The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-01-30
Does Il Wife Earn Wages:

For some time daily paper i'll New
York has been vexing itself with the
question as to whether or not man
owed his wife wages, and whether or
not she had a right moral right. of
course-to demand them. The discus
sion has been kept up by eager and Ell
thusiastic writers on each side, and
well nigh every argument has been
urged for and against the position.
Those who favor the wage giving and
taking have told with force and clear
ness the oft repeated tale of the woman
who, earning good wages at some occu-
patton. gives it up to enter the home of
her husband Then she shares its priv
ileges. its comforts and its diScOmfOrtS;
she cares for his children, she watches
over the household with unsparing la
Dor and toll: keeps labOrlng accounts,
economiZing in every particular Of
every branch of her service: she is the
nurse in illness. the guide and stay in
health: the arbiter of all matters not
tied up with pursestrings. But when
these are touched she finds change.
I indeed. for she must make her spring
| bonnet matter of diplomacy, beg fer
her car fare. and accept budget for
/ the toilet which her cook would scOrn.
! The picture is not all eXaggeratiOn,
! for we know that there are many wOm-
en-. and not the wives of poor men
either. who might describe their condi-
ton in much the same words. 1t is not
so long ago that a wealthy woman of
! this city said to lady who was asking
for dollar subscription to a charity:
Il want to give it to you-my heart is
with you. but. indeed. | must first ask
my husband" And confession was
wrung from her distress, because she
was shade less sensitive than others
who endure in silence.
For the relief of such the indignant
protest could not be raised too soon nol
too loud Marriage settlements, dots
wages anything rather than this. -AnC
vet one likes to believe that among in
tellgent men this is an order OF thing:
which is passing, if not quite gone
American husbands of this day ant
generation are not all tender ant
: thoughtful. but those who are thinking
, are apt to be more than generous ant
: to provide wife with all allowance
rather above than below what the.
J should afford, and this to be spent b.
2 her as she wishes. Even when the al
| lowance is not providing for her rea
+ OF fancied needs-thOugh as to thl
every woman. when asked, declares he
n preference for any sum. however small
/ given regularly without condition:
S rather than any sum, however large
n given fitfully, spent under SUPERVISE
S and often matter of discussion.
e Yet when it comes to this end the
u age question shall a wife be pal
It wages? the most ardent advocate c
d the allowance system is given to paus'
e What wages, cold and calculated, woul
+: pay woman for the work she does.
j. dollar for dollar is to be counted in tn
v labor and effort of wife in a mode;
e home? and no rise in the social sea
- at all reduces her duties and respons
n bilities, though her physical labors ma
j. be less There is no money consider;
t, ton in the world which would be adj
is uuate, and where is the woman WI
IS would take for her present position s
,r much gold per month? Her wage:
S now are the confidence and affectic