The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-04-16
ExEAL1Hs TIE ATMOSPHERE OF HOME.

1
How many women realize that in
large measure they are responsible
for the "atrnosphere"-it may be
thunder clouds = which surrounds
their husbands during business hours.
The man who has happy, cheerful,
comfortable home carries the benedic-
.tion of that home with him into the
outer world. The man soured by
nagging, or worried by household ex-
travagance, is the citizen who in home
ly phrase chad better not be touched
by a ten-foot pole" Of course, one
has to grant to both classes a certain
inherent degree oftemper, sunshiny or
churlish. There have to be taken
into account many things the dispo-
sition inherited, the character built
up BY early home influence, the mold
ing from contact with the world,
health or sickness, and success or fail
uFe, but, strongest of all, home.
The man himself may not realize it,
the outsider does.
One cay in restaurant young
woman acquaintance took seat be-
side me aid asked:
"Do yot know of anyone in want
of good senographerf I am look
ing for work. I"
what !" I queried. II thought
you had an unusually good position. "
II have, financially" replied the
girl; nothing but the risk of my
nerves breaking down would make
me give it up
Is the work very hard?"
"The work is not so hard," she
said, hesitatingly. "Well, I'll tell
you con6dentially-iti is my employer.
I simply can't stand his uncertain
temper. I know you do not know
him, or would not criticise him."
shook my head.
'"Ten years ago, when his wife
came to Boston bride, she was one
of the prettiest creatures I ever saw.
She was little society butterfly. AS
bridegroom he was the most radiant
fellow you could imagine-I had just
gone to work for him then. He was
considerate of his employees, cordial,
cheerful and gentlemanly. In those
days, if anybody offered a critical
word regarding him 1 was up in arms
at once. would have worked extra
hours and done the hardest jobs for
him gladly. Within few months l
began to notice change. He grew
nervous and sullen, more so year by
year. Today he is churlish, and at
times brutally forgetful of his man
ners or of the fact that working men
and women have feelings. / know
his affairs we'll enough to realize he
is not in a tight place financially, al
though his household expenses are
enormous. discovered the trouble
when / worked at his home. He was
laid up with sprained ankle. That
supercilious little wife of his treated
me disdainfully enough, but | led no
e-.s..z,zAz..z >-.o
faca would settle into sullen mask
She never brought a cheerful, gra-
cious moment into bis presence. She
was always in stew or worry,
whimpering, complaining, storming.
1t was the children, the servants, the
tradesmen, the neighbors, relatives,
society, the weather, the dressmaker,
the milliner, or the poor husband.
At her first outburst left the room
Il was ashamed to stay. When it
occurred again my employer said
harshly, You needn't get out you're
liable to hear this sort of thing dozen
times day. went home sore at
heart, plying him. Now he is mo-
rose, sarcastic and hateful. There are
mornings when he slams things about
and growls his dictation at me. I've
been sworn at when I stopped him to
get world or sentence right-alto.
gether it is wearing out my nerves.
The only endurable times are when
she goes away with the whole house
hold for the summer and he lives
alone for two or three months at a
hotel. Then he begins to return to
his old frame of mind. If woman
could realize she is not only marring
her own life and the life of her hus-
band and family by her irritable, nag
ging temper, but also making harder
the lot of a working woman-which
at the best is none too easy-I wonder
if she would turn over a new leaf?"
81 do not know. 1t is like the
stone that made such commotion in
the quiet pool" l said.-Lsa6eI Go, :
don Cu,tis.