The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-01-17
SPOILING A WIFE.

4 man writes that an article which
appeared last week unde the caption,
spelling a Husband" was hot stuff"
whatever that may be. And he re
quests that the author Of the article IN
question will give US the reverse OF the
picture and tell US how men spoil their
wives.
think the most common manner or
spoiling a wife is by Indifference and
ueglect-neglect that is often more
tboughtless than intentional. Woman's
nature expands in the sunshine Of love
and approval. If denied the sympathy
and IF 3ction she Graves and which are
rightfully hers to expect, she becomes
spiritually like the closed gentian, that
d1Wer that though it always looks
heavenward never fully opens it heart
to the sun. The true wife is her hus
bands companion, helpmate and equal.
It may be rounoly said that every
thing that tends to shut her out of her
place in these relationships tends to
the spelling of her happiness. And an
unhappy wife is a spoiled wife.
A oma is not content that a man
shall have told her, once, that he loves
her Sae wants the assurance repeated
thousands of times-not only in deeds
and acts, but in words. Nine out Of
ten would rather have the countless
rippies that run over q lifetime, than
the one great tidal wave that sweeps
them a way by its force, and then re-
Ce9des, to be henceforth but a memory.
To spoil her, then, let her think your
love has been replaced by Indifference,
By Withholding expression of affec.
tion.
A woman can bear great ills more
patiently than che al suffer the sense
Of husbands injustice. The man
who deprlves his wife Of her rights
to his confidence I'D her share in his
purse does so at bis peril. Tine mon
ey question lies at the bJUtom Of a good
deal Of marital misery, Many a man
calmly aOsorbs the fruits of joint toll,
spends the farm receipts as he pleases,
and expects his wife TO run the house
and ClOthe herself on the butter and
egg money, or confines her TO a store
bill as if she were incapable OF hand
ling money that she has helped earn,
Where's that half dollar I gave you
last month";" ia a stale old Ike, but it
was born out of a sad truth and is re
peased in fact yet, far too often. Moth.
ing will take the zest out of labor and
make a woman listless and Indifferent
30 completely as the feeling that she
ls valued as a faithful servant who will
work without wages and yea old
clothes patiently.
The overWorked wife is a spoiled
one-spoiled in health and spirits.
Inc s3ddest part of it ia that the hus,
oand often attributes the impatience
and tIettuIness which r the natural
result Of toll beyond the strength, to
.emper, and is R~ggrieved accordingly.
TOT whose interests this excessive la.
bor2
Few WOmen can endure without in
ward rebellion a selfish thwarting of
'neiF small pleasures. Some men think
Ioshlng OF depriVing the women Of
Sue family of what they themselves
1oht consider pleasures, but which are
'ucn 10 their wives. Take, for in
sane, the going to church, or to a
concert or lecture at the village, or a
Ieigo0chOOd merry making. The man,
VINO gets out in the world twice as
O4IoG - ais wiIe, doesn't care partic
1.arly ABOUT going; it is a trouble to
l'Ica up; ne wiiIlose a couple o hours'
s'eep, the roads are dusty Or the
weather cold. The balance of power"
= IN nis hands, and he elects to stay
a. home. The wife would enjoy the
cuange, the pleasure of greeting
friends, the mental stir of the enter
'eftalnment. And though she may
ylela quietly, do you think that in the
Welding she is not conscious that her
wishes should be respected and that a