The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-12
WIVES TOO EXACTING
A BACHELORS COMPLAINTS ABOUT
AMERICAN WOMEN.

Tic Finds Something Essentially Faulty In
tho Social Relationship of American
Husbands and Wives aud Cites a Case IN
Illustration.
bachelor an, SEQ moro wives than do
most married men. If this were not SO,
might not have IN objection to them as
q class. l might think, us some of my
married male friends do that oven If my
own wife (supposing had one, mean,
now were disappointing to me us com
panion and distressing to me because Of
her unwarranted exactions my married
neiRhbors may be moro lucky. Their wives
may be their chums and companions, their
wives may not demand slavo's attention,
q fathers indulgence, o lovers unques.
tioning devotion and rich and doting
uncle's unstinted allowance and expect
nothing in return.
Do make myself clear? Do suggest
that because visit many homes where
know tho husbands business affairs and
see the wife's attitude feel myself equip
ped to discuss the question of American
wives better, being bachelor of a some
what extended and varied acquaintance,
than could if I were married and {possi-
bly,, thcrcforc) possessed of u greatly con-
prilclcu Spncrc OF ODScryatlOnY
Well, then, Mr.. Editor, 1 want to ask
you If you do not think there is something
essentially faulty in the social relationship
of American husbands and wives, which
relationship is brought about wholly by
the assumption ON tho part of the wives
OF rights, privileges and exemptions? The
husband is bound by every obligation, lc-
gal and moral, to give his wife home and
such material comforts rs he Is able to
supply to himself also. Please, sir, OBJ
serve that "also." Is it not a fnct, l ask
you, that the American wife of any man
above the grade of common, unskillcd Ia
borcr dcmands-cvcn expects without de-
neutrality-suspicious. and luxurics in which
the husband could not also indulge with
out mourning debts he could not pay If no
Is less than merchant or capitalist, and
perhaps inviting bankruptcy through OK
travagancc and neglect of busincssP
Perhaps you never thought of that be-
fore. Well, let us SEQ. Besides sharing in
such comforts as the husbands homo and
board afford, the American wife at once
assumes the right to the luxury of idle
ness. That is u very great deal. 1t means
an additional cost for one or moro scry-
ants, which cost is imposed upon the hus-
bands earnings, he they large or small.
II they are large, I have no complaint. II
those earnings are small, then surely tho
husband has complaint-but he seldom
makes it.
But this is only the beginning. In mat
tiers OF luxury the American vito not only
indulgcs mt his expense in many moro than
does the husband, but frequently she in
dulges in many when, and again therefore,
he can indulge in none. What right has
she to this? Take tho luxury of fine dress
Ing for example. l know mani shall
make homcly exnmple-who before his
marriage was noticcably well dressed
man. He cared for well made, fresh. nice
clothes in a perfectly rational way and
artistically. Now he wears trousers which
bag ut the knee pitifully and his coat
shines ut the elbows and shoulders. He
holds responsible place, and has for years
IN big commercial firm, and 1 know his
salary is not less than 81, 900 year, and 1
should not be surprised to hear that it was
more. dincd with him ut his home the
other night, and in inviting me he said, as
nc AWAY does: Don't take the trouble to
dress, old man. Well just dine informal
ly."
Now, he knows perfectly well that 1t is
no trouble for me to dress for the evening
and that do so nearly every day, and, TO
tell you the truth, this letter was first sug-
gcstcd to Inc by my conviction that his
evening dress is in u pretty bad way, and
he doesn't feel that he can afford the ex-
pcnsc of another
mat Is one side of the picture here Is
inc other: Madam appeared in pretty,
dainty dinner gown, which she told mo
was new before I'd been in the house five
minutes. I've known her ever since She
was child.
IN talking now about the typical Amer
lean wife of u man who can be said to be
In comfortable" circumstances by tho
standards of the best class of salaried men.
She Is no moro cxtravagant thoughtlcss
exactlng or unreasonable than tho average
of her class, was well brought up, helped
her mother keep her fathers nose to
the grindstone always, is bright, good
enough naturod, if you please do not
know, thank God, just what that dress
referred to cost, but know its price would
cover my friends expenditures for clothes
Ior year. The dinner was good, Us sho
judged it, no doubt, but she did not know
what single dish was to be until It was
served.
We'll, after dinner my friend and had
just lit cigars and stretched our legs for a
comfortable talk, when madam exclaimed:
1t will be deadly stupid staying at
home. Let's go and see an act OF two Of
some theatcr.'
She was dressed in q street gown (hand-
some and new before we had half finished
our cigars, and she dragged us out to some
fool show where she saw hat sho on
nounccd she should have copied for herself
the next day. Having this letter in mind
was mean enough to ask my friend the
next day how madam was that morning
and no answered, ms 1 supposed he would
that he had not seen her. "Shc does not
breakfast until some time after leave for
the office, he added.