Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-25

contingency should arise at some
time that you might desire a small
sum OF money for personal expenses
l will graciously allow you as much
as I see fit, provided full eXplana-
ton is given of the manner in which
it is TO be spent, and the request is
couched in properly submissive
form, it being always understood
that such donation is granted in no
sense as a right, but merely as an
evidence of my favor and kindness
of heart
And having thus settled matters,
the poor fish believed that the rest
of the story would be: They lived
happy ever after
But he had to give so much time
to his domestic affairs and seeing
that his wife didn't ruin him that
there wasn't much left for the Of
fee; and finally the creditors held
a meeting, and as they say in the
profession. he was at liberty.
We'll, what could he eXpect?"
commented his family. He would
marry that eXtravagant little thing,
instead of taking a sensible woman
OF his own age"
Some people may regard this ia
BILE as overdrawn and fanciful, just
as I did. To such l submit the let
ter received from the second of my
correspondents
Since 1 have been married my
husband always has attended to the
shopping for our home. He buys
the meats, groceries. everything, and
even looks after the laundry; and
as a result we quarrel continually,
since I naturally regard these things
&c nrnN-inRn have HnaXpd de-
manded, entreated him to give me
an allowance, but all in vain. Every
time I want a nickel or a dollar l
have to go like beggar and ask for
it. He doles out what he likes.
Il am not extravagant, but he
never gives me a chance to show
whether 1 am or not. 1 never see
the bills. He pays them all, and
once in a while gives me a dollar
for myself; but by the time 1 get it
I need stockings or something, and
then he claims 1 am spending all
his money.
He does not do any work at
present. as he failed recently in bust
ness. so he hangs around the house
all the time. l have gone to busi-
ness myself for several months, and
he raises Cain because I do not give
him my money. He constantly tells
his own family everything that hap
pens with us, and they sympathize
with him, and make suggestions to
him. and so cause a great deal or
trouble.
DO YOU think, Mrs. Woodrow, he
Is right in mollycoddling at home all
the time, and making me ask for
everything, or in talking me over
with his family and airing all my
faults? Please excuse mistakes, as
had to answer this before he came
back"
That. it may be urged, is purely
an ex-parte statement, and the nus
band. if given a chance TO reply'
r,Sight show an equal list of griev-
ances. Yet, granting all that, ana
discounting every charge presented
l still maintain, if only on the eEl-
dence of her last sentence, that the
man is to be condemned. lie Is
obviously a Junker on the marriage
ouestion. reactionary and medlaVel
in ali his ideas. There is only one
thing a domestic bully and tyraht
of that sort can comprehend, and
that is force.
The wife in this case apparently
has all the trumps in her hand. She
has no children to consider, ana
she is capable OF earning her own
living. One wonders, then. why, in
stead of pickering and quarreling
with him, she does not calmly lay
her cards on the table and assert
her position. Why does she not say
to him:
Il am not your slaves or depend
ent, but your wife and equal part
ner. My rights are fully recog-
nized by the state. Unless you are
willing to treat me with proper re-
spect and consideration, l shall ap-
peal to the courts to settle our diff
ferences and accord me a separate
maintenance"
1 am willing TO wager that II she
SAYS it, and says it in such a way
that he knows she means it, the
troubles she complains of will
promptly disappear.
Why then doesn't she say it?I
Why don't thousands of similar
matrimonial victims say it? Is I'll
from ignorance or through fear of
what people will say? To those two
causes may be set down most of the
misery which humanity endures.
edv