The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-01-09
WOMAN'S CLUB WORK
Mrs. J. NJ. Gross, Editor for January

The article in the January Delinea-
tor, by Charles W. Eliot, president
emeritus CT Harvard University, on
Husbands and Fathers" is timely.
After speaking of the nineteenth CEN
fury movements that affected the re-
lations between men and women and
parents and children he says:
Under these new circumstances, it /
is an interesting question what Chris
tian society now expects of the hus-
band and father. Two things clearly. |
The first is tenderness and unfailing !.
consideration for the wife and mother. |
TIE second is that amount of capaci-
tyr and industry which will yield an
adequate support for the family.
American society of every sort de-
spises or p:ties the husband who can
not support his family and condemns
the able-bodied husband who ne
gfects or deserts his charge. The wo-
mans share in the creation and
maintenance of the home is quite as
large as it ever was-perhaps larger;
and yet that man is by common con-
sent an unsatisfactory husband and
father who does not earn all the mon
ely needed to buy food, clothing, and
shelter for the family. The woman's
contribution is the utilizing of that
money to produce healthy and hap
Ply household; and in proportion to
the enlargement and improvement of
the ideal Of happy home the con-
tribution of the woman has increas-
ed.
In notwithstanding family the
husband and father is not ruler or
master, but a partner or consort, and
comrade. Such should be his rela-
ton to his wife, and to his sons and
daughters SO soon as they get be-
yond childhood. Neither partner
ship nor comradeship diminishes the
respect due from inferior to superior
wisdom or capacity; but crude author
ity is replaced by the just influence
of character and conduct.
Superior strength in the male, or
in adults as compared with children,
has well-nigh ceased in civilized So
ciety to determine or indeed affect
the relations between husband and
wife, or between parents and child
rem. Even in the discipline of schools,
physical force now plays small part.
Nevertheless, the greater muscular
strength Of the man, and the fact
that his strength is always available,
should determine the division of
household duties between the two
partners.
Thus, the man should do all the
heavy lifting such as bringing wood
coal and water-and should do the
tspading in the garden. If in country
home, the young man expects his
wife to get up first, bring in the wa
ter from the we'll and the fuel, and
light the fire before he stirs, the
chances are strong that he is not g
good husband; he is not doing the
mans share of the family work.
In families that employ servant.
or helpers these signs may fail; but
even in such exceptional families there
should be an appropriate division o.
labor between husband and wife fol
the maintenance and care of tn,
household
When the children begin to grow
L. g e.
gard to their nurture and trainin,
are often different from those of tn
mother, and yet have an equal i'm
portance. His influence may be tina
of example rather than that of pre-
cept, and may be unconsciously indis
pensable to the best control of vigo
rous children, and particularly o
boys.
1t is often due to his masculine quail
tiles of strength, toughness, and firm
ness; although no one of these quail
ties be exhibited in excess.
For the best influence with son
I'm various critical matters the fathe
should be, and should have been,
pure and upright man. A fathe
known or suspected of being loos
liver in his youth rarely succeeds i
protecting his son from similar dar
gers, no matter how much he ma
desire to do so. When he tries t
protect his son from the sins or e1
rors which he himself committed, h
finds two forces opposing his worth
efforts force of heredity an
the force of his own example. A Sc
fish father or self indulgent fathe
will meet with similar dificultie
When it comes to advising sons, tt
father who neither drinks or smoke
has an advantage over the faith,
who does either.
It is impossible to bring childre
UP well in a luxurious househol