The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-01-09

u,o,o,ds and wives and Cites Case In
Illustration.
Being bachelor, and the kind of
bachelor I am, l see more wives than 90
most married men. If this were not so,
7 might not have an objection to them as
a class. I might think, as some of my
married male friends do, that even if my
own wife (supposing l had one, mean,
now were disappointing to me as COM
panion and distressing to me because OF
her unwarranted exactions my married
neighbors may be more lucky. Their wives
may be their chums and companions, their
wives may not demand slaves attention,
fathers indulgence, lovers unques-
tioning devotion and a rich and doting
uncle's unstinted allowance and expect
nothing in return.
Do l make myself clear? Do [ suggest
that because visit many homes where l
know the husbands business affairs and
see the wife's attitude feel myself equip
ped to discuss the question of American
wives better, being bachelor of q some
what extended and varied acquaintance,
than could if / were married and (possl-
bly,, therefore) possessed of a greatly con-
tracted sphere of observation?
Well, then, Mr.. Editor, I 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 the part of the wives
of rights, privileges and exemptions? The
husband is bound by every obligation, le-
gal and moral, to give his wife home and
such material comforts as he is able to
supply to himself also. Please, sir, OBJ
serve that "also." Is it not a fact / ask
you, that the American wife Of any man
above the grade Of common, unskilled Ia
borer demands-even expects without de-
neutrality-suspicious. and luxuries in which
the husband could not also indulge with
out mourning debts he could not pay If he
is less than a merchant or capitalist, and
perhaps inviting bankruptcy through ex-
travagance and neglect of business?
Perhaps you never thought of that be-
FORE Well, let US see. Besides sharing in
such comforts as the husbands home and
board afford, the American wife at once
assumes the right to the luxury of idle
ness. That is a very great deal. 1t means
an additional cost for one or more serv
ants, which cost is imposed upon the hus-
bands earnings, be they large or small.
4
those earnings are small then surely the
husband has complaint-but he seldom
makes it.
But this is only the beginning. In mat
tiers of luxury the American wife not only
INDUCES at his expense in many more than
does the husband, but frequently she in
dulges in many when, and again therefore,
he can indulge in none. What right has
| no fO Toll bo In, If fipo
ing, for example l know a mani shall
make homely example-who before his
marriage was noticeably well dressed
man. He cared for we'll made, fresh nice
clothes in perfectly rational way and
artistically. Now he wears trousers which
bag at the knee pitifully, and his coat
shines at the elbows and shoulders. He
holds responsible place, and has for years,
in big commercial firm, and know his
salary is not less than 81, 900 year, and
should not be surprised to hear that it was
more. l dined with him at his home the
other night and i1rinviting me he said, as
he alway does: Don't take the trouble to
dress, old man. Well just dine informal
ly."
Now, he knows perfectly well that it is
no trouble for me to dress for the evening
and that l do SO nearly every day, and, to
tell you the truth, this letter was first sug
gested to me by my conviction that his
evening dress Is in pretty bad way, and
he doesn't feel that he can afford the eX-
pense of another.
That is one side Of the picture; here is
the other: Madam appeared in a pretty,
dainty dinner gown. which she told me
was new before I'd been in tho house five
minutes I've known her ever since she
was child
I'm talking now about the typical Amer
lean wife of Il man who can be said to be
in Comfortable circumstances by the
standards Of the best class Of salaried men.
She is no more extravaganza, thOughtless,
exacting Or unreasonable than the average
of her class was well brought up helped
,iUr ilOtIer Keep ner IatnerS nose TO
the grindstone always, is bright, good
enough natured, if you please. 1 do not
know, thank God just what that dress
referred to cost but know it's price would
cover my friends expenditures for clothes
for year. The dinner was good, Us she
judged it, no doubt, but she did not know
what single dish was to be until it was
served
Well, after dinner my friend and had
just lit cigars and stretched our legs for
comfortable talk, when madam exclaimed
at will be deadly stupid staying at
home. Let's go and see an act or two Of
some theater.''
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 she an
nounced 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 he answered, as 1 supposed he would,
that he had not seen her. "She docs not
breakfast until some time after l leave for
the Office he added.
Now, there is that man, earning 81, 900
or So, 900 a year, working from 9 in the
morning until in the afternoon so weeks
year, dressing like $40 q month clerk,
not saving penny, supporting his wife in
idle luxury at the cost of probably two
thirds if not three-fourths of his earnings,
and she would look at any one in big eyed
amazement who should suggest that she
was fundamentally, heartlessly, unreason-
ably, exacting and enjoying privileges to
which she had no manner of right whatev-
er. Furthermore, she would call the man
a brute who told her so. Is she unique as
an Americans wife? Well, l rather think
not Cor. New York Sun.
The following instance of Sterne' s un-
blushing conveying" has not, think,
been hitherto recorded In f'Tristram