Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-04
walls OF a Mere Husband.


OMAHA. Jan. 3-To the Editor OF The
Bee: have frequently wondered why II
there may be Confessions of Wife,"
vhv not "Wails OF a Mere Husband?"
For surely all the woes of marriage are
not borne by women. When wives who
go daffy reading the former recitals OF
plain gossip; when they so absorb their
meaning that they are disposed to desig-
nate their husbands by the names OF the
undesirable samples presented in the
confessions" why have not husbands
the obligation resting upon them to come
back" with their side OF the domestic
problems?
This disposition has long resided In me,
and II YOU are disposed to lend your col
umns to some tales. hope ] may relate
some in future stories that will at least
express what thousands of husbands feel
ana are helpless in their desires to es-
cane. Since the other stories come from
the dark, / trust 1 will be pardoned IL
I. too, conceal my identity. For a man
cannot. IL he would, discard altogether
considerations for his family, even II the
members of that family league them
selves against him and attempt by IN
Vulnerable schemes to drill him into a
groove. SO, out of consideration for my
wife and daughters (my son can take
care of himself. prefer to remain in
cog"
Men are helpless in the presence OF
women. Sometimes I believe this Is be-
cause Of their innate consideration Tor
the feminine character. Sometimes l be-
lieve II Is because they are plain towards.
Mems clubs flourish mainly because OF
this fact. Their clubs afford them some
what of a means OF escape and somewhat
as a phalanx against feminine onslsughts.
At least this Is the general sentiment
among the men who congregate at the
clubs where I congregate. whether It be
the Elks or Moose or the Omaha club.
We would not so much object TO social
affairs were Il not that the feminine ele-
ment Of them attempts enforcement Of
conditions repugnant to what we con-
eeive to be our individual rights.
Agreed that the masculine and feminine
sexes do not perfectly amalgamate, be-
cause both Of them are so constituted
mentally that they cannot get q clear
perspective OF the viewpoint of the oppo-
site sex. Man through many ages has
been the master. and this, perhaps, has
given him a distorted view OF his posi-
| ton. whether this view be abnormal oil
not the fact remains that no man who
| is truly a man will long retain regard
for a woman who attempts TO maste
| him. II she IL diplomatic, l grant, she
may be able TO bring him TO her wishes
but she will never retain his love for hei
by enforced commands.
| know OF few cases, however. wher'
women attempt the mastery OF theiI
husbands except In social matters. II
| these men, at least scores of them witt
whom have spoken, protest against thu
unnatural restrictions and demands upo-
them by the feminine side OF the house
Sometimes they fall for them" beeRus'
they are willing TO JON their wives II
attempts 10 find suitable matches 70
their daughters. but they always submit
ungraeefully and ungraciously. The 81
travaganee TO which these functions lea,
has to my personal knowledge In SOM
Instances, and In many OF which I hav
heard. sent men to the penitentiary. An,
genuine man will hesitate about denyinl
anything to the women OF his Household
Above everything else he fears TO con
fess his poverty. II the demands exeee,
his ability 10 pay. he schemes out neV
ways in which to raise the cash. Thes
schemes sometimes go wrong. wi
make a confession OF my own actions o
the past, which would Rave landed m
where others have landed had my action
been discovered.
have always been far behind merel
because l have not had the manhoO
and determination to call halt upon eS
travagsnt demands. And these demand
must have been made upon rue becaus