.
That remark to the effect that his wife spends
with even more explicit statements in other
letters, reveals extraordinary state of af-
fairs. The English husband is accustomed to
conceal the amount of his income from his
wife. What do you think of that, American
woman? He does not take her into the matri-
monial business as n full partner. but as a sub
ordinate to look after domestic details. This
at least. is what one must believe from the cor
respondence. II he does not tell her his in
come and consult her about his business she
cannot be blamed for spending as much as she
can any more than clerk for getting as much
salary as he can from his employer.
Some wives, it is said, save more on account
of their ignorance than they need, but thew
appear to be exceptional. Many of these let
ter-writing husbands complain that the sole
object in life of their wives is to wiring money
out of them. The husband says he has no
money, but she declares she knows, which she
does not that he has lots. 1t tickles the vain
British husband to be looked upon as person of
large financial resources and so he maintains his
dignified reserve.
One result of the British husbands attitude
in this respect is seen in the business inca
pacity Of his widow. She is continually throw
ing away the money he leaves her in the first
worthless investment that offers itself.