THE DRESS ALLOWANCE OF WIVES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1679, 4 May 1904, Page 26

THE DRESS ALLOWANCE OF WIVES

Years ago few women were permitted any money of their own, and a certain sum, very often out of their -own good settlement, was doled out to them by tlieir lords and masters. But we have changed all this, and, as a rule (says a writer in the “Queen”), wives have the spending of their own money, whether inherited or earned. Few are put to the .embarrassing position of having to ask humbly for enough pocket-money to dress and appear like their fellows. An antenuptial arrangement as To what the spending should be is apt to lie more satisfactory to the woman than any plans made afterwards, and certainly the happiest people are those who know exactly what their joint income is and arc prepared to spend it to hire best advantage. Of late this question has cropped up and has been answered by men m various positions. A lawyer considers that no one should marry until they have an assured income, -and a- man owes it to the girl he marries to do all in Ins power to free her from financial worries-. A newly-married man was of opinion that how a husband can make an allowance for his wife depends upon Ins income, and it is quite possible to marry on a small one and be happy. Many a woman who is a good manager is intrusted bv her husband with ’the disposal of the entire income. Women who are not entrusted with tin spending of money, if left widows, are apt to sufter from their ignorance in the most trivial business matters, A woman's testimony to the question is that a .certain allowance should be given to her to spend exactly as she likes, without question, for many a proud woman knows how galling it is to ask for her wn private expenses. A business womans view is worth considering. An allowance, she considers, spurs ou a woman to live within her means and to know the value of money. A man should not give his wife unlimited credit at shops and then be indignant at her spending. Girls should have an allowance early beiore they marry to teach them how to spend when they in their turn become mistresses of households.