The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-13
WORLD

up by telling her that she doesn't
know what she is talking about, and
that he read that Joke in Punch dur
ing the deluge.
Likewise, as a boarder, he might even
be reused to express some gratitude
and appreciation for the tireless devo-
ton TO his interest, the unceasing study
of his pleasure and comfort, the love
that never fails, that now. as a hus-
band, he takes for granted, and doesn't
think worth mentioning. So. too, when
he is sick. He feels that he Is at per-
feet liberty to reward his Wife's sleep
less nights, her worry and care, with
grumbles and growls. and i'll temper.
but he would never dare to treat an
angelic landlady who was nursing him
that way He would feel that he never
could repay such self-sacrihcing good
ness, and besides he would be afraid
that If he didn't behave himself she
would turn him over to a hired nurse,
and go of and leave him.
Nor would all the advantages be on
the side of the woman. Many a man
would have everything to gain in being
promoted from the rank of the hus-
band to that of the star boarder. It
cannot be denied that If there are can
tankerous husbands-and 1 am talking
now not of the happily married but
whom matrimony has brought more
kicks than ha-pence-there are also
neglectful wives. There are women,
good women, who throw away their
bait as soon as they catch a husband
and never try to charm him again
There are wives who exist for socie-
ty; wives whose philanthropy begins
everywhere but at home: wives. who
after the first baby comes, are moth
ing but mothers. and who spend their
evenings holding a child's hand even
at the risk of having some other
woman hold their husbands.
To such women, and there are plenty
of them, the husband merely exists
as a kind of animated cash register
He is of no consequence in the house.
None is so poor as to do him rever-
ence, and he is right to strike for the
position of star boarder-the gentleman
who pays the rent, and who is en-
titled on that account. If no other, to
the best of everything. "Ah, Colonel"
says the lady in one of DuMaurier's
cleverest cartoons, after all, the liver
wing is the choicest bit of the fowl,
isn't it?" Il don't know" replies the
poor colonel Il have never tasted it.
In my youth they gave it to the old
people. and now the children get it
all" The liver wing and other per-
quisites. like the best of his wfe's So
ciety her prettlest manners and pretti-
est looks, the colonel might claim as
no more than the star boarder has a
right to expect
A small matter, but still worth mem
tioning in this connection, is the fact
that the landadly doesn't feel free to
lecture the star boarder That way lies
peace. She may perceive his faults,
but she doesn't consider it her duty
to call his attention to them. She no.
tioes his mistakes. but refrains from
saying Il told you So" She has heard
his old stories time and again, but it is
her business to laugh at them, and she
does It. She defers to his tastes, she
studies his whims, and the star boarder
stays on. and the establishment pros
pers. The moral of all of which seems
to be the rather cynical one, that in
order TO get along harmoniously and
peacefully with one's family, 1t is only
necessary TO treat them with the same
courtesy. consideration and Difference
that we show to strangers.
Dorothy Dix