The Washington times., 1922-01-30
PERFECT WIVES
AREPLENT|FUL,
0P|NES WRITER
Mrs. Browning, Penelope, Wife
Of President Mckinley, Some
Who Inspired Real Love.
BY MARGERY REX.

Is a perfect wife" something for
5000 psrsons, who never saw her. to
get excited about?
That many persons. more or loss,
have written to Mrs. Elsie Glasier' vi
London. whose husband has paid
post.humous tribute to her.
His will states that she was q
"rurfect wife, one who never uttered
a cross word to him. who helped and
inspired him constantly" mo bet
ter woman ever Lived" he vowed.
Her correspondents ask Mrs. Ola.
sier how she did it," They want
to know the secret of such happi'
neess. ~
But, there are many perfect wives
and they will go through LIE IN
known to fame because their nus
band may not leave such strikingiy
phrased wills. or because their
marital partners are not sufficiently
prominent to sing their praises.
In. every family there Is some dear,
tind woman whose husband realizes
her price is above rubles. His fond
regard for her may make him the
object of good-natured teasing. but
1t likewise brings him respect
Humble Women Unsung.
The humber lanes Of life are filled
with excellent women who will never
be. heard Of because their husbands
play small roles in a thoughtless
world.
Often, however, in mythology and
in history--modern as well as an
cient--we hear of exceptional wives.
Greek legend pins citation on
Penelope, wife of Ulysses. who was
patient and true during the dreary
spell when her spouse attended the
Trojan wars. Upon that Eastern
front, the warrior encountered divers
dangers, not the least of which was
Gree and her private stockyards,
Suitors besieged Penelope. They
insisted she make a choice among
them. She finally said she would
when her weaving was done. She
was engaged in making a wrap for
I.aertes, father Of Ulysses, but raw.
elled out each night what she had
woven by daylight. A servant In.
formed the visitors of her trick, how
ever, and Penelope was impelled to
promise a speedy decision. AT this
juncture, Ulysses returned and slew
the suitors.
., Example Of Wlfely Virtue.
Her trust that he would come
back, and her faithfulness in spite of
predictions he would not reach home,
made Penelope an epitome OF wifely
virtues.
Literature leaves US record OF a
loving wife never separated for even
a day from her devoted husband.
These two. Elizabeth Barrett Brown.
ing and Robert Browning. both have
left poetical treasure to us.
They were known as "the married
lovers" and to wed Robert Browning.
Elizabeth Barrett was inspired to
cast of the afflicition (which had kept
her invalid for years. She married
secretly this poet who had been at.
tracted first by the quality and
fervor of her verses. After the cere-
mony, in 1916, she returned to her
family and made preparations to run
away with her husband to the Con-
tinent. where they spent the rest OF
their lives.
In Italy, beloved of both the
Brownings, Elizabeth one day slipped
a packet Of writings into the poets
hands. She requested him not to
read them till she left the room.
They formed the manuscript Of the
~Sonnets from the Portuguese" in
tended at first for the eyes Of her
lover-husband alone.
Sennets Tell Of Love.
Most of these are concerned with
the deep and tender love Mrs.
Browning bore for the piet.
''How do love thee7' she wrote.
LET me count the ways.
love thee to the depth and breadth
and height
Ny soul can reach. when feeling out
For the ends OF being and ideal
Grace"
Their mutual love, even 90, no
high sounding affair. without real
wearing qualities as the poetess
welded to poet revealed in
Most quiet need. by sun and candle
IT live thee freely. as men strive for
q love thee purely as they turn from
81 love thee with the. passion put to
use 20.
Tn my old grief, ana with my child
hoods faith" w.. - =.
Many women may have felt such
love in marriage, but not having the
Browning talent were unable to ex-
ppess sentiments to ennoble pos
terity. .
Arnold's Tribute to Wife.
It was a little Japanese woman