The record-union., 1896-03-21
WEAKENING THE FAMILY TIE.

WEAKENING THE FAMILY TIE.
A writer in an Eastern paper holds
that as the strongest tie is when the
family is, to a large degree at least,
dependent upon the head of the house
hold, therefore when the wife through
means of her own skill, ability or for
tune, becomes independent of the nat
uraI care-taker, there is a loosening of
the domestic tie and danger begins to
frown in that household.
While this may be putting it too
broadly we incline to the belief that
there is much of truth in the position
assumed. Dependence, in the sense
used when the domestic relation is con-
sidered, is not that condition of hui
initiation or absolute subjection that is
involved where there is no obligation to
provide The dependence of the wife
and child is, indeed, not a matter of
mercy but of right. The wife has of
right her share, but the husband is
equally of right made the disbursing
and managing head of the domestic
firm. But if the wife and mother be-
comes, after a season of domestic life,
independent of the'husband's provision,
either through good fortune or her own
exertions, is there liability of the fam
lily tie being weakened? Not neces-
sarily, we reply.
The Eastern writer cites the case of a
wife happily married, who long lived in
great love with her husband and child
rem, and the harder the. struggle forsex-
istence the closer the tie that bound
them as one became. Finally the wife
wrote some pretty stories for children.
and then tales of home and domestic
happiness. These took well and she
became famous and soon financially in
dependent of her husband. She was
much sought by literary and society
people, went to live in great city,
leaving husband and home. Her family
ceased to be necessary to her. She had
all the money and admiration she want
ed away from home, and the sequel is
easily fancied.
The Florida Citizen" AYERS that these
cases are by no means uncommon, and
adds that authors who become famous
seldom live happily afterward with
their marital companions.
The former are no longer dependent
on the latter for smiles or pleasant
words. Their company is much sought
f7of soil IA
them. Every mail brings congratula-
tory letters. Presents come from
strangers. Their pictures are in the
papers and are displayed in shop win
dows. New varieties of roses, and some.
times new brands of cigars are named
for them. Their names are spoken
only to praise. They feel their superb
ority to their former companions, and
often manifest it in a way that is painful
to them. The time is not long, gen.
orally, before the old family tie, once
strong, becomes weak, and is finally
broken. The head of an author is
easily turned.
All the recent changes in laws 81,
customs are along the line of making
people independent of one another
Married women now own all kinds O.
These. often make them independent O.
their husbands. If the gray mare i!
the better horse she will soon declin,
10 trot in the same harness with him
At present many children work away
from home and earn wages and sup
port themselves. AS they are no longet
dependent on their parents, their rA
gard for and interest in them is les
~,
works under the direction of a head tha
provides for their wants. Renovin.
dependence lessons the family tie.
There is just enough in all this t
make the question involved one of pro
found interest, and Just enough of erro
in it to make it one of danger. 1t is b,
no means true that literary success o
financial or social independence sepa
rates husband and wife either as a rul
or necessarily. But We believe it to b
true that the literary wife is, as a rule
the cause of unhappiness to her hus
band if it happens that his tastes ar
not Of the same character. In yer
many cases it is true that the financia
Independence OF the WlIe tendS Z
weaken the family tie but in most sue
instances it will be found that tn
woman was weak in domestic affection
in the first instance, but succes
does not estrange rne wife if she
loves well and unselfishly. Nor vii
fame wean her from maternal affection
If she was in the outset fitted to be
true mother.
We agree with the Atlanta sConstitu
ton" that many Of the worlds idea
homes are those in which either tn
husband or wife is a successful bread