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accords to woman； was quite true as long as woman was considered man's
inferior。 To make her his equal was perfectly just； all the trouble begins
when you attempt to make her man's superior； a something apart from his
working life； and not the companion of his troubles and cares； as she was
intended to be。
When a small shopkeeper in Europe marries； the next day you will see
his young wife taking her place at the desk in his shop。 While he serves his
customers； his smiling spouse keeps the books； makes change； and has an
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eye on the employees。 At noon they dine together； in the evening； after the
shop is closed； are pleased or saddened together over the results of the day。
The wife's DOT almost always goes into the business； so that there is a
community of interest to unite them； and their lives are passed together。 In
this country； what happens？ The husband places his new wife in a small
house； or in two or three furnished rooms； generally so far away that all
idea of dining with her is impossible。 In consequence； he has a 〃quick
lunch〃 down town； and does not see his wife between eight o'clock in the
morning and seven in the evening。 His business is a closed book to her； in
which she can have no interest； for her weary husband naturally revolts
from talking 〃shop；〃 even if she is in a position to understand him。
His false sense of shielding her from the rude world makes him keep
his troubles to himself； so she rarely knows his financial position and sulks
over his 〃meanness〃 to her； in regard to pin…money； and being a perfectly
idle person； her days are apt to be passed in a way especially devised by
Satan for unoccupied hands。 She has learned no cooking from her mother；
〃going to market〃 has become a thing of the past。 So she falls a victim to
the allurements of the bargain…counter； returning home after hours of
aimless wandering； irritable and aggrieved because she cannot own the
beautiful things she has seen。 She passes the evening in trying to win her
husband's consent to some purchase he knows he cannot afford； while it
breaks his heart to refuse her … some object； which； were she really his
companion； she would not have had the time to see or the folly to ask for。
The janitor in our building is truly a toiler。 He rarely leaves his dismal
quarters under the sidewalk； but 〃Madam〃 walks the streets clad in
sealskin and silk； a 〃Gainsborough〃 crowning her false 〃bang。〃 I always
think of Max O'Rell's clever saying； when I see her： 〃The sweat of the
American husband crystallizes into diamond ear…rings for the American
woman。〃 My janitress sports a diminutive pair of those jewels and has
hopes of larger ones！ Instead of 〃doing〃 the bachelor's rooms in the
building as her husband's helpmeet； she 〃does〃 her spouse； and a char…
woman works for her。 She is one of the drops in the tide that ebbs and
flows on Twenty…third Street … a discontented woman placed in a false
position by our absurd customs。
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Go a little further up in the social scale and you will find the same
〃detached〃 feeling。 In a household I know of only one horse and a COUPE
can be afforded。 Do you suppose it is for the use of the weary breadwinner？
Not at all。 He walks from his home to the 〃elevated。〃 The carriage is to
take his wife to teas or the park。 In a year or two she will go abroad；
leaving him alone to turn the crank that produces the income。 As it is； she
always leaves him for six months each year in a half…closed house； to the
tender mercies of a caretaker。 Two additional words could be
advantageously added to the wedding service。 After 〃for richer for poorer；〃
I should like to hear a bride promise to cling to her husband 〃for winter for
summer！〃
Make another step up and stand in the entrance of a house at two A。M。；
just as the cotillion is commencing； and watch the couples leaving。 The
husband； who has been in Wall Street all day； knows that he must be there
again at nine next morning。 He is furious at the lateness of the hour； and
dropping with fatigue。 His wife； who has done nothing to weary her； is
equally enraged to be taken away just as the ball was becoming amusing。
What a happy； united pair they are as the footman closes the door and the
carriage rolls off home！ Who is to blame？ The husband is vainly trying to
lead the most exacting of double lives； that of a business man all day and a
society man all night。 You can pick him out at a glance in a ballroom。 His
eye shows you that there is no rest for him； for he has placed his wife at
the head of an establishment whose working crushes him into the mud of
care and anxiety。 Has he any one to blame but himself？
In England； I am told； the man of a family goes up to London in the
spring and gets his complete outfit； down to the smallest details of hat…box
and umbrella。 If there happens to be money left； the wife gets a new gown
or two： if not； she 〃turns〃 the old ones and rejoices vicariously in the
splendor of her 〃lord。〃 I know one charming little home over there； where
the ladies cannot afford a pony…carriage； because the three indispensable
hunters eat up the where…withal。
Thackeray was delighted to find one household （Major Ponto's） where
the governess ruled supreme； and I feel a fiendish pleasure in these
accounts of a country where men have been able to maintain some rights；
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and am moved to preach a crusade for the liberation of the American
husband； that the poor； down…trodden creature may revolt from the slavery
where he is held and once more claim his birthright。 If he be prompt to act
（and is successful） he may work such a reform that our girls； on marrying；
may feel that some duties and responsibilities go with their new positions；
and a state of things be changed； where it is possible for a woman to be
pitied by her friends as a model of abnegation； because she has decided to
remain in town during the summer to keep her husband company and
make his weary home…coming brigh