Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-08

"O4AoA 6AO"o ~
world is continually poldng its nose
into her business. Men wouldn't
stand for it a minute.
Lately the advisers have been es-
pecia1y insfstent upon a line, of adj
vice to the effect that wife should
keep herself beautiful IN order to
hold her husbands loyalty.
She must keep trim in figure, we'll
groomed, well-coifered, well-mani-
cured, well-complexioned and well
goyned. In addition, she should be
well-informed, good-humored and in
teresting. In fact, she should nevei
'let down" in dress or department.
So much has been said and written
about this that a husband has begun
to think that if his wife isn't always
CARRIED as he used to see her on COM
pany evenings when he was counting
her and always sweet and smiling as
she was before family cares and sor
rows and economies descended upon
her, he feels that he has perfect right
to hunt up an affinity.
l have one such case in mind now.
AS it is an illustration of other in
stances, am going to recite tt
A country boy married a country
girl. Neither belonger to Q refined or
well-educated family. They were what
many call common" They were well
fitted to each other in birth and up
bringing.
They-moved to the city Within
five years three children were born.
The woman, Of course, bore the
children. Besides that and minister
ing to them without any help from the
father she did the housework, which
included the family laundry and every
kind Of mental physical work connected
with the care of a house. She did the
family sewing. She sat up nights with
sick children. She used her wOma1's
wits to make a little money 90 a long
way, so that the five of them might
be decently fed and clothed. All her
energy and what talent she had was
utilized il her work as wife and
mother.
She grew heavy and coaTse-as one
viii when heavy and coarse work
must be done. She had no opportunity
to get among other people so that she
might learn refined manners, better
grammar, the latest style III gowns
and the newest brand of advice to
wives.
As the children grew older they de-
manded more, and mother got even
less. The children must go to school,
must be kept clean, must have clothes.
even if mother had no time to keep
herself neat, nor money to buy her
self clothes. One item of expense was
the boys shoes. They must each have
two pairs a month. at 81 a pair. Fig
ure that Up and see how much was left
for mother TO spend on new gowns for
herself.
Meantime, father went out into the
world. He got among men who boost
ed him \ He finally landed in q good
job, where he saw plenty Of prosper
Gus people daily.
He was invited out TO lunch now
and then with some of his moueyed
business associates. Then he invited
back, Of course. Finally he got into
the habit of eating at hotels and swell
cafes.
About this time he complained Of
wife's home baking and her manner
TO buy expensive Taiment for himself
and to kick because she didn't launder
his new shirts to suit him.
He wanted TO know why his house
wasn't as orderly and as neat as tn,
hotel parlors md the handsome offices
he saw where plenty of maids and
pOrters were kept busy. He grouched
because he couldn't punch button and
have somebody come running to sup
ply him with his wants.
He didn't like the way his wife
pressed his trousers, nor the way she
sorted his neckties She wasn't an
up-to-date valet
Then he critisized her figure, scorned
her as coarse and fat"-he weighs 200
himself and is bullnecked and big
jowled. Finally he became infatuated
with slim young thing whose father
supplies her with an allowance suffi-
cient to buy expensive lingerie and i'm
ported hair and 'illusive" perfumes
Then this excellent gentleman, dissat-
ished with the servant-of all-work at
home, applied for a divorce,
IT can't stand her any longer" he
told q man friend She is too SLOW
emily and coarse for me. l must take
the children away from such infuen
ces.''
The man agreed with his All the
men he knows agree with him. They
VIII tell you he is a fine fellow. They
pity him
A neighbor found the wife in tears
shortly after the divorce bill had been
fled. The netghbOr gave what she
thought was kindly advice
You've lost him because you let
yourself run down" quoth the neigh
bOr. You can win him back Just
go down town and buy a lot of pretty
clothes and good corset and fix your