Year: 1871

WndL IL is worth, was the profound re-
mark of man who was more deeply
versed in the day than in the die
tiOnary. But there is an element of wis
dom in the saying, after all. Values are
variable so far as husbands are concerned.
And the value of husband depends very
much upon his conduct at home. On the
street and in his counting room, the hus-
band is merged in the citizen and the man.
But at home, the noise and excitement of
the world shut out, those nearest and
dearest to his heart around him, the mer-
chant and citizen is forgotten in the hus-
band and father And the way he carries
himself there determines his worth to his
wife and children.


This is matter of more importance
than most husbands seem to imagine. In
fact most husbands think very little about
it. They are absorbed in other things.
They want a good breakfast early, with
no detention on account of missing but
tons, nor leaky pipes, and no requests for
money, and no burden of bundles and er-
rands to disturb their equanimity and
prevent their getting to business on the top
of the day. Drop them out of their front
door in merry mood at half past seven,
and they will exhaust the superlatives of
their vocabulary in praise of home. The
day is spent in the drudgery of the shop
or market, amidst the frets, cares and
worries of business, or in work that wea-
ries the body and wears upon the mind.
They read the papers, meet their acquaint-
ances, discuss the questions of the day,
laugh over their jokes, pocket their gains
and shoulder their losses as best they can,
take lunch which is often heavier than
dinner, and sometimes drink what is
harder to carry than any dinner can be.
Six o'clock finds them at home again,
soiled, tired, unsociable and too often ir-
ritable. Their appetite is whimsical if not
whetted by stimulants, and they find fault
with the quality of the meats or the man
ner of the cooking. The prattle of the
children annoys them. A wife's small
talk provokes them to original reflections
upon the hopeless frivolity of the sex, or
upon the sadly overworked and much
abused member, the tongue.


Perhaps a cigar has a soothing effect
upon their nerves, and they lounge in
quiet until early bedtime, occasionally
uttering "happy thoughts" which they
laugh over and admire, but which to others
are suggestive of a softening of the brain.
Is it proposed to read? Reading is too
dull for them. Does the wife play one of
her best tunes, or venture to sing one of
the songs which used to be so much ad-
mired in the old days? Before she is half
through, she finds her husband fast asleep
on the sofa, or making up memorandum
for the morrow. Does she propose call
He answers with yawn. And when she
hands him the weekly bills, and reminds
him of the wants of the household, he
opens his eyes with astonishment if not
with indignation, and emits calculations
that are anything but melodious or sacred.
In chor if hiC Ill dnoc ot 10
him nuisance, his stupidity makes him a
bore.


Of course this does not describe the
home behavior of husbands as class; but
it indicates style of conduct of which
there is altogether too much. Such de-
pertinent is fatal to the happiness of home,
and to all deep and true affection between
husband and wife. 1t often prepares the
way for separation, if not what is worse.
A wife naturally expects to be treated
with becoming courtesy and civility, to
say the least, by the man whose attentions
before marriage were so overpoweringly
kind, whose every word was music, and
whose every act a gallantry. She natu
rally Graves kind attentions, appreciating
notice, a sympathetic look and air, anC
feels hurt at heart by neglect, incivility


and boorishness. And when her husband
uldhCS HO 0uOI6 W IuGcItSI ucI, anu Ic


spends to no effort of her own-when hi


denies the kindness which is her daily


food, and the affection which is the vitali
| ty of her air-either what is best in he


heart droops and dies, or finds satisfaction


elsewhere. Fine excuses may be framed


for conjugal remissness on the husband


part. He is overburdened with care, worl
down with anxiety, used up with work ant


worry. Which is very true but this doe


not atone for the neglect of those beautiful


courtesies and affectionate attentions whicl


wife needs thousand times more thai


anything else, and which are the very lif


of her life; this does not make stupidit


one whit more agreeable, nor i'll tempe


more endurable, nor human porcupine


more congenial companion. A true wifi


thinks more of her husband than of house


or costly attire. She sets a higher valu


on his love than on laces and upholster,


She prefers that he shall come home a


hour earlier, with shorter purse an


lighter heart. She would have less none
and more man. And if he knows what
best for his happiness, and his interest to-


he will respect her wishes, and make
daily conquest of her heart by behavic
!, as fine in form as it is affectionate in spiri
There is no sense in letting business wrir
all the juices out of the body and the min
and then dropping dry and listless ar
worthless as rag into the place whiC
T should be the happiest and most sacred
the world, and the companionship whit
! calls for the best and nOblest that mil
I | and heart can 0iVe-G Golden Ane