The Washington herald., 1909-03-21
ENGLTSHAREPRAISED.
Americans Can Get Pointers
from British Husbands.
TO THEIR WIVES
Family Interests Close, and Husband
and Wife Do Not Drift APart-Aft-
ernoOn Teas Furnish Opportunity
10 Get Acquainted-NearIy Always
Accompanies Wife on Visits.

From the chief European correspondent Of the Laf-
fan News Bureau.
London. March 20-An American woman
with an English husband has been CIV
ing her views Of English husbands 10 an
American correspondent OF the Times.
she says:
THE thing you are curious about IS
why I find my English husband so salts
factory. You doubtless think him little
slow II not dense, and you also have a
slight contempt for his fnsistance upon
certain forms and customs which you
think rather too fussy for a man. As
to MS Globes. you abhor them utterly
I am not saying you. as an individual
criticise, but you. embracing all my
American friends. And the men at home
viii never forgive my husband because
ne insists upon his afternoon tea.
7 wish they did II would make a vol
untary break in their hurly-burly exist
.ence. and give their wives a little more
opportunity 20 become acquainted with
them. I pity my sisters with American
husbands. because they have so little in
common and are always drifting further
apart.
Here our interests are Identical You
may sooI at the careful way we conserve
our income and its expenditure. but Il
saves much trouble in the end. I. who
used 70 spend money without thinking.
have learned 20 get something for my
money which makes life more worth
while. and l don't run into debt simply
because 7 don't know where 7 am going.
Expenses Are Fixed Items.
The American man is called generous
when ne hands out money without
question which he can IN afford 10 spend
When there is none TO spend he can't
explain, and there IS a scene. I know
just what I can afford and our expenses
are a fixed item. which they rarely are
at home. you know.
My English husband goes about with
me more than could ever expect an
American tc do. / do not go away from
home often without him-I mean on long
pleasure trips-which Is very different
from the American woman's custom.
I have come 20 a realizing and CRATE
ful sense OF what the English respect
for law and order means in public and
n the home II IS because OF the pre-
vailing sentiment in favor OF enforcing
the laws that so many things run more
smoothly over here than they do az
home. You can't tride with even the
most Insignificant regulations. The raw
est policeman viii put you right on that
matter
Servants Are Better Trained.
You have remarked upon the case
with which our household machinery
runs. although you have noticed the lack
OF many up-to-date improvements and
conveniences which are considered es-
sential IN the American house. Wo really
miss them less than you would think,
and the reason why things run more
smoothly IS not only because the servants
are better trained in their special duties
and more permanent, but because my
husband and I feel the Importance OF
having our home conducted as well as Il
can be.
I'VE don't attempt impossible enter
tainments, and We don't buy things to-
day that we are going 10 be tired OF to-
morrow. Don't get the idea, though
that my English husband IS an old fogy
He is a progressive man Try him in
sociology or economics or gardening.
7 had my difficulties at first. Even a
progressive Englshman has some con-
servative notions that an American feels
Ike laughing at or rebeling against. but
I accustomed myself 20 them Just as I
learned 10 feel meaSurably al home in
the saddle I was not brought up 70
horseback riding. especially OF the Eng
lish sort. but 1 can hold my own now.
Education n Problem.
Lately have been troubled about the
education Of my children. Ny father.
you know. was a great believer in pubic
schools. and when I was a little girl I al
tended them. as did all the nice children
I'm our neighborhood. I fou6iy thought
that my children could do the same
thing, but the board schools here are not
what the public schools are at home.
The private schools are not very good.
either. and a governess leaves much 10
be desired IN the way Of efficiency Ny
husband admits the difficulties OF educa-
ton for girls here. but he seems 10 think
Eton and Harrow viii smooth out all
difficulties for the boys.
The Englishman's first thought is al
ways for the permanent welfare OF his
family. That is one reason why he makes
such a satisfactory husband He knows
his children as the American father sell
dom does. and he is deeply concerned
about the positions they are to OCCUPY
when they are grown up.
You know the happy -go-Iucky way we
have at home OF leaving the future 20
take care of itself and lavishing every
thing on the children for the moment.
u is rot so here and 1 have come 10
share M husbands feeling that we are
responsible for the future as well as the