San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-01
WIVES Of ELkS
|. URGED TOHELP
MEMBERSHIP
Attendance in Order
Should Be Encouraged,
Says Marie BrOornfield.
THEY'VE GOT TO PLAY
Men But Boys of Larger
Growth and Need
Recreation.
THEY'VE GOT TO PLAY
Rv MARIE BRnOMFIELD.

Some time ago. Betterhalf and I
we're royalty entertained by a small
but progressive Lodge Of Elks in the
western part of New York state.
On leaving. my casual remark that
derived almost as much pleasure
from being an Elis' wife as my husband
did from being an Elk. caused an eiac-
ulation of surprise from the member
who had acted as host.
DO you mean 10 say YOU don't oh
iect TO his attending meetings? Or
that you don't think he spends too
much time at his LODGE he asked.
Goodness. mo-" ] fastened to as
ure him. I'm continually chaSingL'm
off 10 meetings because ! think he
should 60 more frequently than he
does :"
shake" exclaimed our host. OK
tending his hand, you're the first
woman I've met who was not jealous
Of her husbands lodge"
Recently, a young wife, calling on
me INDUCED in some very caustic re-
marks relative to her husbands spend
ing his evenings away from home. said
she wished he had never joined the
Elks and that his being one did him
mere harm than good
How often does he go to meet
ings?'
Why" she retorted Indignantly,
"he's been there three times ~
Further inquiry revealed that the
poor man had joined in January and
had attended three sessions in five
months.
The incidents recorded above are
recommended to the serious COnsidera-
ton of women who are blessed with
husbands who are Elks but who are
such poor wives that they not only
fail to appreciate the blessing 20 them
selves but also mar the husbands
pleasure in such associations by being
either Indifferent to il. or Sptcfully
jealous, and peevishly nagging when
ever meeting night or other visits to
the lodge room are mentioned.
The average woman, nowadays, has
her clubs. circles, organizations and
classes. From a long acquaintance
with club women truth com7elS the
candid admission that they are not the
best homemakers.
theoretically, yes. Practically. no.
] know quite few men who dine at
their clubs because their wives are too
busy with outside interests % attend
TO home matters. That, however, is
another story.
It has always been my contention
that 4 mans real enjoyment in connec-
ton with some organization or club
depends entirely on the way his wife
regards such membership. Just as
woman makes or mars the peace and
happiness of the home circle. so does
she make or mar the pleasure her hus-
band finds in club affiliations.
Very few men join anything against
the express diSanproval Of their wives.
And If willing he should join, why in
the name OF goodness should she find
fault every time he goes 10 a meet
ing?
1t is his duty to attend oil sessions.
1t is also necessary 10 keep in touch
with the spirit and good fellowship by
dropping in for chat with the boys.
Not 70 the extent Of nPglpcting HE
home and family. of course. but n good
Elk never does that unless home is not
the kind Of home it should be-. and he
is positively driven to his lodge room
fop peace and comfort.
There are such cases. know many,
and an heartily glad such men find
refuge under the antlers.
Men are gregarious, They can't
help it. They were born so. No mat
ter how much a man loves his wife and
enjoys her companionship he must as
sociate with his own sex. And no
where can the right Kind Of man get
more real enjoyment than in the So
ciety Of a herd Of clcan-minded Jolly
good Elks.
The order stands for the highest
type of Americanism. 1t calls out all
that is noblest and. best in human na- .
ture 1t pre9ches aud practisqs char
ity. fidelity, loyalty and justice. 1t
makes the good better and thea un-
steady more steadfast. 4 man * al.
ways a better husband. father, son and
brother for being an Elk.
Why then should any woman iibe
and nag and complain il her husband 1
enjoys such association? How can II I
possibly harm him?
/ wish il were possible to convince