Evening star., 1901-12-03
THE ENGLISH HUSBAND
MASTER OF THE HOUSEHOLD IN
FACT AS IN Law.
Custom Permits HiIAtto Have Better
Food and Clothes Than
His Wife.

Ills
iA- III
From the Chicago Record Herald.
The English law recognizes the husband
as the head of the fapaNs15a law that still
obtains In some parts of our own country
and the estimate of 4ths law is obediently
reflected by the family. In nine house
holds out of ten the best Of everything is
reserved for "the master" the best chair
is placed In the most comfortable corner
of the fireside, and it would be little short
Of sacrilege for wife or child to occupy
either. II the fare Is plain there must be
something "tasty"-to use the English ex-
pression-for the man Of the house. An
English woman who lived In London
suburb said to the writer: The family
dine upon leg OF mutton on Sundays, and
1t comes upon the table daily until 1t is
al, gone" The husband, In the meantime,
dimes in town, ordering the dishes he most
prefers. The greater part of the economic
ing falls upon the wife; If retrenchment Is
necessary her brougham Is sacrificed. that
her husband may retain his cob. Every
where In London, even in the most fash
fonable quarters elegantly dressed men ac-
companied by decidedly shabby women
may be seen, and it is the rule, rather than
the exception.
An EngIishman's clothes are we'll chosen
and well made, while the dress of his wife
or daughter is very often "a thing OF
shreds and patches 1T Is In her nome,
however, that the English woman particu-
larly shines-if the husband is not abnor-
mally domestic, as frequently happens, TAX
ing her rightful authority into his own
hands. In this event she Is only hum
Bile subordinate whose business 1t is to see
that the wishes of her lord and master are
carried out The British husband and
father experimenting the purchase Of a
gown at the army and navy stores told by
-. erir1
stern command, Il will not have you In
stripes" is no figment Of the Imagination.
Such incidents are common enough. When
the masculine will takes this turn there
is nothing with which the head Of the
family does not meddle-the gowns of wife
and daughter the employment and dis
charge of servants the ordering or the nve
meals daily with which the Engllsh con-
stitution needs to be nourished in the de-
pressing dampness and chill of the climate
Women as Housekeepers.
When not interfered with. the women Of
the educated classes, it may be said, are
practically trained for housekeeping; al
most all are good accountants, keeping
careful note of every farthing Of expendi-
ture Even the lodging and boarding house
keeper sends in the weekly bill-with its
puzZling list of extras properly set down
an Illustration of accuracy and ingenuity
alike. They think it worth their while to
joint at the butchers; a. a'penny dozen
upon the eggs from the poulterer's, and all
such matters that the. American house
keeper so often considers Rtpo petty to dis
cuss they never fail to bear in mind.
The English method Of rearing children.
but for the fact that the daughters are too
subservient to the sons, is altogether COM
partially responsible FOR this, since the
whole fabric of English society revolves
around the eldest son and heir.
In great many instances the education
of the daughters is curtafled because the
sons must be trained for professions by
which they may earn a living, but 1t is
hoped that the girls will marry. and every
effort Is made by the mother to secure suit
able husbands for, them.,- There is no pre-
tense of letting this important considera-
ton take care Of itself: It is worked for
and planned for from the time the daugh-
ter reaches a marrfageahle age Much
greater thought Is given the wherewithal-
the income for the mafnt enance of the new
Iy established famdIyA than in the United
States, and when theawife' 8 fortune is> set
tied upon herself and her children by the
marriage contract 1t cannot be touched for
the husband or diverted from the object to
which 1t Is tpobe applied - -
English children, If somewhat shy, are
delightful Simple,n natural, unspoiled,
they are taught respect for their elders
and obedience to their parents from the
time that they are old enough to under
stand anything. In a weII-to-do family they
presence is requested in the drawing room,
given plain food and dressed in simple,
comfortable clothing. They take their
meals at regular hours and have great
deal of out-of-door exercise.
The position Of working women of all
classes Is one of the important problems
Of the hour. There as here, the field of
teaching is overcrowded.- There are thou
sands of governesses in England competent
to teach Latin, mathematics, music, draw
ing and the continental languages, whose
salaries do not exceed 500 a year. lady
advertised in a London newspaper for
governess possessing these qualifications,
Offering little less than the salary above
named, and she received over 1000 re-
plies. An exceptionally Weli-qualiffed cook
Is paid about II shillings (s3) week, a
housemaid half as much, and there are few
conveniences in any but the most modern
English houses, such as are to be found
almost everywhere in our own country.
Houses of Old Pattern.
Water for the morning bath must be car
ried to the rooms and coal for the fires
furnace or steam-heated house being ex-
ceptional-and for this work man is never
employed. All the rooms are furnished
with bells, which must be answered, and
the maids run up and down the stairs on
errands or in answer to summons all day
long. This has induced disease, a swell
ing Of the knee joints, recognized by physi-
clans as housemaids knee" English ser
wants are not expected to share the delica-
cies of the family table separate table is
spread for them below stairs, provided
with plain, although abundant, food, and
any luxuries they desire they must get for
themselves. -'~
The American is impressed always with
the homely comfort Of an English house.
notwithstanding the bed room candles, the
primitive bath and the lack of various con-
veniences which we consider essential
Everything is clearly arranged and per-
fectly understood; even the card for the
opening of parliament bears plainly print
ed In one corner: Morning Dress" This
dehniteness saves much embarrassment and
misunderstanding. Splendor Is reserved for
splendid occasions. An "at home.'' even at
grand house. is very simple affair:
there is an abundance of tea, cakes and
nowers-the latter always. whatever may
be wanting. There may also be some good
music. or some other entertainment pro-
vided. auc9 8
------~OR-s--
Waste of Coal In Mining.
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