The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-08-10
THE IDEAL HUSBAND.

With advancing years ones ideals are
likely to become slightly modified. Ex-
perience teaches us that humanity must
even be of the earth earthly ways and
we are willing that it should be so.
realizing that we ourselves, having so
little of the angelic in our makeup, are
much happier walking in close compan-
ionship with one who has his share OF
the faults and frailtieS of humanity,
than we could possibly be with being
so perfect in his spiritual nature that
he would never be able to make allow
ance for our own inherent depravity;
and so, my ideal husband is intensely
human, and ever will be until he at
tains to that sphere where they neither
marry or are given in marriage.
But my ideal husband must be first
and always Christian gentleman. He
must be clean, morally, mentally and
physically, and love must be the DOM
inant principle of his whole life. Love
for his family and his home. l think
that the Apostle Paul had an ideal
husband in his minds eye when he said
Christ loved the church"
Such love as this will secure to the
wife perfect confidence. perfect peace
and perfect happiness and will be a
safeguard to the husband in the hours
of temptation. precluding all dishonor
or unfaithfulness.
To my ideal husband home will be
the dearest spot on earth. and the home
circle the very best society, and he will
remember that marriage is yoke
which must be borne equally by hus-
band and wife, and as she has given up
much that was dear to her heart the
home of her childhood, the tender, pro-
tecting care of her parents, and much
of girlish pleasure to become his wife,
and all for loves sweet sake, he, too,
will elaG,i forego many of the pleas
ures land. the freedom of his bachelor
days for the sweeter joys of domestic
life. He realizes that the word hus-
band signifies house band" the band
which binds the home and family to-
gether, and he willingly gives them as
he tolls unccmplainingly that his loved
ones may be maintained in comfort
and he finds in the love and apprecia-
ton Of his family fitting recompense
FOR all his labor. His home is to him
safe anchorage from all the storms of
life, and in its peaceful mornings he
finds his greatest earthly happiness.
My ideal husband is kind and courte-
Jus to his family, and remembering that
love is wife's wages, he does not
skimp in his pay. He remembers also
that loving words and kind deeds are
the flowers that make glad the heart of
the living while green grass on we'll
kept grave gives no joy to the pulse
less heart that lies beneath. My ideal
husband understands that, as his wife
gives of her time for the making and
maintaining of the home, even as he
gives of his own for its support she is
justly entitled to share equally with
him in the proceeds of their joint labor,
and he never forgets that she is not
only lis wife, but an individual whose
rights are as sacred as his own and
these rights he is bound to respect and
protect. In conclusion we will say the
ideal husband is not so rare as some
people suppose. There are plenty of
them. as many wife will testify, and
may their number never grow less.
Is not this just such an ideal hus-
band as one would expect our friend,
Mrs. Hardy, to depict:
Mrs. Hum portrays her ideal in
rhyme. and really does it all in the very
first verse, though the second and sue
ceeding verses add touches to the pic
ture which make it one not easily to be
forgotten:
THE IDEAL HUSBAND.
CMrs. F. ]. Hum. Arlington. Kan.)
Ny ideal husband
A man must be
Whom can be proud Of.
Who'll be proud of me.
With lots of affection
Not hidden away,
But convenient and ready
For use every day.
constant companion,
My pleasures to share,
All my Joys to increase
BY his loving care.
He need not be handsome.
May even be plain.
But a dude or flop
will always disdain.
His breath must be free
From tobacco's vile smell.
And also the odor
OF strong drink as well.
In vulgar. bad language
He must not take part.
For the words of the lips
| Proceed from the heart.
He must not seek pleasure
| Where cannot go.
Nor have sly companions
Whom must not know.
| Should he meet misfortune,
And troubles press sore.
My labors shall help drive
The wolf from our door