The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-05-05
How the War Fever
Effects the Women

There are women and women, just as
there are men and men, in these times of
war and stress, and the following account
of one worn and weary husbands expert
doubt. Men generally suffer long and are
strong, but there is a limit to some mems
patience, and that boundary line between
good temper and bad had been reached by
the husband, who thus relates his sad, sad
tale of woe:
'sHave you heard of the war-crazy wo-
menu" asked the married man. well,
she is the latest thing out. You find her
everywhere you go, in the cars, on the cor
ners in front of the newspaper bulletin
boards, and even at home. I've got one of
them at home myself, my own dear, dear
wife. Do you know that this war with
Spain is the first thing that I hear in the
morning, and I get a full and sufficient
dose of 1t before go to bed.
"Why, the other night, 1ust after having
retired, my wife heard belated newsboy
crying, Extra war edition; latest news from
the 'front.' Nothing would satisfy her but
a copy of that paper So had to get up,
dress myself and buy 1t for her. There
wasn't anything very startling In 1t, but
she was satisfied with the knowledge that
she was right up-to-date with the latest
war kilograms. Matters have been growing
from bad to worse since then, and some
new development crops out every day.
yesterday morning, after we had all been
seated at the breakfast table. just as
was about to ask the usual blessing, my
wife said Thomas, have a suggestion to
make: After grace we will sing the Star
Spangled Banner."' AS her suggestions
are orders with me and the rest of the
folks about our house, we-wife, children
and all-sang that patriotic air. the
madame keeping time with small Amerf-
can flag. -,
this innovation, but was sadly mistaken.
Just before going to my office this MORN
ing nv wife came to me. The spirit of
patriotism beamed from both her sweet
brown eyes; I could see 1t, and knew
something serious was coming: THOMAS
dear" she said, and the tone OF her voice
indicated another suggestion" that was
to be promptly needed Thomas, dear
/ want you to do something patriotic
something to show your devotion to this
one broad country, the grandest nation
under the sun, etc. until she lost her
breath in the cyclone of heroic fervor. She
soon rallied and continued with undated
zeal "Thomas, / know you need new
pair of trousers, but I want you to deny
yourself this once and take the ten dollars
for your pantaloons and buy flag for our
verandah."
She got the flag and here am wearing
nv last winters trousers while the ten
dollar stars and stripes wave gracefully
from our piazza in the soft, spring air.
If you can show me a woman with more
patriotism than my wife, should like to
see her. She is war crazy, and shouldn't
be a bit surprised to see her when I go
home tonight dressed out as the Goddess
of Liberty and the boys as little Uncle
Sans. Sometimes 1 grow so tired OF all
this eternal war talk, wish l had been
blown up~in the Maine"
This was not the jeremiad of a Birming-
ham spouse, but doubtless there are many
patient husbands in the city who could tell
the same sad story.