Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-14
QUESTION OF A
WIFE'S ALLOWANCE.

Here is an English writer's contri-
button to the ever bobbing up question
Of a wife's allowance:
''Disgustingly mean" was the term
heard applied to a man recently who
gave it as his opinion that a husband
should keep tight hold ON his purse
thing his wife required. 1.-The man who
refuses to give his wife an allowance.
the person went on to say who used the
aforementioned expression. practically
incites her to run into debt.
What is more humiliating and un-
dignified than for q woman to be
obliged to ask her husband for dollar
to buy some new handkerchiefs, for in
stance. a new veil or pair of gloves?
Think what this means to a somewhat
proud minded girl who before her mar
rage was probably accustomed to q
liberal supply Of pocket money and
good dress allowance! And often you
will find that the husband who refuses
to give his wife an allowance in pro-
portion to his income is an inveterate
grumbler who growls about the extrav-
agance and expense of women, while
smoking a quarter cigar and drinking
no end of glasses Of whisky and soda.
He will hand over few dimes to his
wife only after half an hours argu-
ment and should she have the au-
dacity to ask him for enough to pur-
chase new costume wants to know
what in the name of all the wonders
she has done with all the money he has
given to her during the past six
months. Is it surprising that the wives
of such miserably mean men often run
into debt rather than ask their hus-
bands for money, which Is only grudg-
ingly given after lot of unnecessary
talk?"
There is, of course, great deal of
truth in such reasoning. But, as aft
erward discovered, the man who was
described as "disgustingly mean had
good reasons for holding the opinion
which brought about the remark He
had married a girl who did not know
the value of money. At first he had
given her an allowance each week-one
which was quite sufficient to purchase
all the wearing apparel she needed and
leave little over besides. But she
proved quite incapable Of putting her
allowance to prsStr use. It was vast
ed and spent on Useless fripperies, and
the result was that the husband was
obliged to supplement the allowance
put of his own pocket when q new
dress or hat was required.
Doubtless it is only the minority Of
who are SO foolish. But never
.heless when one hears man answer
The question Should wives have an al
owanee?" in the negative it is well to
'ecognize that he probably has good
'easons for his objections
Generally speaking however, wife's
allowance, no matter how small 1t may
De. conduces to the happiness Of mar
led life. After the household expenses
that he should give his wife
certain portion of the remaining in
come This she should be allowed to
spend exactly as she pleases, always
OF course. that the money II
Ter disposition OF 1t any more than she
questions what he does with his.
II this were more frequently dona
here would be fewer unhappy mare
iages. Half the matrimonial differs
noes which one hears about may b
raced primarily to the money guess
ion. For a husband to refuse his wife s.
IN allowance Is almost tant2mOunt to
aging that he cannot trust her. It 10
for true happiness to reign
n the home where such feeling exists.
BY far the best and happtest plan II
o have a proper financial understands
ng before marriage. II a man would
My be honest enough when he asks Z
rirl to marry him to tell her exactly
What his income is, how ruuch he can
ford to spend for household expenses
md how much on Injuries and propose
O give her certain portion OF the
surplus for her own use. there would =
,e less unhappiness in their future.
rhe girl then accepts what he Offers
md If she fails to live up to her share
# the contract, either through inabil-
ty to make the amount cover her ex-
,enses or ignorance in the expenditure
# money, she has no one to blame but
lerself for any discomfort she may feel
II il her husband decides to control the
money himself
An allowance gives woman GER
ain amount of pride. She is spurred
N to live within it, and it teaches her
o know the value of money. A man
Who gives his wife unlimited credit in
he shops Is doing her an injustice. Is
he has an account wherever she goes
he will purchase things she has no
iced of, but il she has her own allows
nee she will think twice before She
'uys and frequently will conclude she
an get along without.
There is nothing SO admirable as
nan who endows his wife with his ems
ire confidence and gives her a regulaS
llowance. A wife will seldom abuse
he generosity; she appreciates it far
90 much OF course the amount of the
llowance must depend on a mans in
ONE. But the husband who unselfshly
lows his wife to have all the money
e can spare each week, asking no ac-
ounting, trusting to her good sense
nd honor not to abuse such, will enjoy
far greater measure of domestic hap
mess than the man who requires his
life to ask him for every dime she
eedS.
SEA BATHING.
While the bathing season is on all
Tho are enabled to should take full
3,,aptas a of tho heneSit to he derived