The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-07-17
THE "OBEDIENCE" OF A WIFE.

NJ UGH rs Sdlu, UOtl WloC dIld OtACi WISE,
In reference to the obedience which a wife
vows to yield to her husband. Brides
boast that they have evaded the word
"obey" and substituted "go gay" ''say
nay" or some other of similar sound.
After her wedding, lady of this kind re-
marked to the Rev. F. D. Maurice, who
had performed the ceremony, Nov, Mr..
Maurice, 1 call you to witness that en-
terrain no intention of 'obeying." Maurice
answered with his sad, sweet smile: "Ah.
madam, you little know the blessedness
Of obedience
What do those who are now so opposed
to wifely obedience say to the following
true incident? Sir Charles and Lady
Napier were riding one evening, unat-
tended, on the summit of a range of hills
in India The sun had just set, the path
way was narrow, bOrdered on one side
by jungle and on the other by a deep
precipice. Turning to his wife rather
suddenly, but yet quietly, Sir Charles
desired her to ride on at full speed to the
nearest village and send some people
back to the spot where she had. left him,
and he Furthermore bade her not to ask
him the reason why he had sent her She
obeyed in silence. Yet it was no slight
trial of her courage, as we'll as Of her
obedience for the way was lonely and
beset with many possible perils; but she
rode boldly and rapidly forward, and
gained a village a few miles distant in
safety. The party who she then dispatch
cd and accompanied met Sir Charles,
who then explained the reason of his
strange peremptory command. He had
seen, as he and his wife slowly walked
their horses, first pair of fiery eyes
CLEAN at them from the jungle, and then
the head Of a large tiger. He was sure
if they both rode on that the terrible
beast would give chase, and he feared if
Lady Napier knew the dreadful peril at
hand that she might be so startled as
to be unable to make an effort to escape.
This was why he sent her on and re-
manned himself, though he had only a
pair of pistols, confronting and control
ling the tiger with the steady, unflinch-
ing glance Of his eagle eye, until after
short gaze and a low growl the beast
turned back into the jungle.
Of course, no one worthy of attention
believes that it is a wifes duty to obey
when her husband wishes her to act con-
trary to the dictates of conscience. AS
little is she expected to conform to a
was laid down in a conversation over
heard between two children who were
playing on the sands together. Small boy
to little girl: do you wish to be my
wife?' Little girl, after reflection: Eyes"
Small boy: "Then pull off my boots"
On great many points, however,
considering the pecuniary or other in
terests of the family, the husband will
usually be the wiser, and may most
properly be treated as the senior partner
in the firm. A woman may like to have
her own way, but she has little respect
for the husband who gives into her in
everything. The ideal wife claims the
liberty of being herself and managing her
house, but she never refuses loyalty to
an affection which supports and pro-
tects her. Despotism and obedience are
indeed terms that have no meaning in
matrimonial alliance of the right sort.
The word "obey" had not as great ter
rors for our Queen when she was going
to be married as it has for the new wo-
man" among her subjects. When arrang
ing about the service the bishop
Canterbury asked Her Majesty whether
it would be desirable to omit the word
''obey." and she answered. II wish to be
married as a woman. not as a queen"
Some of her subjects are not as subject as
she was in this respect. They do desire
to exercise sovereignty over their hus-
bands. and do not prefer to reign through
service. At a negro wedding, when the
clergyman read the words, "love. honor
and obey" the bridegroom interrupted
him and said: Read that again, sab!
read it once mo-, SOS de lady kin katch
de full solemnity of de meanin'. Use
been married befo'" Another man, who
had been married beore three or four
times Git does not matter which. except
to HIMSELF said: MY first wife cured me
of romance, my second taught me hui
mility and my third made me a philoso-
pher." None of these wives could have
caught the full solemnity of the vows
they took when they were married.
The vexed question of conjugal obedi-
ence was settled by Spurgeon in a char
acteristis way. In an address at the mar
riage of the daughter of friend, he spoke
thus to the bride about her future lord :
Let him be the head and do you be the
neck, and turn him which way you
please. The Rev. E. j. Hardy, in the
London Queen.