The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-16
WIFEHOOD'S WAGES
ARE SELDOM lust
Married Man Discusses Wisdom and Justice Of Separate Allow
ance for Wife-What Bride Said After Wedding Journey
on Working Board and Clothes Average Mans and
Woman's Expenses Compared.
BIZ JOSEPH,M WEBER, Theatrical Manager and Author.
Copyright by
-1HE question, SHALL wife have
a separate allowance of her
own" must invariably be
answered by a man. by each

"\dE QuestioI, ollai a wiz ~
own" must invariably be
answered by man, by each
woman's husband. His is the
last voice, the final word on the SUD
ject (not too common event In mar
ried life), and all theories pro or con
must vanish before his simple yes" or
no
So an opinion on that all-important
theme will perhaps be more author
itative coming from man Ca hus-
band, too, of course.) than from a
woman. 1t is perhaps the only subject
connected with marriage on which
woman's testimony is not far more
valuable than Is "mere mans"
And-as mere nan"--as hus-
band-as father-as a person of av-
erage common sense q hope) and
honesty. I say most unhesitatingly:
Every wife should have her own
pocket money"
And, I may add, If she is a good
wife, she earns her allowance, no
matter how large it may be. For the
average housekeeper and homemaker
does work that comes under the head
of skilled labor" Of the most slkilful
kind and keeps it up daily for term
OF hours that would cause her expul-
sion from any labor union under the
sun. For man to expect to get such
service and to pay for 1t merely by
food, lodging and clothes, is reminis-
cent of the famous exchange column
ron ExCHANGE-oNE CANCELLED 2-cENT
stamp, in perfectly good condition, for dia-
mond tiara. 24-foot catboat or a corner
lot.
Men don't realize what an unheard-
Of good bargain a really good wife Is.
For the same amount Of work (not
done half as welD any paid house
keeper would expect board and lodg-
81 c,f !, =,
grudge your wife the same sum?
A girl of my acquaintance was mar
ried few months ago. On the return
from the honeymoon she had the ensu-
ing little business talk with her hus-
band: .*s
by the way, dear. she began, you
know I'm to keep the house in order.
manage the servants, plan the meals,
entertain your guests, keep your
clothes in good condition and do a few
hundred more tasks of the same tri-
fling order. What do 7 get out of all
this?"
The surprised benedick began to
humble fond nothings concerning a
lifelong devotion, the love of a good
man, etc. But she cut him short.
For all that" she said, Il. make
full return in kind, But what do /
get for being your, housekeeper and
general SUPERVISORY
You get good home" he re-
torted. little nettled, and I will see
that you have as good clothes as any
woman you know, and
Dear" she interrupted, Several
thousand people used to work for Just
those wages up to forty years ago.
Only they were called slaves. And
the country showed it's disapproval
of such payment by abolishing that
form of slavery and by declaring 1t
Illegal. You couldn't get any one on
earth to-day to work for you for
board and clothes wages. Why do
you try to force your wife to?"
Whereat, being at heart a sane
man, he began to see light. And
since then they are happy; she prov
ing to be a model housekeeper and
Tar more than earning the handsome
allowance he gives her.
= #
Personally, I began married life
with the allowance idea. MY wife and
l have separate bank accounts.
nave no idea what sum Of money she
mas In bank, nor is it any affair .ot
mine. MY sole affair is to see that
she always receives her lust allow
ance and that she shall be spared the
humiiat1on of having to ask me fol-
the money that is rightly hers.
It For women are not like men in thi,
matter of asking for money. If E
man is broke he seldom has any va
hesitation in touching" his best FRIEND
For the wherewithal to tide over the
difnculty The flush of shame. doe,
not mount to his brow to anv extent
as he breathes the plea:
Say, old chap, can you, lend me
$40 till Saturday," = ..iA1>
But with women 1t is different The,
hate to ask their husbands for money
AT least the best Of them do. The,
don't seem to realize that the hus
band,s VOW, With all my worldly
goods thee endow." makes his money
as much theirs as his. If thew coulc
be brought to realize that, there would
be far fewer hearteaches. But since
apparently, they cannot bring them.
selves to that wise frame of mind.