New Wives.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13329, 18 February 1916, Page 3

New Wives.

WHAT THE WAR IS DOING

TEACHING WOMEN HOW TO WORK.

Why should this be "a married man's war?" asked Ignatius PhayTe, the well-known novelist, in an. interesting article in the "Sunday Pictorial."

The phrase "a married man's war" was first coined by Mr T. F. Richards, president of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives, who backs his words with figures. He declares that quite 60 or 70 per cent, of the men in our armies are married.

There, are other witnesses, too. At Labour recruiting meetings Mr C. W. Bowerman, M.P., asks: "Why do the bachelors refrain and the married men respond?" While Mr James O'Grady, of Lord Derby's staff, says: "We find that the main response is from the married men."

Now, here, it seemed to me, was a social symptom worth investigating. So at home and abroad I put the "Why?" of it to all and sundry.

SCIENCE OF MATRIMONY,

"We join the Army," they said, "because we're disenchanted. We've worked like blazes and saved precious little. Our girls are all right —the best girls iu the world —but somehow saving's considered mean at home. What suburban housewife takes a bag, as these Frenchies do, and goes haggling like a Jew though her morning's market —here a sou oil' a cauliflower, thee a half a franc off her veal.

"Oh, madame's a keen steward! Monsieur knows lie's safe in her hands and labours in his prime, cock-sure of easy retirement after twenty years or so of wedded paldom. To the French woman money's made to be saved against the Unknown. "Now, our girls go into marriage with no such clear goal. But they're learning —beginning to see matrimony as a science as weii as a sacrament; a science with rules behind the romance —rules whose neglect may mean vague drift down the years. '' Yes, the world-war is a big educator. The rising generation of girls will be shrewd enough managers, able and versatile cooks, well versed in kitahen-craft and the care of babes. But as it is we 're eager to enlist —a little tired and disillusioned with our lives, and more than ready for the Great Adventure of the War."

So I summarise the opinion of some of our married defenders.

One of my witnesses was a gentleman ranker, with only one leg and the sombre eyes of war. T found him on a hotel balcony at Nice —a converted hospital, oddly incongruous and hushed.

"Why do you married men enlist?" He was silent, though the sad eyes smiled.

"Wheel me in and I will tell you — its too cold here. . . .

'' We enliet, some of us, as we grab at a change. We've climbed life's Pisgah and found our Promised Land a desert. It's a mistake to blame the wife —we should make allowances for that lack of' training and marriage ideals which seem peculiar to Britain. In France parties to a marriage are also business partners. No French or Belgian girl weds without a 'dot' Waiter's child or sweep's, she joins her partner proudly, and brings her bit, if it be only a liver and a share in the village cafe. "Somehow these Continental women learn the practical side of life as they do love. They know that love alone is a poor capital for the long partnership. No wonder divorce is so rare here and so common in America, where the dollar's made to circulate, and saving is a downright sin.

DRIFTED INTO MARRIAGE. Coming north to the stricken zones of war, I put my question to many types of men in the reserve trenches on the Menin road, east of Ypres. Also at Colonel, Bate's rest-house, where "Tommy" relaxes and expands; in hospital wards at Wimereux, Rouen, and V.A.D. hospitals here at home. All were agreed; our girls drifted into marriage anyhow, with no clear knowledge of the practical side. Many of them liad learned to consider it "bad form" to do their own shopping in mean streets. Much more dignified and easier to have tradesmen call at the door with smart car and deferential voice which speaks loudly in the weekly bills. And, of course, Mrs Neighbour sets ja, pace which must be equalled.

'' We must live in a decent house and keep up appearances." Kept up they are until the man's force ebbs and life itself becomes a dreary ache. Such, at any rate is the explanation given me in a hospital and trench as to "Why some married men enlist."

These men were serious under their smiles. They were sure, too, that the "new" girl was very different. One fellow passed over a paper with an article by Lady Muir Mackenzie. '' Seems the women themselves are wise to it," he remarked, reaching for matches from his trench couch of rat-bitten boards. THE SYSTEM AT FALT.

"/We .don't live by instinct any more," her Ladyship reminded her sex. "Life can't be bowdlerised for women any more; they've got to live it raw. And they get a false impression of everything because they're not taught the fundamentals at school." Marriage was to British girls a romance, this lady was sorry to say, instead of ti vocation.

All which our trench discussed, and saw new light everywhere. The old system was at fault, not the girls themselves, whose heart and head were often a man's pride and comfort.

"We've no children," said a sergeant of superb physique, "so we lived in lodgings for years. Mine was no coolc, but she came out here and learned in a monastery kitchen. Now she's in Railhead Buffet, catering for 250 men a day —eroute au puot and coffee ot the best, with meat pies and stews that conquer France and Belgium." Eager discussion followed. How the women, of France run a manless nation. How out own women were invading every trade and calling with efficient boldness unthinkable years ago. "My wife," the placid gunner said, "was raised in Yankee style —all pleasure and plate glass, but my girl shall be wiser, and then—" "Her huh won't rush into khaki," a wag tilled in. »So the discussion closed iii laughter and the joyous hope of a new era of shrewd and practical

vivos. Of course, we have thousands of shrewd and practical wives to-day,

tut their numbers will be incalculably swollen by the great lesson which this war is teaching.