Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-03
Married Women and wage.Earning'

For generations the accepted condi-
ton among people Of good breeding
and refinement, was that the wage
earning should be done by the husband,
and the administration Of the domestic
exchequer be left In the hands OF the
wife.
Among comfortably placed and, 10
some extent, luxuriously living, Ameri-
cans there is remarkable change
from former opinions on this subject OF
the wife's bread winning. Especially
among artists. authors, journalists, ana
people who live by the exertion OF the
intellect rather than by mere manual
labor, IL Is common to find Doth wire
and husband practicing their specially
whatever II is, and putting their earn
ings into more or less cooperative
purse. The wife has a gift for illustra-
ton. and her clever fingers exc out her
good mans salary so that Injuries are
possible which the two must else fore
20. She writes bright Quips and Jests,
or charming short stories, and the crisp
checks which come floating to her In
the morning mail provide her own
dress. or pay the school bills OF Laddie,
who is growing stout and sturdy and
needs more money spent on him every
year. have heard OF an ardent lover
who. preferring his suit to gifted
woman, venured TO call her attention
to the fact that their combined salaries
would enable them 20 maintain very
attractive home, quite overlooking the
possibility that as a wife the lady OF
his choice might prefer not directly to
contribute TO her own support.
The truth Is, that In many cases the
wife's ability 10 supplement the hus-
bands earnings relieves her Of a sort OF
work for which she may have no pc
culiar aptitude or which she perhaps
finds distasteful An extra maid may
be afforded 10 do various things about
the usekeeping, 10 wait upon the
children. 20 attend 10 the endless mend
ing Of small garments and the sewing
on OF buttons-in short, 10 carry part Of
the burden Of the everlasting little,
which weighs heavily on the housenis-
tress. provided the wife can earn
enough to pay for the added conven-
lenCe. When the period arrives In
which growing children take prece-
dence in parental calculations Of every
lessons. and music lessons. and oppOr-
tunities for culture In endless variety
for which continual provision must be
made, the Wifes share In the payment
Of bills may be no slight one. II she
earn only her pin-mOney, she may thus
acquire and retain a pleasing sense OF
independence. and have an advantage
over her opposite nelghbor. TO whom
pin-money is an ever-yanishlng mirage
on the horizon.
The difficulty about the matter Is
twofold. In their youth, married people
presumably anticipate the coming OF
children. For the sake Of unborn chill
dren, II Is usually better that mother
should not be taxed mentally or physi-
cally by the relentless and imperious
requirements Of wage-earnlng voca-
ton. Even n she carry on her writing
or her painting. or her exquisite needle. /
craft, exclusively at home, the demands |
II must needs make upon her win not
tell favorahy. as a rule. on her Off /
spring. In the second place, a husband /
Is In peril Of reversing the position no /
ought 10 assume as the protector OF ana |
prorider for his wife, and Of leaning ON |
her OF suffering her TO undertake tasks |
beyond her strength, and Of accepting |
ifom her sacrifices which she should /
never be allowed 90 make.
This, Ike many another problem. cam |
not be arbitrarily legislated upon by /
outsiders. Each family must resolve |
upon lie own course Of action. Most OF |
US could get on very comfortably with |
a simpler style OF living. and would be
peter on IN the end II We acknowledged 1
fewer wants, Civilization creates many |
arlheial values. The life Of towns pre- |
sents occaslnna far sn.esias ON svsrv