Evening journal., 1902-07-19
BiIlParSOn'S 'SCOlnmn
Published Now and Then.
Mans Proper Sphere

Mans Proper Sphere
in the Evening Journal a few days
ago appeared an article under the head
lCf Utilizing a Husband" in which
there was a serious attempt to set
forth the possibilities of turning to ac-
count that member of the household,
when from lack of health or inclina-
ton he should have withdrawn from
The Ordinary channels of bread-win-
ming.
1t appears to me that the subject is
worthy OF development, since if work
|ennobles. we have many citizens that
would profit by extending the idea.
The Kentucky woman who figured in
the story, put her husband to bed. and
tucked a few dozen eggs under the
covers. and started them on the pro-
cess of incubation. This showed in
gcnuity, but we imagine that the in
dustry will be swamped by a horde of
lmitators, till the spring chicken mar
ket is flooded.
Ii then becomes the duty of philan-
ihrOpists to discover new avenues of
usefulness for non-producing husbands,
so that the unearned increment may be-
come realized in the form of crisp new
bills. OF course the idea is not new.
Iand we read occasionally of an ener-
getic woman who has taken the reins
VI business. and who runs d boarding
house. while her husband is utilized
as an entertainer to make it pleasant
for guests.
The other day there was a-stOry of
d preacher who appeared to be making
q failure OF his noble calling, and the
congregation was uttering threats
about getting more progressive man;
Ione young and unmarried. 1t was at
that critical stage that the wife came
to the rescue. She outlined a plan un-
der which her husband was 20 gather
together all the necessary theological
.dry-bOnes, and she was to clothe them
with twentieth century garments and
gaInish them with up-to-date illusions.
lt worked and the congregation is
unanimous that the preacher has found
his sphere.
o 8 o
I'm some respects the primitive races
understood the situation better than
we. They were aware of the natural
tendencies of the two sexes, and ac-
tense. The gentle indian maiden looked
forward to a happy life during which
she should follow her husband around
in order to bring home his game. Dur
ing her spare moments she cleaned his
weapons, provided fuel, cooked his
meals and attended to the meager wants
of his children.
But ne had his uses. His chief mis-
sion seems to have been the extermina-
tion of his kind. and he kept sedulously
at 1t till the white man came to finish
the job. Besides this, he added the
touch of dignity to the family which is
so dear to the feminine heart.
In the last century there was a prev
alent idea that man was the bread
winner. and that the woman was the
honey bee that was to buzz around and
eat OF his substance. This perverted
idea. however, has been dissipated.
There are tendencies which If encour-
aged may lead to further reform, and
we may yet return to that primitive age
when the women had vocations, and
the men only avocations.
Women have gotten the idea that
they have a sphere, and if we may
Judge from certain of their public ut
terances, that sphere is the earth.
When we are i'll the lady doctor pre-
scribes; when we wish to secure that
fortune left by rich old uncle in Eng
land we secure the services of the
lady lawyer. Soon we shall have lady
Judges and lady policemen.
@ o @
The question may be raised whether
we are not going too far? Idleness is
not good for the best of men. Men
don't want to sit idly at home all the
day with nothing to engage their at
ltenticn but calls, and a bit OF fancy
work. They demand some light, but
suitable occupation that shall make
them feel that they are yet factors il
the solution of the problem of exist
nee.
What shall it be? Politics is being
taken out of their hands. Fishing is
,stlll left to their care. and the attend
ance at baseball games is due to theil
sorethought. But these are only oc.
casional diversions. and there is a need
for some general line of simple work tC
occupy their leisure moments.
We have received the following let.
ter. which shows that persons may fai
Ito be serious when seriousness is re-
quired.
Dear Sir: My husband up to si'
years ago was a constant care to me
chen there came a change and evei
since / have supported myself and have
had a pleasant time without interfer
ence from him. Mary.
=. S. Dear John died six years ag'
This month. M.
Now we are certain that some maI
wrote that. First. because il sounds
sarcastic: and. second, because NJ
widow Of six years standing speaks o
single blessedness in that strain.
No: men should live on, and en-
deavor to be an ornament to the hom'
lt, rear their children properly, t
lsmooth out the wrinkles from tn
faces Of busy women as they com
home from the rough contact with tn
world. and TO honor the names wit