The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1903-03-14
TO0MUCH GOODNESS
HOW AN EXEMPLARY HUSBAND
ALMOST DROVE HIS. WIFE
TO LUNACY
THE STAY AT HOME
AS CONSTANT IRRlTANT

ter, to Concerts and Balls - Mar
Should So Arrange as to Spend Z
Portion of His Evenings Away From
His Donieile. - -.-.>.-.-.-.,- -
My friend, Ebenezer Butterwortk
Snagues, tells me that I have made
quite a favorable impression. among
his employees. When he called to see
me- socially, the other evening, he said
that his porter, Clonough, had asked
him if he supposed that I could tell
him what allied his wife. told Snagues
to send Clenough up to my office some
afternoon and I would talk the matter
over.
Mr.. Clenough called the next after
noon and briefly described his wife's
condition. He said: Il can't Imagine
what the trouble is My wife is very
quiet; doesn't like society; don't like
to go to the theater, or to concerts, or
lectures, in fact, all she does want to
out of the house to call on any one
once a week. I do all the shopping,
such as buying groceries, meat and
vegetables and make life as easy as
can for her in every way"
I asked Clenough if his wife had to
work very hard. He said: "Oh, no!
She gets up about half-past five in the
morning anu DulluS IAc L Ill
ashamed to say that, but it's pretty
hard work in the store, and I don't feel
much like getting up mornings, and
Mrs. Clenough says she would just as
soon build the fire as not. get up at
6 and she has breakfast all ready for
me. Then have to hurry, because the
train leaves at half-past seven, and as
don't have time in the store read the
paper while am eating and finish the
paper on the train. Then, Of course,
after I have gone, the missis washes
che dishes and tides up things and
does her routine work about the house.
She's a great woman for routine, my
wife is. She has set days for certain
kinds of work; washes on Monday;
irons on Tuesday, and so on through
3he week. She is too busy to get any
dinner for herself; she just takes a
lunch; a bit of bread and a cup of tea,
End not always that, because she says
ITS so lonesome to eat alone In the
afternoon she begins to get the regular
dinner, and that keeps her busy until
/ get home at half-past six. Then WE
have dinner and read the evening pa
per while she does up the dishes, and
then she takes her knitting or sewing
and employees her time while I am so
tired that after I have had my smoke
I usually fall asleep and don't wake up
Again until bedtime.''r =" s''~.r:s .
f. irritable and fitful.
Nothing especial seems to be the
matter with her, but lately she has be-
home very irritable and fitful. If don't
Dsten to what she is saying, when she
= asking. questions or talking of what
Mas happened in the neighborhood,
k1e actually loses her temper and
Etolds, and that prevents my reading
or thinking, and disturbs my nap, and
If I tell her not to bother me, she goes
off in a fit of the sulks. She has been
awfully sulky and morose, lately, and
she complains that she is so nervous
that she feels as if she would fly, and
she is SO tired that she can hardly
drag one foot after the other. It's
strange. though. I don't see why she
she should be so nervous, because
there's nothing to disturb her. It's al
ways quiet in the house. She doesn't
have much company. There's nobody
in the house to worry her, not even
child
WELL" said. Il think I know pref
ty wei! what the trouble is, but with
your permission I will drop in some
morning and talk with your wife," In
accordance with This promise I did call
and found things as I supposed l
should. Mrs. Clenough was one of those
~ nervous temperament, very unas-
Stunning in appearance, of a retiring,
diffdent disposition, and not at all self
assertive. After gaining her confidence
by cheerful small talk, I said it must
be rather lonesome here. ooh, doc
tor, she exclaimed. lonesome is no
name for it; it's perfectly horrible; it's
worse than confinement for life on
desert isle. But I wouldn't think Of
saying that to my husband; he's SO tir-
ed when he gets home, and he has so
much to worry him.
I thought it was rather strange that
Mr.. Clenough should have so much to
worry about, as he was a steady-going
man, had no bad habits, had q good,
permanent position, and was well and
promptly paid; but I didn't say so to
his wife. I did ask her if she liked
amusements. If she and her husband
didn't go to a concert or a theater once
In while.
Would Like to Go to Theater.
She said, ooh, no. I should dearly
love to go to the theater occasional
ly, but, as I have said, my husband
is so tired that he doesn't want to do
anything when he gets nome but eat
his supper, smoke his pipe, read the
paper and take a nap; and he never
thinks Of even suggesting that we go
out anywhere Why, we don't even
call on our next-door ne1ghbors; ne
says he is no society man, and or
course if we don't call on the neighbors
they won't call on u.s."
Il suppose, Mrs. Clenough," said |,
that you don't have very much WORK
to do" WELL. yes, I do have a good
DEAL" she replied. 1T isn't hard work,
but it keeps me busy all the time. My
husband is awfully hard on clothes.
He has to have a clean frock every
day as we'll as a clean shirt and collar
and cuffs. So my washing is quite
large. Wednesday it takes about all
my spare time mending. Then the
house is so near the railroad that it
gets awfully dirty, and it takes good
deal of my time sweeping and scrub
bling. Mr.. Clenough is hearty eater,
too, and cook a big dinner, every day
and Saturday. I cook cakes and pies
for the week." 49,. ~. ~
I didn't make any comments on her
work, but I thought that she had
enough of it, and rather too much I
said: "Of course you and your hus-
band go to church on Sunday" and she
replied: "Oh! MOI Mr.. Clenough does
not want to dress up Sunday. He
says he's tired and wants to read and
rest; he says that's the only time he
does have to himself"
Il suppose" said, you take littls
trips during the summer-trolley rides
and so forth" NO" said she, "Mr.
Clenough doesn't want to go; he says
there's such a crowd and that he sees
enough of crowds In the city every
day. If he has a day on he goes with
some chum somewhere in the woods,
fishing or cunning. He says that's
the kind of rest he likes.
i. Is Handy Man. 4
4 well. of course. then" said = you