The Washington herald., 1909-07-15
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

I should ike to see the man who tried
70 compel his wife to live by ten rules
which he formulated put to work 10 carry
iout his own schedule Of life and kept
there till he begged for mercy. II is the
existence OF such men as he that is driv-
ing women to the ranks OF suffrage. most
OF them through pure sympathy fo- the
occasional down trodden woman. 1t IS 10
the credit OF this particular woman that
she rebeled-her fault was in marrying
man whom she knew held peculiar opin-
ions; however. she never took them seri-
ously till she was face 10 face with the
'problem OF living by them. The man is
only slightly daunted and It is more than
likely that he viii be able 70 find another
wife more piiable. Women take curious
chances in the game Of matrimony.
This man expected his wife TO rise al
$50 and TO retire az 10 DO it He gave
her fifteen minutes in which 10 prepare
breakfast He protested that any woman
should be able to get the children ready
for school. after preparing and serving
breakfast and 90 20 work for six hours IN
the day 10 earn her share Of the living
expenses, at least three-dfths Of the
amount he turned In. The other two
ffths, I presume. he expected to be made
up In household labor, for she was ex-
pected 10 so home and prepare dinner and
do whatever else was needed for the fam
fly comfort.
The wife OF this mOnster-that is what
he has been called, generally-met his
match in the young woman on whom he
bestowed his name. She pitted ten objec-
tions against his ten rules and the court
backed her in them. She maintained that
uatrimony was sufficient occupation for
8 woman, that none OF the sex is strong
enough 10 be both hOusekeeper and bread
winner. and could not bear healthy chill
dren under such conditions. He makes
man merely a wage-earner.'' she declared
with scorn. and finished with the obser-
walton that only inadeQuates asked wives
10 help support the family.
am sure that the man is one OF a very
small class. for even when wives are over
burdened with cares they are often tied
20 tender-hearted husbands who see that
they have little amusement 70 sweeten
life. I am afraid that the wife who would
submit 20 such terms as he dictates IS not
worth a spark of pity. Self-respecting
women have clearly defined ideas OF their
rights and will allow nobody 70 trample
them. Here is a bit OF a hint: Self-re-
specting women get their rights without
fighting for them; there is something
about them that commands respect and
difference Meek women always have been
and always viii be mats on which the
feet Of the strong and coarse-minded are
wiped.
It is sometimes necessary for the wom-
an 20 put her hand to the plow and do her
part toward earning a living It is some
times her pleasure to do it when she has
talent or a little cleverness that nets bet
ter financial profits than housework. But
rarely can a woman do justice 70 homs
and children under such circumstances. |
II she can AFFORD 10 hire workers at home.
the problem IS easily solved. VVIfehood /
and motherhood are quite enough for a |
woman and in fulfilling her mission along
those lines she does her full share OF /
work She PAYS for every dollar she re-
ceives, every kindness JnaI Is bestowed |
Hpon her. BETTY RRAOrEN /