Omaha daily bee., 1914-11-02
The Blight of Wealth
Poverty Has Wrecked Many
Homes, but Wealth is Often
Just as Much a Menace to
Domestic Life as Poverty

The husband had business sagacity and
year by year he went farther and farther
and got bigger store each time and then
a chain Of stores and wecame wealthy.
1--WE were so happy when we were
poor" said the wife. He was so tender
and kind to me and loved me. but when
he got rich he began to neglect me and
run about with gay companions and to
take pretty young girls to the theater
and in his automobile. He has been ruined
by his wealth. 1t Is his money that has
broken up our home"
Such stories are not uncommon. When
wealth comes in at the door, love flies
out of the window more often than we
know, for the siren who alienates the af-
fections Of nine American men out OF
ten from their wives is no other woman,
but the love Of money.
Many a woman who lives in $4,000
house and who has a charge account Mt
all the leading stores. and her own linn
CUISINE, has nothing else but these Every
particle of interest her husband has Is
given to his business. Every thought
he has is centered on his business. Every
atom of affection he possesses is twined
around his pet schemes. His idea OF en-
joyment is putting through a difficult
deal, and when he spends a happy eve
ming Il is with his business associates.
His wife has ceased TO count for any
thing in his life and she knows IL. He
no longer needs her az the poor man
needs his wife, and the curse OF money
has blighted that household Just as surely
as the direst poverty could have done.
Another way in which wealth Is a men
ace to the home is that II makes every
rich person q shining mark for unscru-
pulous men and women. and perhaps we
should pity rather than blame the poor
brothers who fall for their wiles, II we
realize the temptations to which they are
subjected.
The average man who IL seif-made Is
middle-aged before he reaches his golden
goal He has never had any playttne OF
life because the race for fortune Is a
breathless race and one that goes TO the
swift and strenuous. He has known
nothing of the arts OF femininity. only
the one plain woman he has married and
who has been more helper than sweet
heart.
Suddenly he finds himself With plenty
OF money, with plenty OF leisure to diver
himself and with wife who does moi
know how 10 either laugh or spend
money. or any more about how to amuss
a man than she knows about the diff
ferential calculus. Then comes alonl
someone who has youth and beauty and
a honeyed tongue that talks batteries
and cajoleFies and who can wonder tina
the man proves an easy mark.
Once upon a time reproYed a woman
whose husband was making big saiari
for her extravagance. The only way u
keep your husband in New YORK IL q
keep him so poor than no other woman
wants him." was her reply. One canno
recommend that method Of self-preser
walton 10 Their wives; stiii II is undoubt
eddy true that the rich man Is in con
tinual danger and that nothing makel
for the preservation Of the domesti'
virtue so much as a thin pocketbook.
The moral Of all OF which is that tn
wife who loves her husband and VIII
wants TO enjoy his eompanionship MAJ
well echo the prayer Of the Psalmist VIII
desired neither riches nor poverty