The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-03

Thus, one by one she resigned her func-
! tionS until there remained nothing that
J she could decline to do except TO live any
! longer with this family. This declination
she made promptly and resolutely, and tho
FAMILY was without servant. II was I'M
der these conditions that the awful possi-
bilities of the cooking school burst upon
the knowledge of the devoted husband.
The revelation was made to him in these
simple words uttered by his wife:
Now, dear you know so much about
cooking, and you have become such an
excellent cook that you won't mind get
ting up in the morning to cook the break
fast until we get another girl will you,
dear?"
Consider the situation that confronted
the man. Weigh the difficulties that had
| to be resolved before he could give an am
swer. His first thought was of his wife's
comfort; of shielding her from every care
of saving her from trouble and annoyance;
II seemed as If his duty toward her de-
manded that he should use his knowledge
to spare her the task He had almost
decided to answer in the affirmative. Then
the question seemed to open and widen
and broaden. The answer disappeared in
the mist of uncertainty, and he found him
self gazing into limitless vista of doubt.
First there were the arguments to be
urged in favor of his doing 1t. 1t would
please his wife. If he loved her truly, as
husband should love his wife, would he
not do this thing for her, even at the ex-
pense of his own personal comfort? 1t
was really a small matter, and it would
give her so much pleasure. Then again,
would not the act typify that union, that
community of interests and labor and af
fections which is the highest ideal of the
married state? Would 1t not be an exem-
plihcation of the precept that We shall
bear one another's burdens?
All this was true, but in working out
the solution of the problem the man did
not feel that it would be right to stop at
this point. From one point of view it
might be considered disloyal, mean, a
Sinking of the common responsibilities
and tasks which he had assumed if he
were to refuse to perform this duty, sup
posing 1t to be a duty But he saw strong
reasons for doubling If this were really
the correct point of view. He remember
ed all he had read and heard of the unhap-
piness which had followed the lavishing
of love not tempered by discretion upon
children and wives. He had seen in his
/ own experience how the lives of some men
and women had been ruined because they
had been spoiled In their youth by parents
affectionate but discriminating, who hal
spared the rod and had not known how to
be cruel to be kind He knew one case of
a husband who had been induced while on
his wedding tour to bring up his wife's
breakfast on a tray to her and had
thereby got his wife into habits of life
long Incidence, which had ruined her
health and driven happiness from their
home
1t was clear that man must not allow
himself to be ruled by sentiment alone.
and that every man and woman to be
happy, must work. Then, too, there arose
the remembrance of the eternal question
of mans work, and woman's work, and
the barriers which the experience and wis
dom and customs Of all the centuries had
set up between them. Was II right for
him to overthrow lightly and without long
and careful elaboration that order Of
things which the evolution of mankind.
which nature herself had erected? To do
this would be to tempt Providence. Last
~ and to do him justice. least of all. he
thought of the discomfort to himself
which getting up to cook the breakfast
would involve.
This is only brief. imperfect sketch Of
the thoughts that surged through his
brain as he considered what answer he
would make to his wife. Il Is really not
an adequate presentation of the arguments
on either side, nor Is It intended to be-
1t is meant merely TO show the grave,
almost unsoivable difficulty which con-
fronted him. What answer he finally
made to his wife is highly unimportant,