Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-10-16
Some Qualities of a Good Wife.

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Some Qualities of a Good Wife.
Marriageis is not failure, though there
is much of failure in marriage. Whom
shall we hold responsible for whatever
measure of failure there is in marriage?
To some extent, perhaps, it is the fault
of no one, save fate in the form ofsocial
nature and conditions. But for the
most part happiness is under our own
control and of our own making. Under
the power of all-moving duty and the
spirit of unselfshness, even the most in
compatible disposition7 and tastes may
be broughtinto working harmony. The
secret of success and happiness in
marriage is moral one and may be
found of all who sincerely desire to
find it.
OF course the marriage relationship
is mutual one. Mutual cooperation is
necessary to the realization of its ideal.
The shortcomings of a husband are
just as fatal to domestic bliss as are
those of wife. But our present pur-
pose is to point out the moral qualities
which makes good wife.
1t requires sympathy and brains, and
character and tact to be a good wife,
even though one has an ideal man for
husband. Sympathy means feeling to-
gether. Husband and wife should feel
that their interests are thoroughly one.
They should share each others ideals
and hopes and purposes, and shouldcul-
tivate arespect for and interest in each
others divergent tastes. Some wives
are lacking in this sympathetic interest
in their husbands through sheer selfish
| Indifference. They have their own pet
ideals and schemes which they cherish
exclusively, and apparently think of a
husband merely in the light ofa materi-
al foothold. OF his inner life, of his
desires, his struggles, his anxieties, they
know and care nothing. Whatever un-
derstanding of husbands nature they
do possess, they use for their own selfish
purposes. A selfish wife possessed of
brains and tact may do what she will
with her husband. Witness Becky
Sharp.
Sometimes the disposition to feel a
sympathetic interest in ones husband
may be present, but there may be such
a lack of intelligence on the wife's part
that she is virtually shut off from any
real share in his life. But even small
amount of intelligence moved by a
great love, may accomplish wonders.
There must be character. This in
cludes virtue in its narrower sense, but
it means vastly more than that. 1t is
that which commands husbands deep
est respect and homage, such respect
and homage as can never be command
ed by one who is but silly doll, or a
nagging, scolding shrew.
There must be tact. Tact may be
made the minester of selfish scheming,
but it may also be, and ought to be, the
crown of an unselfsh and intelligent
devotion. 1t dictates the right word at
the right time, and it imposes silence
when silence is golden. 1t speaks
through a glance, through a smile,
a gesture, touch.
Does the possession of a liberal culture
and of artistic accomplishments unfit O
woman to be a good wife? Emphatical-
ly no, if to them are Joined the moral
qualitieswe have mentioned So far from
being an obstacle TO a successful and
happy married life liberal accomplish
ments exert a most elevating and pre-
servative influence upon il. They i'm
part refined zest to life, they banist
from the leisure hours the haunting at
mosphere of toll and carei they lift the
mind above tho level oftriyial personal
/ tiles; they keep open the outlook Of th,
soul upon the thingo that are pure and
o'ayatIng and of good report, aud 80 d,
much to develop and strengthen the
moral qualities which are the secret o
success in marriage
.
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