The Washington times., 1894-03-24
The Money Question
in a Marriage.

A man of more or less mature years, says n
writer in the Ledger, who has made or is
making competence or good living, mar
ries young woman, sometimes scarcely more
than child. She has been in school almost
all of her life, and has never assumed any
responsibility in money matters other than to
beexpected to make her allow wance buy candy
and other petty luxuries. If the money were
all gone she went without confectionery and
trinkets until the next time, and it was just as
well, perhaps better. This constituted her
limit Of financial experience. Her bills were
paid, her necessities provided for, incidentals
were looked after, and shortage was made
up. Whatever she wanted in excess OF this
she coaxed or cried for until she got 1t, or
maybe was sulky, sullen, or disobliging until
the coveted article was forthcoming as the
easiest way out of the unpleasant state OF
affairs.
Fairly launched upon the sea of married
life, that condition in which young people
feel at liberty to do as they like, her natural
inclinations. unframed and unguided in the
bud, blossom out into extravagant and unrea-
sonable demands, and feeling perfect right
to call for whatever she desires, trouble comes
sometimes suddenly and without warning.
IL 40 safe W say tudL Uloucy lutitlcio diV iO-
sponsibie for more domestic infelicities than
all other causes combined. The man Is not
long in discovering that his wife manages
badly, and he tightens the purse-strings. In
stead of carefully instructing her in the use OF
this necessity of life, he becomes arbitrary
and often unreasonable. insisting, in many
cases, that all articles shall be bought on
credit and the bills sent to him TO overlook.
There are n few things in the world more
annoyinD than n systematic espionage of this
sort. and the knowledge that even the most
trivial purchase has to be accounted for. 1t
is humiliating and puts the mistress OF the
house on the level of an irresponsible child.
How much better it would be to arrange at
the outset some fixed method in which for
bearance on both sides forms an important
part. Honorable, straightforward, honest
men have very little reason to fear the knowl-
edge which their wives may have in their
business. 1t is only when illegitimate pleas
ures and indulgencies are to be provided Tor
that there is any occasion for such secrecy.
woman who is contided in and trusted
will, as a rule. feel quite as much pride in and
interest for her husbands prosperity as he
himself does, and it is almost always possible,
when business Is depressed, for we'll
informed woman to curtail expenses and suit
her demands to the exigences of the situation.
But where there is no understanding or con-
fidence, where money is literally doled out,
and that, too, in the most grudging manner,
feeling of resentment springs up, and the
idea prevails that there must be Just so much
contention anyway in order to get what is re-
quired. Under such circumstances there is
no wonder If the demands are excessive and
infilicities follow fast upon one anothers heels
The money question. more than any other,
is responsible for the reluctance OF women to
marry and their ambition 10 provide cCm-
petence for themselves.