Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-04-21
Wife's Important Part
In Husbands Business.

hut wait till the chimney smokes" is the
one true axiom that appears in an other
wise worthless book, written by the son of
the Archbishop of Canterbury. Its au-
thor should have inherited much clever
ness from his distinguished father, but.
unfortunately, the mantle of intelectu-
atty does not always TALL to the son.
Apart from the question of happiness in
yolved in so many homes, where the tlue
of affection is choked by the continually
smoky condition of the chimney, other
questions arise as TO the causes that
bring about this complaint. Some say an
improyident husband. others an extrava-
CANT wife, but the latter accusation is
such a ready one that little credence
should be given the mere statement
Money is so important factor in life
and its maintenance, that no woman
should be thought mercenary who con-
siders carefully the financial standing of
the man she is to marry. 4 wife de-
ponds wholly on her husband for sup
port, unless she be an heiress in her own
right-and pity is there are not more.
Consequently, when she leaves her COM
Portable home, where everything his been
done for her, where she was provided
for without having TO ask, It is extremely
CALLING to a woman of spirit to be placed
in the position of the average wife: that
of having to solicit-and usually account
for-the money necessary for household
expenditure. Many a wife specuateS,
theoretically, how the surplus amount
might be expended in pleasurable ways,
If a surplus ever remained after the pay
ing of necessary bills.
Some women are not stinted-the ma
jority are. Either from seltishness OH
the part of the man, or because of the
diminutive size of his eXchequer When
Il man fails in business, it is frequently
conceded the misfortune was brought
about by his eXtravagant wife
Whether the statement be true or not,
with many it is Il foregone conclusion.
Very few men-if any-haye ever met
failure for this reason alone And if Il
man-usually so keen in business judy
ment-permits his wife to bring upon
him. through her extravaganza, loss oil
fortune, he has only himself to blame
Such Il one would add grace to a trying
crisis by swallowing the self-appointt Il
dose without a murmur like man-if
Il true one.
Marriage is a co-partnership. or should
be, not only in the wealth of affection
invested but the more substantial wealth
Of capital y man trusts his business
interests to his partner and seldom queS-
tons his Judgment, once having placed
his confidence. The partnership may last
a lifetime, or be dissolved carly-not 50
with matrimony. This particular kind
of contract is Till death do us part
tor some Dakota judge. 1t is not that
the man lacks confidence in his wife's
integrity. but rather i'll her ability to
handle money wisely.
Often one hears the husband in speak
ing to his wife, say, regarding business
matters: You wouldn't understand il l
told you. Does it ever occur to that
man. should the final parting core soon
er than expected. that he was instru
Il
| hat when alone in the world she Will
have to learn, in the school of bitter eX-
perience and with many heartache,
what he might have considerably taught
her from his practical knowledge of bust
ness detail! Every woman should be the
contidante of her husband i'll business
matters. and few of them would be
found wanting in executive ability.
If Il man has a bank account large
enough to draw upon for the necessities
and luXuries of life, the wife should be
entitled to draw upon it whenever she
sees iit-and no questions asked. If the
family purse be slim, the right kind of
woman will never squeeze it to nothing
ness. Every woman, rich or poor. should
have an allowance apart from the gen
eFal expense fund, and it should be
regulated according to the mans income.
Money gives us all sense of power and
Importance, and woman appears the
same dispirited mortal who has to ask
Tor every cent needed as the man who
marries the girl of independent means.
w hen it comes down to real practical
blllty woman can make given sum
OF money go farther than n man. He
may have the better Judgment in bust
ness matters. but i'll the spending of
money for household expenses he fire.
quently follows the penny wise and
pound foolish" adage-but never ac-
knowledges it.
\ woman's province is the home, and
all matter pertaining to it. Mans. its
maintenance.
The question is often propounded,
WHY do so many women of today post
pune marriage, or never enter the bonds
ct wedlockE' 1t is one that has given
scholars of sociology much thought and
ted them into various discussions. There
may be numerous reasons. but one of the
best offered is that there are so many
avenues of industry open to the girl of
the period that make her independent
She IS in no hurry to assume the obliga-
tons and restraints of matrimony
The old-fashioned idea. good in itself
was that no woman of responsibility
would leave her home. She was queen
of that circle, and her life and wants
We're simple Everything in it was
looked after By this same woman. and
She was well versed in the arts Of do
mestic science. Marriage. when the
time came. was looked upon as the CON
summation of all good things When
the Young girl did leave her home it was
10 =" into one equally simple, but as well
taken care Of. There were not the de-
mands made on the young bride then
there are today. The management of
Ter home was her chief care and pleas
ufe, and the wives of that period We're
NOT worn ont at night by the round IF
saieties INDUCED in The husbands
seemed more willing to intrust their
small finances to their wives Judgment,
ard disconnected, unhappy wife, be-
cause of money matters, was seldom
found
II men would bring the subject home
ana think how like Il worm Of the earth
lheir now purse-proud and mighty spirit
would feel if the cash on hand was to be
dealt ont farthing by farthing to them
IN accounting asked as well--they might
theh imagine some of the misery the
average housewife undergoes in the or
deaL-Exchange.