ONE-SIDED PARTNERSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1373, 26 February 1912, Page 9

ONE-SIDED PARTNERSHIP.

How many women are there in Aii*Irolca to-day who are working in their husband's home merely tor fowl nnd clothing? asks n writer' in the "Sydney Morning Herald." Jt is the fame ()iiestion that has been asked in this country. It is a question Winked at by men and never squarely faced bv women. The i(U'ft used to hnl<l that if a woman wished to bo successful she must; marry. This opinion was based, partly upon the relation—lliu imme.-isuralily iiiiporhint relation—of woman to life, and partly upon a conviction. Jinn's success was oik? thin 1 ,'; woman's success another. But Iho effect of civilisation is to Ic-sson thedifference between men nnd women. Their minds, acting anil reacting upon each other in the intimacy of domestic and social and business association, become more nnd more alike Woman's idea of success, for example, becomes more like a man's. The woman who discovers within herself the ability cl any sort feels an ever-increasing nmbit'ion to market that ability. If she offers some practical farm of fcrvi.ee she desires a return. Perhaps there lias nlirays been this protest in the heart of woman against giving much for little, but she has decorated this misfortune with poetry and tried to think of herself as a creature of peculiar moral grace because of her sacrifice. That there in no longer any possible shadow of a doubt nbotit her attitude of unrest, the reason for which lies partly in the fact that in doing , this she is not sure whether she is heroic or merely inppr. The situation is much worse nmong tho families of the rich than among those of (he poor. In the families ot workingmen not infrequently—perhaps usually—the pav-envelopc is turned over to the wife. She pays the bills, spends, and saves according to her judgment, and gives the husband only his tares and pocket money. Some such system as this obtains also anions families where the man holds a semi-professional position; but is in receipt of a salary. But the. wives of professional men of a higher class, are in many cases forced to ask for every penny of their money, and there are wives of rich men who do not know what it is to have a shilling in their purses. The broughams await them at the door, their bills at the shops are paid, but all passes under the inspection of the head of the house, who, to do him justice in the general run of cases, considers ho is fulfilling his fart of the marriage contract faithfully nnd we/I. Partnership of interests should coincide with a fair division of the family purse. Many women there are, of course, rto, either from a sense of shame, or perhaps outraged dignity, are prevented from discussing what is nearly always a bugbear in the home circle. The sharing should be not only spontaneous, but voluntary. Once upon a time women were not to hi? trusted with Iho weighty matters having to do with finance, but modernity has changed nil that, and with the progression of time and events our sex is already realising Hint she must put full value on herself and her services. The woman who has to beg or resort to subterfuge- to obtain her share of the family income is in an ignominious position, one sufficient in itself to kill ull sentiment and self-respect, and when this comes to pass there is net much hopo for the stability and peace of the home, not to touch on the greater question of such influence in its relation to society generally.