The suburban citizen., 1902-01-25
THE ENGLISH HUSBAND
MASTER OF THE HOUSEHOLD IN
FACT AS IN LAW.

Custom Permits Him TO Have Better Food
and Clothes Than His Wife The
Women as Housekeepers - Position of
Working WOmen-Homely Comforts.
The English law recognizes the hus-
band as the head of the family-a law
that still obtains in some parts Of our
own country--and the estimate Of the
law is obediently reflected by the fam
lily. In nine households out Of ten the
best of everything is reserved for 1.-THE
MASTER" the best chair is placed in the
most comfortable corner of the fire.
side, and it would be little short Of
sacrilege for wife or child to occupy
either. If the fare is plain there must
be something "tastey"--to use the Eng
llsh expression-for the man Of the
house. An English woman who lived
in London suburb said to the writer:
"The family dine upon a leg of NUT
ton on Sundays and it comes upon the
table daily until it is all gone" The
husband, in the meantime, dimes In
town, ordering the dishes he most pre-
fers. The greater part of the econo-
MIXING falls upon the wife; If retrench-
ment is necessary her brougham Is
sacrificed, that her husband may retain
his cob. Everywhere in London, even
in the most fashionable quarters, ele-
gantly dressed men accompanied by
decidedly shabby women may be seen,
and it is the rule, rather than the
exception.
An Englishman's clothes are well
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 home, however, that the English
woman particularly shines-if the hus-
band is not abnormally domestic, as
frequently happens, taking her rightful
authority into his own hands. In this
event she is only humble subordinate,
who business it is to see that the
wishes Of her lord and master are car
ried out. The British husband and
father experimenting the purchase Of
a gown at the army and navy stores
told by the American girl in London, "
and his stern command, 81 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 of the
five meals daily with which the Eng
lish constitution needs to be nourished
in the depressing dampness and chill
of the climate.
When not interfered with, the wom-
en- of the educated classes, it may be
said, are practically trained for house
keeping; almost all are good account
ants, keeping a careful note Of every
farthing of expenditure. Even the
lodging and boarding house keeper
sends in the weekly bill--with its puz-
zlng list of extras properly set down
an illustration Of accuracy and ingenui-
ty alike. They think it worth their
while to consider saving fartbing a
pound upon a joint at butchers; a
ha'penny a dozen upon the eggs at
the poulterer's, and all such matters
that the American housekeeper so
often considers too petty to discuss
they never fail to bear in mind.
The English method of rearing chill
dren, but for the fact that the daugh-
ters are too subservient to the sons,
is altogether commendable. The law
OF primogeniture is partially RESPONSE
BILE for this, since the whole fabric
of English society revolves around the
eldest son and heir.
In a great many instances the educa-
tiOn OF the daughters is curtailed be-
cause the sons must be trained for pro
iessiOns by which they may earn liv-
Ing, but it is hoped that the girls will
marry, and every effort Is made by
the mother to secure suitable husbands
for them. There is no pretense Of let
ting this important consideration take
care OF itself; it is worked for and
planned for from the time the daugh-
ter reaches a marriageable age. Much
greater thought is given the where
withal-the income for the mainte-
nance OF the newly established family
than in the United States, and when
the wife's fortune is settled upon her
self and her children by the marriage
contract, it cannot be touched by the
husband or diverted from the object
to which it is to be applied.
English children, if somewhat shy,
are delightful Simple, natural, un-
spoiled, they are taught respect for
their elders and obedience to their
parents from the time they are old
enough to understand anything In
well-to-do family they are kept in
the nursery, except when their pres
ence is requested in the drawing room,
given plain food and dressed in sim
pie, comfortable clothing. They take
their meals at regular hours, and have
a great deal Of out-of-door exercise.
The position Of working women Of
oil classes is one Of the important prob
lens of the hour. There, as here, the