The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-05

lfRnQSi young, Well-to-do, attractive men,
who had been living care free lives in
handsome bachelor style. A. far as the
world knew, all Of them were decent, up
right fellows. led thoroughly respectable
lives. and each one was a distinct loss
60 the community. Two 1 can Vouch for
as noblemdn in the best sense of the word
and Il Is my mistaken belief that they
would be living to-day had there been
wives TO care for them.
Most OF us read about or have seen the
luxurious suites of rooms occupied by
prosperous single men, where all that
money and modern convenience can ac-
eomplish 90 make existence agreeable Is
combined for the benefits of bachelor res-
idents. a standing jest in the comic pa
pers is to compare the welded slave of
nat house miseTies with the unmarried sy
barite who rejoices in the beauty and ease
of club apartments for single gentlemen.
And It is true. the unattached man does
get prompter electric bell service, SIMMER
shoes, richer sauces on his food, more
plush, liverles. gilt, plate glass and fewer
petty annoyances than his friend who
makes the same salary support wife
and babies in the suburbs.
In these days one would suppose the
insurance companies ought to accept the
prosperous bachelor at cheaper rates as
a superior risk. Apparently he lives in
pink cotton wool with his private bath,
quiet, airy rooms breakfasts in bed, and
no one to think about but himself For
him there are no curtain lectures, no wea-
rying domestic complaints. no fretful
children, ailing wife. or big household bills
to shock and strain his nervous system.
And yet statistics show that the average
married man has better chances for
long and healthy life than his bachelor
friend. Pneumonia, appendicitis, rheu-
matte fevers, etc, that sweep like demons
Of destruction through those softly light
ed, richly draped rooms, where beauX and
gallants dwell, are. when met, more Oft
en- conquered in the shabby home on the
, outskirts of the town.
In talking ii over. We every one Of us,
agreed that both Jack Dawson and Harry
Turner, in their thousand-dollar-a-y
rooms actually died of neglect
Three weeks ago, when Jack dropped
ein at o'clock for a cup of tea. l ex-
claimed almost aloud over his haggard
feverish looks and dreary cold, and upon
entreating him to go to bed and have a
doctor, was Mortified to be told he intend
ed giving a theater party that night Next
time l saw the poor soul it was to lay a
bunch of violets In his still white hands
and say goodbye forever.
Jacks mother, who lives up in the north
ern part of the state, wept as she repeated
all the servants had to ten her; how for
weeks before his death the boy lost his APP
petite, was irritable and coughed inces-
sanity The maids, It seems. had been much
concerned and had done what they could
to make him comfortable, and demonstrate
at his recklessness. One in particular relat-
ed with tears In her eyes. "as how beg
ged him not to so a-trailin out in the rain
last Wednesday night, but he took me up
mighty short and just marched out in the
storm"
Now that is the sort of stupid impru-
dence the average wife simply won't put
up with from her husband. II may be a bit
tircsome to have Mary comment every time
you decline soup or sweets, count your
pulse when you are cross and insist upon
haring a candle, down your throat when
ever shesfancies a frog has gotten into II.
And then to be forbidden the club because
you sneezed the night before is certainly
vexatious, but then Mary properly con-
siders it big part of her duty TO keep you
well.
True, she can't follow along to the office
and see her tenderly watched-over spouse
gobble down a Welsh rarebit or hot mince
pie, and sit through In wet feet because
overshoes were forgotten when he went TO
lunch. But on the whole -Mary's vigilance
does a vast deal in warding off sickness,
and when 1t comes, her promptness with
mustard baths, plasters and hot teas routs
the enemy in a fashion bachelors know
nothing about.
Woman's love is quick to note the smalf-
est sign OF distress In a cherished object.
Men may love truly, but are negligent Of
details. I'm sure when Jack Dawson was
at his worst, all his men friends would
have told you he was hooking. fine" A
man must be pretty far gone In health be-
fore his closest chum notices anything out
of the way.
And later, when Jack was too Ill TO be
around and a trained nurse had been
Installed, 1 went one day to make inqui-
ries. The woman came out and told me
in despair she could do nothing for her
patient The night before. no sooner had
the doctor gone, leaving strict orders that
the invalid was to be absolutely quiet
than a couple Of men came and asked to
be admitted The nurse refused, but Jack
said nonsense, let the fellows in and
with gas blazing, there they sat smoking,
gossiping and laughing until all hours. 1t
never occurred to the visitors that they
were putting a nail in Jacks coffin, they
regarded it as friendly action 10 visit a
while with the sick man, no matter what
his condition might be.
1t Is because women realize all this, and
know what stupid, half savage creatures
men are in all relating to health or sick
ness. than a woman begins stern hygienic
discipline as soon as she marrles. The
meekest brow-beaten wife Is never too
tmid to take her stand on rubber-shod
feet on damp days 1t Is instinct with us
to like to feel foreheads for fever, exam
inc tongues for indigestion, and see man
squirm and swear over a singing hot foot
bath. It Is one Of natures devices for
preserving the species. Ten per cent more
men than women die before the middle
arc of life, and nothing but our steadfast
pursuit of man with arctics, muflers and
mttens, preserves even that ratio.
The statements above may sound sug-
gestlve Of trying to scare bachelors into
marriage, and putting the whole question
on very unsentimental basis. Not at all
II Is to prove rather that a woman Is as
pivotal to a home to-day as when men
were warned TO marry early for the sake
darned socks, tidy freside and we'll
cooked dinners.
In the last fifteen years enterprising real
estate men stepped I'm and practically put
premium on bachelorhood by Offering to
single men luxuries the married frater-