The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-03-21
TWO SORTS OF WIVES
some ARE HELPMEETs AND SOME
STUMBLING BLOCKS.
Lives Of Successful Men Remind Us
Of Credit Due to Wlfe-Little Said
of the Vito Who ls
HIndranee.

In these piping times Of prosperity
we see many articles published tel.
ing how the writer achieved success
In this Oregon country, and principal.
ly on small pieces Of land. Such
stories are highly inspiring. particu.
larry 10 the young men and young
women who are just starting out for
themselves.
II one will take the trouble to tab
ulate and analyze these storie Il viii
be discovered that IN nine cases ont
Of ten a good woman was the actual
cornerstone upon which the success
was founded and worked out. Tie
same has been true since the world
began, We suppose. It certainly has
been the rule that the good helpmeet
has done more for man than any 9th.
er one cause-than any other score of
causes-since our forefathers landed
on the bleak New England shore.
There are, perhaps. fewer exceptions
TO the rule now than ever, particular.
ly among those who have risen from
poverty to affluence on the land
We must give the wives of nearly
all successful men great credit In
many cases they have suffered more
hardship than their husbands, IA
theirs. or brothers have labored hard.
er, have worked for longer hours. 10
credit is too great for them.
But how often is the other side Of
the story alluded to? Where can
we find the stories of the wives WHO
were not helpmeets, but rather hin.
ORANGES and stumbling blocks to tAeir
husbands? How about the wives who
almost from the day of marriage
were begging for fineries. Injuries
and unnecessary articles beyond their
means? Do We read of them?
This Is not a pleasant subject to
touch upon; but many of US can point
to cases where the extravaganza of
the wife has kept the husband in poy-
erty, Is still keeping him in poverty,
or at least keeping his nose to the
wheel, grinding, grinding his life
out inch by inch. Would 1t not be
we'll to take up this phase of life and
now and then speak of the failures?
Why not call attention to the woman
who has begged the money from her
young husband for the purchase Of
a new dress which she does not need
or a new hat, which all know to be
above her means, when the sane
money put into COW or two would
mean success.
In telling about the CHEEKY and
encouraging words OF the true help.
meet why not give little thought to
the poor husband who has had the
very soul and spirit nagged out OF
him by a woman who did not know
what she wanted, but was bound to
have. II nagging could get them, many
Of the fineries of her richer neighbors
had?
Few such stories are published. for
the reason that the husbands are fail
ures. or so considered and no man
likes to exploit himself as a failure
But would II not be we'll for some OF
the unfortunate ones TO tell their stor
les for the benefit of the young wives
who with their Husbands. are just
starting out on the road of married
life? All praise to the good Won
en-, the good wives, the self-sacri1cne
and noble mothers; but let us now
and then have word for the unfor
tunate husbands OF the other sort OF
women.-Portland Oregonian.