Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-10
HUSBANDS AT HOME,
Some of the Duties of Both Father and
Mother.
From Harper's Bazaar.

From Harper's Bazaar.
Women are constantly advised to re-
member that they are the constituted guar
dams of the home; that they make its sun
shine and dispense happiness or misery to
those within its shelter. To meet her hus-
band with smiling face on his daily re-
turn to her, no matter how trying and dis
turbing day she may have had in the
home, is assumed to be the wife's special
obligation. Is it not at least equally in
cumbent on the good man to bring sun
shine and pleasure back to her. even though
the street or the Office may have had its
solicitudes and trials?
When the sound of the fathers latch-key
is the signal for joyous rush on the part
OF the children. a glad thrill in the voice
of the wife. even a CHEEKY stir in the region
OF the kitchen, the tokens are evident that
the man Of the house is a CHEEKY sensible
big-hearted fellow. who can carry his end
of the load without unmanly murmuring
and complaint. No doubt he Is weary
Most people are, after the allotted tasks of
the day are over. Work takes a good deal
out Of the strongest of US, even when we
love the work and find our environment
agreeable. But the man going out to his
business engagements has one great ad-
vantage over his wife. He has had change
Of scene and companionship. He has been
brought into touch with the wide awake
life Of the world. Strangers have addressed
him. His letters, his callers, his work it
self however monotonous, have made him
for while forgetful of the petty solicit
tudes and small frictions Of the household.
Perhaps he was cross and unreas onable
there, and said something sharp and satir-
ical which wounded his wife, something
over which she brooded for hours after he
had rushed pell-mell down the street to
catch car. forgetting all about his sudden
cllS q N of bao
fast was trifie late and the steak over
done.
OF course this behavior in a husband is
infrequent and accidental and is seldom
long treasured against him by a loving
wife. certain element of the maternal
mingles with the affection Of a wife for her
husband, and she excuses his occasional
irritability as patiently and with as much
liberation as she does the same thing in the
children or in her older boys. Neverthe-
less, a man should not presume on this
smiability, nor strain 1t too far. II a man
were cross at breakfast. it behooves him to
be angelic at dinner by way of making up
for the first lapse in department.
The husband who may be relied on for
sympathy, for cheerfulness, for sunshine
is as much home-maker as his wife. He
builds for future years, his boys copying
unconsciously, his very tricks of manner
and the tones of his voice. The chiyalry
which induces him to make smooth and
easy the path of his wife will make good
huspdhuS VI theiH WheI tnelr turn snail
come. 1t Will give his girls a standard by
which to measure when wooers come to
claim them. in the regular order Of things
They will say, as girl did the other day.
when / marry 1t will be when 1 find a
man as sincere, as upright, as gentle. and
as full of fun my father; not till then"
Nor should the husband forget that at
tention in trifes, little thoughtful acts a
gift at ali unexpected moment flower or
book, or the new magazine something in
expensive, but indicating remembrance and
care for the wife's tastes, keeps alight and
glowing the flame Of love. In home life
none need fear to be affectionate and de-
monstrative.