SHOULD WIVES OBEY THEIR HUSBANDS ?

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 25, Issue 40, 26 May 1914, Page 4

SHOULD WIVES OBEY THEIR HUSBANDS ?

This is a question that one would imagine offered but two unqualified answers, and yet, in the May number of “ Everylady’s Journal,” just out, we find upwards of a dozen prominent people expressing various opinions on the subject. And they are people of widely different station and profession. Men as far apart as Mr Bernard O’Dowd, the well-known Australian poet, and Mr Paris Nesbif, K.C. ; men so closely associated—by their laughter-as Harry Lauder and Sir Alexander Peacock ; and stage favourites like Miss Ada Reeve and Miss Daisy Jerome, all differ more or less on this important topic. Even champions of Women’s Rights like Miss Vida Goldstein and Miss Adela Pankhurst are not quite at one about it. Harry Lauder—the famous Scotch comedian, who is at present visiting Australia—looked very serious as he said, “ But women won’t obey if they don’t want to ! Ao not even if they have promised in twenty marriage services.” “ Anyway,” he added in any well-regu-lated household, a certain amount of argument is necessary ; it stimulates the intellect, you know, and makes the wheels go round.” “ Certainly no woman should be asked to obey,” declared Miss Goldstein, The inclusion of the words in the marriage service is a relic of barbarism. There s'-.ould be no talk of obedience between , husband and wife if both wish to retain their It is a word more fitted for use between a master and slave ” Miss Ada Reeve has been, married since she visited Australia last, and when she was married, the service -was evidently not abbreviated in any way. Standing with her arm linked through her husband’s —and they looked the personification of good comradeship—she said with a smile : “ I obey my husband—perhaps because he never wants me to do anything I dislike, and because we think alike on all subjects—but 1 should not obey him if I did not respect him.” We cannot find space to quote from any more of these extremely interesting little interviews, but might add the words of the Poet Bernard O’Dowd in conclusion : “ Marriage should be a mating of two individuals who allow their personalities to merge; There should be no question of one side demanding more than the other. 1

In addition to the aforementioned, a new serial begins, and there is another of the famous “ What Happened to Mary ? ” stories. The Domestic and Literary Departments are, as usual, crowded with good things, and, to repeat a well-worn phrase, Everylady’s Journal ” gives better value every month.