The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-06
THE MONEY QUESTION BE-
TWEEN HUSBANDS AND WIVES.

The philosophy of clothes, says the
Philadelphia Tribune, is a serious
study, and instead of it being frowned
upon by men who associate it with wild
extravaganza, it should be Incorporated
as first among the bylaws of home. So
far as 1 am able to judge, the belief
that clothes grow is largely responsible
for domestic difficulties. And this is a,
beiiaf brought about by cowardly and
unusensical practice adopted by women
on me nome trip from the altar.
When the husband admires the trim
and stylish appearance of the travelling
gown she is apt to be tempted by the
irresponsible imp of future mischief to
tell him that it cost but little; in fact,
she never spends much money on her
clothes. This small and unnecessary
fiction may win her burst of praise
likely to betray her brideship to the
porter. But it makes her deal of
trouble afterward, and to the end she
keeps up the deceit she has started.
1t is a curious thing that the most
honest, frank and truthful women will
hesitate ard fib when they ask their
husbands for money, and the most gem
erous good fellows in the world, who
love to spend dollars as the farmer
sows his wheat, look concerned when
the women they love ask them for what
they must have.
The wife of millionaire who never
made anything but her complexion,
once told me that her husband believed
she made and designed her own bonnets
and gowns because she had begun that
way with him and had not now the
courage to meet his disapproval.
A little honesty at the start would
make the financial side of marriage
much pleasanter, and it is difficult to
understand why women prevaricate
and fib when the broad and easy path
of truth is so much better unless it be
the unfortunate habit men have of
making row whenever they are taxed.
They don't mean it. They do not know
that the very need of asking hurts and
humiliates and grieves a proud wom-
an. They have, every man of them, oc-
cupied the position of Providence pro
tenn. over their household.
l was told the other day Of a fine,
jolly gentleman who rallied his wife on
her dinidence this way: Ashamed to
ask me for anything? Nonsense. You
can come to me as you can go to Cod
And he never knew the supreme ego
tism of his speech, either, and so long
as she found nothing to smile over in it
all seems to be going well.
Women hate to speak of unpleasant
subjects. Very early in their experience
they are made to feel that money is an
unpleasant subject. Hence they resort
to all sorts of foolish subterfuges to OBJ
tain possession of it without open
speech. This does not mean that they
are deceitfui. A woman is no more de-
ceitful than man. But she is more
careful in method and in speech, fear
ing she will give offense.
Nature sets an example for things
new. She never wears the castaway
leaves of seasons past. There is no re-
made foliage on the trees, no Haunting
of spring colors in the November air.
The skies are yelled in tints the sum-
nner never saw and the earth in her age
fssas, changeful as a maid. :!
The influence of dress is greater than
we own We feel better, act better and
bring more honor to the ones who love
us when we are properly gowned. An
addressed woman may have the Wis
dom of sage and the beauty of Helen
of Troy, but among her sisters she is at
d disadvantage until she becomes
enough like them to be inconspicuous.