The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-05-24
UNDER STUDIES FOR WIVES.
Who Are So Busy With Clubs That
Home Cares Tire Them.
brooklyn Eagle.)

In these days OF business women and
progressive womanhood the position Of
''wife's understudy" is becoming a set
tied profession. Women with domestic
tastes have here a field in which to
exercise their talents The cOmpenSa-
ton and the duties vary according to
the situation. the temper of the wife
and the needs Of the husband. Not
long since the wife Of an enterprising
business man confessed that she paid a
brilliant young woman fixed salary
10 dine with her twice a week and keep
the ball Of conversation rolling so that
her husband would be amused and for
get his business worries. She con-
sidered the money well spent Her hBs-
band always remained at home ana
the young woman kept herself we'll in
formed on the topics OF the day and
never Ovsrstepped the mark. She re-
ceiVed S. an evening.
on a suburban train the other morn
ing this novel figure OF domestic life
was brought TO light when a man an
nounced that the handsome woman
who had been talking to him on the
platform was his ''wlfe's understudy."
In reply 70 the volley OF questions from
his neighoOrs ne proceeded to explain;
you see" he began. "nly wife is an
extremely talented woman While she
was in college she developed an idea
cfety The influence of the home should
spread outward and the wife should
carry her good works into the outer
world and be a missionary in fact.
Now, # she IS compelled TO give her
time to the tedious details Of hNIsehold
manag cement. looking after the serv-
ants. ordering meals and doing trtfies
within doors. she has no energy left to
give her best thoughts to the Home
Reform club and the training school for
young mothers. 1t IS comparatively
easy 10 find a hOusekeeper to attend to
household duties, and that is what she
has done"
81 don't see why you call her your
wife's understudy." said an interested
listener. "Our hOusekeeper does all
those things IN line with the other
servants"
"Oh. but you see she looks after me,
too When my wife's not on hand she
takes her place"
wei. that beats all I'd like to see
my wife hiring another woman to take
her place in running my affairs. She
won't let me look at another woman.
remarked the neighbor with the light
mustache.
go on. go on" cried the others; the
plot is developing"
''Ie~e IS the situation" explained the
first speaker. TT developed by degrees,
and Nellie has all her time to herself
and no pricks OF conscience regarding
my comfort. At first Miss Brown came
every morning, saw that the servants
We're performing their duties and that
the house was in order and the meals
planned Nellie hates to get up early,
and when I complained that my break
fasts were half cooked It occurred 10
her that Miss Brown might take me
under her wing at that hour. So now
she Is on hand when I get down at
o'clock. She IS a nice, wholesome crea-
cure and looks fresh and trig behind
the flower pots which she puts in the
middle OF the table to give favor TO
my breakfast. When I am not inter
ested in the paper she makes the time
pass pleasantly with remarks on the
agreeable side Of the weather or some
news topic IN which she discovers I am
interested Then she puts on her
things ard drives me to the train. Mel
lie thinks It looks better to have a
woman IN the cart"
cts that alp When do you have Mel
lies socfety2" asked his bfother-in-
law.
Il usually see Nellie at dinner and
occasionally she drops into the Office.
She Is On the executive committee OF