Two Viewpoints

NZ Truth, Issue 979, 30 August 1924, Page 14

Two Viewpoints

The Way of a Man, With a Wife. Jones Is my next-door neighbor, so it isn't m the least a surprise to know that he is my friend. I wouldn't for a minute deceive myself into believing that" he is my greatest pal, for Jones is one of those bumptious persons who belfeves himself immune from faults. The other morning I was talking to him when he appeared to be greatly agitated. Naturally I asked him what was amiss. I gathered there was, an estrangement between him and his wife. "She came home last evening smelling of 'Lick-ar'," he said. I. was quite taken aback, for I knew Mrs. JoneS as a most temperate woman, so I waited anxiously for him to continue. "Yes," he went on, "my wife had been visiting her friend's place, and she, with the others present, had partaken of some wine — the beastly stuff." Jones was bent on unburdening himself so I let him meander on. He said he raved, swore, tore ' his hair and vowed to bring down eternal retribution on her head for this little lapse from the path of righteousness. • Having satisfied Himself that his wife was not class enough for him, j Jones went on his way, leaving mo m grave doubts as to whether she was a good partner for anybody. , Soon after his departure I met Mrs. Jones and heard her part of the story. She had only had a thimble-full of the "lick-ar " but her suspicious spouse had imagined all kinds of nasty things about her sobriety. She never touched the horrid stuff at other times, but how could she do otherwise, . for the occasion warranted it? Really, Jones had been most unfair to her, she concluded. ■ . - After hearing both sides of the story j I was inclined to agree with Mrs. ! Jones. More so when I remembered how on divers ; evenings Jones had come from his club considerably imbibed. Hadn't I come to his wife's assistance on these occasions and helped her to get Jones Inside his home? Did Mrs. Jones rave, swear, tear her hair and threaten divorce proceedings on these drunken home-comings of her husband? No! She would caress him, make him some hot,, strong coffee, and 'stroke his forehead. Tearfully She would carry out these ministrations, while Jones would make. all. kinds of rash promises not to do it So Jones really fares badly m the comparison— but you sco he is one of those bumptious persons who bolioves himself immune from faults. Am, l? I wonder! — H.R.