The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-09-20


eyes can testify.-but hasn't the
American husband what he wants
else why should he pay so dearly for
IL? There are women in the United
States,-mostly unmarried, few men
will have them,-who have little or
no ambition; who work hard and
spend little. and seldom appear
fresh-looking. Then there is the
kind (there really are several varie.
ties of women in the United States)
that by skiliful management OF self
earned means preserves an immacu-
late neatness, minus all tawdry Jew
elry, "rats" and fads OF every kind
She cannot talk increasingly on ten
subjects at one time; is sensible;
universally admired but not often
married.
BY what law of selection the Amer
lean man chooses his mate is indeed
problem to give one pause. Per-
haps it is the old instinct of orna-
ment predominating now as when
savages decked themselves with fan
tastic gewgaws. The American wife
ls now the ornament. Certainly use
fulness from an utilitarian stand
pont is not the great desideratum.
Time was when man selected his
wife as he did his cattle-for the
good practical points-but now, the
American man, at least, demands a
well-groomed. fresh-looking. vivac-
ious creature who IL capable of d.
verting him from the tedium OF labor
instead of being a yoke-fellow. The
American husband does not feel sor-
ry for himself. He is proud Of his
wife. and thinks he did a land-ofiice
business to get her.
1t pains one with any dregs Of
Yankee thrift within him to see the
wanton waste of sympathy expended
on these husbands.
OF course, we all know about the
thousands of jaded men who spend
their summers in the steaming cities
while their wives are suffering mar
/ tyrdom from all the varieties OF
boredom generated at a summer re-
sort. We have, too. an acquaintance
with the man who wears frayed cuffs
and old neckties while Hegelian
philosophy. and what not, falls trip
pingly from the tongue of his wife
into the mystefied ears OF mankind
not the least mystefied and admiring
member being the husband in ques-
ton.
Naturally women thus incongru-
ously situated are disconnected. (The
critic says pampered American wives
are discontented) Who would not
be? Those women playing bridge on
the hotel plaza are not truly enjoy
ing life. The making of an infants
wardrobe would be infinitely more
interestihN The disciple Of Hegel
would glad,z renounce her ''isms' to
wrestle with her husbands trial bal
ances. But American husbands do
not care for careworn house-fraus
and they have a marked and snobbish
antipathy for having their wives as
ISOLATED with them in business af-
fairs.
The American wife is what the
American husband wants. When he
sees fit to change the standard II
will be done. With all the Wanted
changes in the modern woman. she
has not yet lost the instinct Of adapt
Utility to man. Marrying has not
quite yet become a lost cause. In
deed. it is probable that one of the
incentives which have brought wom-
en- into the business world. IL to learn
the wherewithal to purchase the par.
aphernalia with which to attract the
admiration of men.
Iii a pity; it is a mystery, but
isn't IT fact? Take back they SYM
patty. Mr.. Zumoto. and bestow II
upon the wives of Japan. Americans
travelling abroad are constantly hav-
ing their feelings wrought upon by
the deplorable condition of the wo.
men In foreign countries. Perhaps
Il is a way our visitors have of eve
ming up the score to pity the Ameri-
can husbands.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.