A Hint to Husbands by Rural New Yorker

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 6, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 10.

A Hint to Husbands.

By Rural New Yorker

Isn't it strange that some men, who will be kind and obliging to their neighbors, gentlemanly and polite to other ladies, will be so rude, and cold, and harsh at home, and perfect bears to their wives—crabbed, snappish, ungenerous, and altogether unsocial and hateful? Does anybody know of any such men? Not that I wish to lay all the wrong doing and blame on man kind, or condemn them en masse—not at all. There are plenty of good, noble men, but not quite enough. When they are so strong, and have so much power to do good, and win love, and bless their homes, why won't they all do it?

"Circumstances alter cases."—Some men's wives are trying enough; but then, in the perversity of things, you will generally find a real bear of a man united to a frail, patient, forbearing wife. She is your wife, Mr. Bear, and the mother of your children, and probably dependent on you for a home and means, and can't get away from you, so, of course, she is in your power, and you can treat her just as you choose. But if you expect her heart to bound with pleasure when she hears your footsteps, or to proffer you caresses, or to rejoice in your presence, you are much mistaken. She is human—neither more nor less. Please reverse your situations and conditions. How much and how long, would you bear such treatment as you give her? You will inevitably be measured and weighed for just what you are, and there is no help for it.—Rural New Yorker.