Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-02-26
HOMEMAKERS COLUMN.
on topics of interest the lsdie.
Ia solicited. Address: Editor HOMENAKERs'
COLUMN. Oxford Democrat. Paris. Maine.
THE HABIT OF NAeoING.


The pages of the magazines and the
columns Of the newspapers TEEN with
articles on the subject Of nagging, sand
wiched in between advice as to the care
of clothing and "Twenty Ways of Cook
ing Eggs" Indeed, 80 much has been
said that, from literary standpoint, the
topic has lost its freshness.
From moral point Of view, however,
it has not received one-quarter the at
tentionit deserves. 1t Is not that peo-
pie have not written about it; 1t Is rath-
er that they have not written forcibly or
forcefully enough.
| We say to women "Don't sc0ld; 1t
will spoil your good looks, ruin your
temper and lessen your husbands love-
What we should say is: "If you nag
your husband, he may bear it patiently
but when he seeks companionship he will!
60 to some one who does not nag him. y
How many men linger in their offices
long after the time when they might be
at home, because by so doing they es-
cape a part of the petty scolding that
fills their hours of recreation!
| How many more men, for the sake oil
peace, fall into the habit of telling lie
to cover up some trifling fault, not
heinous enough, certainly, to need the
sacrifice of truth!
"Let US have peace, at any price" is
the motto of too many married men,
who pay the price In falsehood, or flight
or patient silence.
There are husbands who, when they
take home gifts to their wives, are CON-
PEELED to lie about the price in order to
avoid lecture on extravaganza.
Fancy woman scOlding her husband
for such cause! 10 be sure, men are
not always wise in their expenditures,
but there is hardly Il surer way for
woman to belittle herself in her hus.
bands eyes than by blaming him fol-
spending his money on her. Could
there be nobler extravaganza?
1t is possible by statistics to tell how
much of the worlds distress is caused
by drink, but there is no way Of esti'
mating the number Of homes that are
ruined by nagging women; and yet be-
lieve that wOmen's unruly tongues bring
more unhsppiness into the world than
drink does. Indeed, one is too often the
result of the other, and when the day
of reckoning comes the men who deal II
liquor will not be held responsible for al
the worlds drunkenness.
A man enters saloon in the evening
and the proprietor welcomes him, but
the reason for his being there is apt tC
lie at the other end of the line. Is thl
home he has just LETT more attractive
than the saloon, or less SO?
L IL NH cnnlr
necessarily lose their influence with theil
husbands, and the time soon comes whel
even just censure is of no avail. The
sound, heard continually, ceases to affect
the ear. On the other hand, we all kno"
how keenly felt are few words OF
blame from the person who speaks then
rarely.
This trick of petty nagging, which sc
soon grows into habit, is as perniciou'
in its effect upon the woman as upon bel
husband. While the man who Is con
stantly found fault with takes refuge II
prevarication or in flight, fOrgetful Of
careless of the fact that "Two wrongs dt
not make right" the scolding woman
soon becomes as unlovely as she
is unloved.
And she is unloved. She may b'
feared, and thus rule her household; sh'
may even be respected, If she possesses
the high moral character and integrity
that are, strange to say, not incompati
BILE with the most unpleasant disposition
but she cannot know what 1t is to b'
loved, in the best sense of the term, fo
nagging is the one thing husbands seen
to be intolerant Of.
Toward an invalid wife the average
man will show an unselfish devotion
that proves him hero, or he will cheer
fully slave early and late in order t
crafty the tastes Of an extravagant one
but for the woman who nags her hus
band, the consequences are as l have
stated them.-Home Monthly.