WHAT ARE THE DESIRABLE QUALITIES IN A WIFE?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 2 November 1907, Page 3

WHAT ARE THE DESIRABLE QUALITIES IN A WIFE?

There arc two words much employed in the world, old, old words, but in them lies the essence of all that makes for happiness ill home life. These wards are love and cheerfulness.

I heard a man say his first, last and only demand in a woman was a power of loving—a quality possessed by few, so ho thought.

Perhaps lie was right. The majority of women seek to receive rather than to bestow affection—especially is this true of American women.

But were I a man and did not know r the sex as I now know my sisterhood I would make my plea to the fates in this wise:—

"Give me, oh, kind Destiny, a companion witli a capacity of loving and the habit of cheerfulness." I have known loving women who were monuments of melancholy. In some natures love takes a morbid phase and is soon so mingled with hy-per-sensitiveness aud jealousy that it is like sweet cream turned acid and less palatable tlian skir.l milk for a steady beverage. Love and cheerfulness are the qualities which make a woman an adorable wife, ail inspiring mother, a perfect friend.

Many a woman loves her husband so unselfishly ihat she would die for him, yet she makes him miserable with her melancholv outlook of life.

The woman creates the atmosphere of the home.

Upon her devolves the responsibility of creating the climate in which her family must dwell. Whether tlji-t be Summer, Autumn or Winter, she dlgrees it by her attitude of mind.

No matter how little she has in her life to mako her an optimist, yet if she is born with, or has cultivated, a hopeful, cheerful, and humorous way of looking at things, her home will always be a centre for husband, children and friends. They will seek her presence as tourists seek" a warm climate in winter. Such a woman, with a delicate physique, small means, many worries, and a husband inclined to take life mournfully, has created a Paradise for her whole family and enabled those near her to surmount mountains and survive floods; and she has turned defeat into victory and sorrow into joy just by her persistent optimism, and joyful serenity. No genius, no beauty, no charm of manner can compare with such a habit of loving cheerfulness in a woman. She seldom plays the role of a deserted wife.

Men often tire of beautiful, gifted and good women, but they rarely tire of a woman who makes life a continuous fete day by hpr delightful sense of humor; her mirthfulness, and her capacity for loving men. Being lovers of comfort, even tlie most selfish and immoral of men, when wedded to the woman who irradiates these two qualities, find themselves more comfortable in constancy than in seeing after, npw pleasures. All hail to the cheerful woman 1 She .is a power for good in the universe.

She is worth more than diamonds and rubies and mines and.ostates to the fortunate man who possesses her companionship. And her children will rise up and cull her blessed.—Ella Wheeler Wilcox.