GUM DIGGER V. BOHEMIAN.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 162, 25 March 1874, Page 3

GUM DIGGER V. BOHEMIAN.

TO TUB JSBITOK. Sib,— l noticed “ Bohemian's " letter, and am aware there is truth contained in it, but, not* withstanding that, I have not—to quote his idiom laid tho aaddlo on fcho wrong horso> In 99 per cent, of instances husbands are the cause oi wives becoming drunken and slovenly. A respectable industrious woman is married to a man who ia to all appeatSuCvS sober and , und for a time he conducts himself properly j then by degrees he relapses into old habits of drunkenness and laziness. When the first indications of such propensities are exhibited fcho wife endeavours to make the beat of matters, but, finding no altera* tion for the better, and the money being frittered away, leaving her at times in want of the neces* saries of life, she begins to complain, and receives abuse in return. Matters gradually grow worse, then high words ensue, and perhaps blows are tho result. In the course of time the poor wife grows disheartened at her husband's misconduct} she is continually harassed and annoyed relative to supplies necessary for a young family, and at last her health begins to fail, and she seeks advice. Tonic medicine is prescribed, and she is recommended* when low-spirited and miserable, to take a little stimulant in the shape of bottled ale and porter $ but, of course, sh»* is unable to procure anything of tho kind because her husband (a strong healthy man, requiring only substantial food and cold water) spends his earnings in gratifying his own love for drink, and he looks upon his wife as of secondary consideration, although she may be taking in washing and ironing with the view of supporting a young family independent of her husband. He at times takes home a bottle of bad and fiery spirits, and, knowing that his wife has been recommended a little stimulant medicinally, persuades her to partake of its contents, and it is not at all surprising that she does so. Her husband becomes more dissipated, and his miserable heartbroken wife grows habituated in sharing the grog, which soon undermines her delicate constitution, and she becomes listless, reckless, and drunken ; the children are neglected in every way, perhaps become members of the criminal class, and in the long run join tho hard labour gang. If husbands sot an example of sobriety and industry such domiciles as were partially described in my last letter would be unknown. The instances are few and far between where wives drive their husbands away from their homos, but on the other hand, they do their utmost to encourage them to spend their evenings there, and to dissuade them from resorting to public honsee, but fcho drunkard loses all taste for reading, improving his mind, or educating his children because his mind is incessantly in an unnaturally excited state. He, therefore, prefers the boisterous talk and unseemly jokes of his boon companions to tho placid recreations of his own fireside,—l am, A o.. Gum Digge®,