Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-10


his counuymen, acknowledged that
the reverence and trust OF his devoted
wife had been source of inspiration
and stimulus 20 him all through his
long career. and that TO have her sit
ting by him on the political rostrum or
looking down at him from the gallery
Of the house of commons quickened
all his powers Who was John Bright.
the great commoner? He also was the
husband of woman his equal in per-
sOnality. On the day of their mar
riage she turned and said TO him.
John, attend 10 thy business and thy
public affairs, and l will provide for
the home and relieve thee from all
cares at home" And SO great Is the
value of a true wife in relation to her
husbands success that nearly all great
men are ready to testify to this fact
and declare that they can never repay
the obligations which their wives have
placed upon them.
was taught the obligation which
true husband owes to true wife some
years ago by an eastern minister whom
L consider one of the greatest pulpit
geniuses of his age. i was about TO be
married. and was talking with him,
when he gave to me this characteristic
| advice: Always love your wife. But
more than that. always learn TO respect
and follow her judgment. because she
can be your best adviser. When | was
q young man / started out with some
| success. l knew ! could speak. and i
could also write. And often when l
| \
fine i would take il down to my wife
and read it. Sometimes she would look
up from her sewing and say, John,
don't say that With that l would
throw down my manuscript and stalk
up and down the room in disgust
why do you say thatr l would ask
DO you know how to preach? Are you
better judge of preaching than my
self? Haven't L spent four years i'm
college and three years in the semi
nary? What business have you to tell
me what to do? You are nothing but n
woman anyway But after n long ex
perience ! found that my wife's judg-
nent could always be depended upon
When 1 followed her Judgment 1 al
ways came out right, and when fol-
=
came out wrong. And, though | am
now an old man and one of much ex-
perience, yet whenever am In doubt
about anything have ever written +
always go to her. And when she SAYS.
John. don't say that take my pen
and scratch out the whole page Myl
success is due I'm n great measure to
my wife's Judgment and not to my
own"
susan TnlmnEe's Influence.
1 know that the world honors my
fathers memory. But personally 1 |
know 4. De Witt Talmage's success
was due TO great extent TO Susan
Talmage, who was his wife and my |
mother. What most OF us can say in |
reference 10 our fathers successes we
can say In reference to our own. 1t is |
to the good advice. the loving intuition.
the sound Judgment OF the wife. whom
we have taken as n partner, TINT we
owe in great measure all that we have
gained in life.
Men, husbands, friends. how are we
going TO repay our wives for all the
sacrifices they have made for us!
oh some husband SAYS. 81 do my
fun duty TO my wife / provide for
her good home. / give her all the
money she needs" You do? oh, that
is very kind. As far as l can make
out you give your wife nothing hut her
own property. She earns her support,
just as you do, and she has a right 10
ut least one-half OF your income. I'll
from mere cold blooded standpoint
you had TO hire n housekceper to do
the work she does. you would have 10
pay far more for her wages than your
wife ever spends for clothes and en-.
tertainmept "Then If that be the
case, and IL is the case" some man
says. how am i TO pay my wife I'M
loss ! nay her I'm money!" WHY. give
her tne same rewards the apostle mas
commanded I'm the words OF my text.
Did Paul ever speak Of money in ref
erence to the husbands duty 10 his
wifeF No. he takes that for granted.
He says, Husbands, love your wives"
But that is not all. He gives his COM
mandment in the superlative sense.
Husbands. love your wives even as
Christ also loved the church and gave
himself for it." All, could there be
any sweeter or more devoted or more
intense measure for n husbands af-
fections than that? 1t is love the true
wife longs for, as IL is love the true
husband In the home should long for.
Not money so much as love. intense
devoted, loyal. self sacrificing love.
Husbands, pay your wives for their
sacrifices of life in the golden coin OF
minted love.
Marriages. Promissory Note.
But there is a promissory note con-
nected with every marriage certificate
which should compel a Husband TO give
his love TO his wife as we'll as his graft
tude for what she does. 1t was Oh ac-
count or this loving promise which he
made TO her that she. young girl was
persuaded to leave her fathers home
and turn her back upon her school
friends and, like Ruth. who followed
Naomi, go with her husband where he
went and lodge with him where he
lived and make his people her people
and his God her God. Therefore if a
man who has won his bride upon the
promissory note of love does not fulfill
his contract he Is n swindler as well as
an migrate; deceiver. n falsider. a Dey-
jurer, as well as one whose ideas OF
gratitude are as monstrous and dis
torted as that OF the Maynard son,
who would trample upon mothers
bleeding heart and turn upon his IA
theirs love. You believe a merchant Is
dishonest who through the bankruptcy
court would repudiate a debt ne could
pay. Why will you not say husband
Is dishonest and contemplate who
would repudiate the obligation of
lifetime love, which he accepted when
he pledged himself to the young girl
by his side on his wedding day, when
they stood amid embowered orange
blossoms?
This swindle in reference to prom
ised affections which husband some,
times practices upon wife Is the more
because in one sense the
wife is absolutely helpless after the
preparation of the fraud. Say what