Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-03-06
\ CODE FOR WIVES

That wives are not always
paragons and home-makers the
Legal Aid Society admits by is
suing companion to the deca-
logue for husbands which it pub
lished to the relish and satisfac-
ton of women on Jan. 30. The
presumption is that a society that
has dealt in matrimonial infellcl-
ties for half a century and has
kept the home fires burning when
there was only flicker on the
hearth must have learned that
the better half is sometimes the
husband. Court records do in
deed show that the man is often
al fault when marriages get into
the hands of lawyers and judges.
However, the exceptions are nu-
mcrous enough to justify a code
of don't for wives, Even women
are not always saints. and some
are temperamental. In this age
of equal suffrage and equal rights
man is no longer monarch OF all
ne surveys in the feminine world.
1t is not impossible that as time
! goes on the LegSl Aid Society's
decalogue for wives may be re-
oarded as a sheet anchor for
husbands.
There are wives who will think
these ten commandments are per-
sonal. Let it he said at once
that considerable number OF
women who have taken husbands,
for better or worse find the eX-
i.perience so tolerable that they
do not need the advice of the Lee
gal Aid Society themselves; as
to their neighbors, they know OF
households where it would be per-
tinent. The decalogue leads off
with do not be eXtravagant,"
The husbands had been adjured to
be generous according to your
means" If wives are eXtrava-.
giant, it is sometimes because they
have poor business heads. The
best way for a husband to teach
his wife thrift is to give her a
fair allowance, open a bank ac-
count for her, and when she over
draws it decline TO go to her re-
lief. The charge account at the
department store is, OF course,
sunken reef. No husband is so
skilled navigator that he can
always avoid the breakers. 1t Is
usually the childless wife who is
extravagant. In growing faml-
~ economy is the watchword.
Some eXtravagant wives are often
more imaginary than real. AS
to the husband, it is a fault ne
can cure himself of by spending
as much on his wife as he does
on himself. When ne buys a box
of perfoctos let him get her
pair of the finest silk stockings.
The wife is urged to keep her
home clean, because nothing Is
more refreshing to the eyes OF
the tired, nerve-racked worker
than the sight Of well-tldied
home" In the decalogue for the
husband ne was hidden to be
cOnsiderate, because the average
woman is a bundle of highly
strung nerves." 1t will be graft
flying to harassed men to learn
that the Legal Aid Society rec
ognizes that he. too, has ner-
vous system. Bear and forbear
seems to be the motto. "A SLOW
emily wife makes truant hus-
band" That sounds like Ben
Franklin, whose wife could be
severe on occasion. 1t will have
been noticed by people who con
Germ themselves with these mat
ters that untidy wives are some
times the most exacting. DO
not receive attentions from other
men," says the decalogue. THIS
is indeed dangerous if the hus-
band it at once muscular and sus-
picious. An excellent admonl-
ton, but it is not bettered by the
caution, friendly attentions from
lothc'; may be received in a spirl
Of erfecs innocence" Pertef
!rn .ence on part of a pref
wo. N is so attractive that IN
abs trance of it should be 's-
z 4mbfed.
70 not spend too much inc
win your mother" No afer-
tfG.ate wife needs this wee
fter mother generally has esdse
,ta ompiain that she doesr see