The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1902-09-11
THE GOOD WIFE'S SHARE.

What pity and shame to our civilization that
the law of this land does not rise to the standard of
chivalry and Justice set in the will of the mult-m
lionaire, John W. Mackey, whose tribute and legacy
to his wife shine all the brighter by contrast.
The late Mr.. Mackey left Will that must warm
the heart of every woman toward his memory.
In it he declared that his wife had an equal pos
session in all the property that he held at the time
of his death In other words they had in his view,
been partners, each acquiring and owning an I'M
divided half interest in the various properties held
under the husbands name.
How vitality true this view is none perhaps can so
thoroughly appreciate can the really successful
man who, hand in hand and heart to heart with
true wife, has found the strength and courage to
surmou.t all obstacles.
Mrs Mackey earned that half interest as certainly
as the prospector who stays in camp and stirs the
beans and fries the bacon owns half interest in
whatever bonanza his partner out on the range may
discover and develop
The property right of the partner is carefully pro-
tected by law and the half interest is rgdy rendered
unquesionable. But the property right of the wife,
who is more than partner, more than helpmeet too,
more than the like companion even, is but poorly
recognized in the law of any of the states.
Make quiet canvass of your acquaintance and
you will find that the men who have attained the
best success in life and derive tie most satisfaction
in and enjoyment of that success, are the men who
have recognized the necessity of the help of their
wives.
Note the wife who is wasteful in her own household
affairs careless of her husbands interests and neg-
gent IN courtesy to his business friends and you need
net look far to lind man who, however hard he
may have striven, is dissatisfied with his achieve
ments.
Note on the other hand, the wife who has whole
souled devotion to her responsibilities and deep
seated sympathy with her husbands aspirations and
efforts, whose ntuitions unerrng and whose love
is shade in the summer sunshine and shelter in
storms, and you will find beside her man about
whom great responsibilities constantly cluster and
who has but to extend his hand to grasp all that is
best in life.
Men who are blessed with good wives make seri-
Gus mistake in not carrying their business problems
to them. We may imagine that women know moth
ing of the intrcaces of business affairs. Perhaps
they do not. But ia womans natural abiityto see
directly to the vital point is infinitely superior to
that of man. A woman's instantaneous intuition is
often clearer and safer than a mans long-weighed
judgment
Many men who have achieved the highest success
have freely admitted that their best decisions have
come from their wives. Many, many Others who are
indebted to the same source are too mean to admit
it, even to themselves.
Life is far from being mere money making strife
anyway Every husband owes more to agood wife
than he can realze-more than he can measure in
money.
To give her half of the property at his Deaths but
to turn over to her that which was her own before.
To give her less is robbery-egaized robbery. to be
sure-but moral and actual robbery none the less,