The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-05
The Marriage
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wIFEHocD WAGES SELDOM JUST
BY JOSEPH M. WEBER
Theatrical manager and author)

invariably be answered by man, by
each womans husband. His is the
last voice, the final word on the sub
ject (not too common event in mar
ried life) and all theories pro and con
must vanish before his simple yes
or no"
| So an opinion on that all-important
theme will perhaps be more authorita-
tive coming from man "a husband.
too, of course,) than from a woman.
1t is perhaps the only subject con
nected with marriage on which WON
ans testimony is not far more valu-
able than is mere mans"
And-as a mere man"-as hus-
band-as a father-as person of av-
/ erage common sense Il hope) and
honesty, ! say most unhesitatingly:
Every wife should have her own
pocket money"
And, / may add, If she is good
wife, she earns her allowance, no mat
ter how large it may be. For the
average housekeeper and homemaker
does the work that comes under the
head of Skilled labor" of the most
skillful kind and keeps it up daily for
term of hours that would cause her
expulsion from any labor union under
the sun. For a man to expect to get
such service and to pay for it merely
by food, lodging and clothes, is rem
iniscent of the famous exchange col
umn item:
FOR EXCHANGE.-ONE CANCELLED q
~lxVr
for diamond tiara, 24-foot catboat or
a corner lot.
Men don't realize what an unheard-
of good bargain really good wife is.
For the same amount of work mot
done half as well) any paid house
keeper would expect board and lodg-
ing and at least $50 a month. Why
grudge your wife the same sum?
A girl of my acquaintance was mar
ried a few months ago. On the re-
turn from the honeymoon she had the
ensuing little business talk with her
husband:
by the way, DEAR" she began, you
know I'm to keep the house In order,
manage the servants, plan the meals,
entertain your guests. keep your
clothes in good condition and do a
few hundred more tasks of the same
trifling order What do I get out of
all this?"
The surprised, benedict began to
humble fond nothings concerning a
lifelong devotion, the love of a good
man, etc. But she cut him short.
For all that" she said, II make
full return in kind. But what do get
for being your housekeeper and gen
eral SUPERVISOR"
"You get a good home" he retorted
a little nettled land ! will see you
have as good clothes as any woman
you know, and"
Whereat, being at heart sane man
he began to see light And since then
they are happy; she proving to be a
model housekeeper and far more than
earning the handsome allowance he
gives her.
} For women are not like men in this
, matter of asking for money. If man
is broke he seldom has any vast hest
tation in touching his best friend
J for the wherewithal to tide over the
{ difficulty. The flush of shame does
) not mount to his brow to any extent
! as he breathes the plea:
Say, old chap, can you lend me 81
till Saturday.
f But with women it is different
They hate to ask their husbands fol
: money. At least the best of them do
) They don't seem to realize that the
: husbands vow, with all my world,
, goods l thee endow," makes hi.
money as much theirs as his. If the,
could be brought to realize that, there
would be far fewer heartaches. Blu
since, apparently, they cannot brins
themselves to that wise frame O
r mind, l think husbands should saw,
q them embarrassment by making then
, a regular weekly or monthly allow
ance
/ once knew a man whose wife liye(
on Observation-Disclosures wages. He wa
5 suddenly called out of town and lief
/ her 800 with which to manage tn,
S house in his absence. In joy at havin,
such an enormous sum to handle, sht
d rushed out and spent 20 cents-yes
S 20 whole cents-on chocolates. TIL,
husband returned Unexpectedly tn,
l. same night and demanded the none,
b he had left with her Shamefacedl,
e and trembling she handed s99 so. ant
+ faltered out the terrible truth as L
/. the missing 20 cents.
d Just like a woman!" sneered he
h lord and master. The best of then
n can't be trusted to handle cash"
When a man dies and leaves hi
/ fortune to his wife, small wonder sh
J. so often sQuanders it. Had she handle
# 1t more freely in its collectors lif,
j, time she would dispense ii more wist
v ly after his death
From the bottom of my heart I fee
G a deep pity for the average Marie
y woman. She earns her money a
, nobly and as completely as does an
day laborer, She keeps man
=, house, rears his children, makes hi
y life happy. And for this she receive
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