The Washington herald., 1909-02-21
SIX PER" HUSBAND
UPHELD By COURT
Girls to Blame if They Marry
Poor Men.
MUST WORK FOR HER LIVING
Learned Justice Declares that
Woman Rash Enough TO Commit
MatrimOny with Providers Of Six
|. per Class Should Continue to
Fern Their Subsistence.

From Torics Of the Day. in Providence Journal
Girls who are tempted 70 marry men
earning no more than IS q week may now
know Just where they are at a learned
justice has declared that a woman rash
enough TO commit matrimony with pro-
vijers Of the six-per class should do so
with the clear understanding that they
must continue to work for a living
They need not expect 10 take life easily
and be supported IN luxury, and # they
choose to leave their husbands because
OF their discomfort with the slx-dollar
standard Of living they need not expect
one red cent Of contribution for separate
support from said husband. At least he
declares that he never shall order six
dollar husband 10 pay one cent for sepa-
rate maintenance.
This places the responsibility where II
belongs. II might be argued that any
young man Of this meage- earring ca
pscity who would venture 70 marry mer-
its financial penalty IN case the expert
ment fails. as would seem inevitable. But
/ It is no less true that the rasn young
woman in such a case is equally culpabIe.
I At least she scarcely seems justly en-
titled 20 financial damages or a stated
sum for support in the event Of a separa-
ton on the grounds Of insufficient Iro-
vision.
Lady ReSponSibIe Party.
/ The lady in such a case IS the party re-
sponsible. It IS for her to decide IN the
/ FIRST place, as the contemplated manager
! Of the home. whether the income ~ the
tcontempIsted husband Is sufficient for che
purpose. She IS the one vho is casting
herself as q financial burden upon that
husband, and It IS for her 20 weigh the
circumstances judicislly before allowing
him in the inexperienced enthusiasm OF
I his youth 10 assume a burden he may be
unable 70 bear. The girl who marTies a
six-per man may be justly declared guilty.
I OF contribUtory negligence. 10 say the
/ least. and all such wives should be non
suited.
This particular episode may be consid-
cred 10 furnish another valuable cOnuibu-
ton 70 the enlightening data relating u
the living wage" IN the opinian OF the
Judge S. a week Is not living wage for
two people. A commentator on the case
asserts that so q week IS much nearer
than s. 20 the permissible minimum. and
probably most people would agree with
this Yet there are thousands Cf families
that manage to subsist on less than this
stated minimum. The average income. II
statistics are 10 be relied upon. Is mateTi-
ally less than so g week
I All efforts 10 establish a definite SUN.
sufficient for living wage" OF safe in
Z justifying the marriage OF 9 young man
and woman, have thus far failed And
j such efforts are futile SO long as human
nature continues 10 vary in It's tastes in
4 cIinations. and economical talents JUdE-
/ ing BY the general f1utter Of life as L
may be observed every day II any stable
I community. il seems reasonable 10 cav
that matTimOny Is not really safe on any
minimum income Of less than S59.009 a
year
BY some families even this IS considered
a beggarly amount. There was the lady
who in seeking z divorce a short time
ago. declared that the necessary expenses
Of real lady. living by herself amounted
10 al least S7500o, and furnished an item
2 Ized schedule 70 prove It. And one could
keep within this sum only by the. exercise
Of rigid economy. To live comfortably and
y ltAl0AL NRLLN = t1N. 0l--ftAAA - al a.
i Iowance Of S1s5of0 a year
Annual Expense Budget.
Yet there are annual expense budgets al
the other extreme that seem no less in
/ credible. The Ohio minister who. on al
annual salary Of $50. managed 20 take a
European tour, travel over the larger par;
IOf this country with his wife. obtain d
library Of ZOO volumes. build twO-thou-
sand-dOllar home and accumulate q pi-
ano and a substantial bank account al
within twelve years. furnishes one bril-
liant case in point By the veTaciOuS fig
iures furnished by him Il was learned that
his actual living expenses. including food,
fuel. light. taxes, insurance. doctors bills
Incidental recreation. clothing for himself
and wife and all sUndries, amounted tO
So a year
There Is a wide margin between $50 and
SI25, ,009 a year. According 10 the point ot
view. anything between these two figures
may be considered a comfortable Income
whatever It is
On some standards II would seem by su-
thentiC testimony that s. a week is not
only a living wage for a young man
and his wife. but should support them in
considerable luxury.