TRUE WIVES AND TRUE WOMANHOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 148, 25 June 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

TRUE WIVES AND TRUE WOMANHOOD.

The question Avas raised a little Avhile ago, 'Ought a .voman to be asked to black W husband's boots?' Some indignantly said 'No !' Another Avriter says -. Several years ago I had occasion to call on a miner in a small village in the south of Scotland. Not being acquainted Avith this class of people, I was not a little surprised at the cleanliness, ordei, and beauty of their home. A young wife met me at the door. 'Was Mr at home?' 'No, my husband is not yet home from his Avorl at the pit, but Avill be here presently. V, .mid I please to step in ?' A large fire was blazing, breakfast ready, • and everything done for tlie bread-Avinner that forethought ancl loving hands could -do. They had two fine children, and a nol»leman might have envied the comfort aDd happiness of their home. But what surprised me most Avas the respect Avith Vi'hicli she referred to her husband. Had he been lord of the manor she could not have referred to him in a more becoming *ay. The question AYith her did not seem to be the one which agitates the souls ■°iso many modern dames —'Can I stoop to hush my husband's boots ?' No, it Avas rather, "Is there anything else I can do wmy husband ?' I instinctively felt that tore, at least, I had met with a true woman. , Her husband came at last—a nice, cheery fellow. B u t he had not to set about "lacking the grate, brushing his boots, and dressing the children. That, and more, bad been done by other hands. Nor is this case. Our happy land is ■ ;ull of such Avives, and it Avill be a sad day, indeed, when it is otherwise. One such worth hundreds of the flimsy, contemptible beings who Avould Avish to tijjure as wives., while thinking it beneath their <"puty to brush their husband's boots. -there is one thing which 1- ..■.-■(•,... . ihie" *nich every woman who *~_._-. th name may or has lo oiU-:. to ! '■._ v,'.-..1;j he. trucAyoinanhootl. \V an. !_rv._- ..,y.. . Head of,this, she otlers soi _ 7-^ • - : .•_..•]•. p.; Pnde or, the tinsel __.< ' urn n<r, ; 0.-uv shows the degradati > W, *LHi he hm sunk. fa ;i,ov