A HARDSHIP OF MARRIAGE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1062, 1 February 1883, Page 3

A HARDSHIP OF MARRIAGE.

We are constantly told that the lifework of a wife is as arduous and absorbing as that of her husband. We are told that if she does her duty to her family she can have no time to study metaphysics or to put a slip of paper into a ballot-box. I think it was the conservative Dr Edward H, Clarke who declared that the duties of the mother of a family required as much toil i.f brain, and body as those of the c ptain of a ship. Grant it all ; grant that she works as hard as the husband does. If so, the inference is irresistible that she earns her share of (he family income. The fact that he receives the money and pays the bills makes him the treasurer of the family, that is all; and he has no more right than any other treasurer to take airs upon himself and talk nonsense. When he pays out money to her, it is not as a gift but as earnings. I am perfect]}' willing to admit that in the majority of cases this whole matter settles itself, but there is a large minority of these cases where the wife is kept, during her whole life, in a false position from a false theory of treasurership. There are no doubt cases where a man earns a great fortune, while his wife’s existence is thaj of a butterfly. These cases are rare, taking one family with another. The wife works as hard as the husband, and the fact that bis share involves the handling of the money does not make it his money. It'belongs to both, and what he pays over to her is not a gift, but a matter of right. ‘ This was a present to me from ray wife,’ said a rich man showing an ornament, ‘Bought with your money V ‘No !’ he said, ‘ out of her own hard earnings. She keeps house for a man of your acquaintance.’