The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-23
Let Hubby
Think He's
the Boss
BY MARTHA LEE

k.Ioriler problem of marriage that
has come up within the span OF
years since women have been given
the vote and have been recognized
as equals of men in some lines OF
work is the "who is the boss of the
house controversy.
Generally speaking, before this
period, there was little question of
who managed affairs. The men, OF
course. Whether their wives were
better fitted to arrange the budgets
and deal out the money was not
even considered. It was presuppoSed
that that was mans work, since it
also was his work to earn those
funds which had to be dealt out.
But with other forms of feminine
emancipation has come change IN
the management of households. The
wife, if she is more apt. at financial
maneuverings, is allowed to manage
those affairs, and it is not consid-
cred that she is taking away one of
the fundamental rights of man. She
has shown she can do a better job
of it. and it becomes hers, by right
of fairly won contest.
Men Funny That Way
The holding of the pursestrings
does not mean the woman is boss
of the household at all. But men
are so strange. They have the idea
that once they relinquish the
financial end of management they
are lost, hook, line and sinker, in
the abyss of men whose wives rule
the ranch.
1t is a wise wife who can prove
her ability to manage things and
never let her husband realize she is
doing it. Doubly wise is the wife
who can make that husband think
ne is doing it himself. Because the
feeling that man has lost toe
hold in his own establishment is apt
to have serious effect upon his
business career.
He will begin to believe that if he
can not manage his own affairs, how
will any boss see fit to allow him to
handle the affairs of others?
A wise little wife, who sees just
such a problem coming, has written
letter on the subject.
Dear Miss Lee-I would like some ad-
vice about how to handle a very deli
cate situation that has arisen, before it
is too late. 1 am a newly married woman
and we are trying to save. My husband
wants to save, but he isn't very good at it.
If he had his way, he would buy every
thing he wants each week and then, If
there happened to be any surplus, he
would bank that at the end Of the week.
Now you know you can't get ahead that
way, Miss Lee.
So I have been deciding how much to
put in the bank and each Saturday we
60 together to make the deposit. But
here is the trouble. Although I let him
handle all the rest of the money and
spend all he wants on himself without
questioning it, he feels that I am wear
ing the pants in the family because my
scheme has been quite a success and be-
cause mis- was more or less Of a make
shift.
I have made several other suggestions
that have saved us money and ne resents
the fact that they have been mine in
stead of his.
Now I want him to go into business
for himself some time. 1t won't do for
him to develop an inferiority complex,
such as is working on him now. How
can I manage to keep him feeling he is
the big boss in our family?
A JUNE BRIDE.
A girl who is clever enough to
a1iza these things is also clever
enough to put them over. I'm sure
you do not spend your time telling
him what big help you have been
to him. You are too wise for that.
The next suggestion you have lead
the conversation right up to your
idea, but allow him to voice it him
self, and then make him believe it
was his own. You can have all
the plans and schemes you want,
but let him tell them himself by
leading up the conversation to the
point where he can not fail to grasp
your meaning.
Ask his advice about things fire.
ouently. Praise him for his work
and diligence, and tell him how
clever he is once in while. There
is nothing so deadly to the infer
iority complex as a few well-chosen
words OF praise at the psychological
moment. If you keep up, you may
be the silent partner in a big con-
Germ some day.