The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-09-27
The Minister'S Wife.
Who is she?
What is she?
What should she be?

2. What is she?
3. What should she be?
=. What is expected of her?
5. What should be expected Of her?
!. Generally speaking she is lady
who has formed all attachment for a
man either before or after he has Ell
grgei in the business of conducting the
services for some religious society. She
marries him. What for? Because she
!. VS. him and believes her love is re.
turned. She marries him in the hope of
securing happy domestic life. She
marries the mantle minister-not the
chu.ch or churches over which he may
from time to time be installed. Were
-t.a called upon, at the time of her mar
haee, to avow any special affection for
certain religious society, or take upon
herself any VOWS that would carry her
beyond the object of her affection, the
man, doubtless she would shrink away
rom the altar, declining to assume such
responsibilities, or enter into such an
alliance. She is a hopeful, truthful wo-
man, entering upon that which is her
ideal of happy life.
.. What is she? Generally speaking
Il slave. Yes, slave to the ignorance
md prejudice of the members of socie.
~ that she has been compelled to enter
on account of the noble, educational
and humanitarian work in which her
husband has engaged. slave to the
whims and caprices of men and women
who are both by nature and education
utterly incompetent to instruct her in
the amenities or proprieties of life much
less the conventionalities of polite and
educated society. She is a subject of
constant suspicion, constant jealousy,
constant envy, constant misrepresenta-
saon, together with a great amount of
calumny. No member of the entire
church over which her husband has
been installed is subjected to a 1.-THE Of
the surveillance to which she must SUBJ
init. Her every movement IS closely
scrutinized, her style Of walking, her de-
pertinent, her con yersation. her hat,
her dress, yes, even the quality of the
goods that enter into the garments she
wears, all are impudently observed,
snerciiessly criticized, and unjustly con-
,ielnned. If she dresses plainly, mod.
estly, cheaply, she is denounced as act
ing part for the purpose of advertising
ae meager salary received by her hus-
band for his services If she should
dress fashionably, genteelly, or even
for her position in life as the wife Of a
miaister whose salary is limited. If she
srould indulge in the luxury of an oc
casoDal ride in carriage with her hus
band the shafts Of envy are hurled
against her for extravaganza, or she is
perhaps reminded that other people
have no time or means to indulge in
such luxuries. She is the most observ.
I'd woman in the entire church society
Subjected to the criticism of people in
all walks of life, no two of whom see
matters from the same standpoint.
}. What should she be? A lady, a
wife, a mother, companion of the man
nasiESahanhas. given her.a q
TO whom she has joined herself for Vie
TO him and to herself, and to no otherl
on earth should she be held accountab l'
for her daily walk and conversation
She married him-not church and hi
married her-not church. Their do
mestic relations, their selection of friend
and companions, their manner of life
should all be as exempt from. criticism
as like acts on the part Of any othe
persons in the church society. She
should be woman in all that the name
implies. She should lead as independ
ent life as any other woman in tn
church society of which she is member
She should never grovel in the dust
truckle to prejudice, or yield one incl
to demand of ignorance or unreason
ableDess coming FROM any member O.
number Of members of the church. Sh.
should be her own true self, and b,
guided in her conduct by the creates
and best lights she can reach, insteat
of needing the diverse and incongruou
snouthings of number of people VIII,
are in no sense competent to teach her
and who would be utterly unable tt