AMERICAN WIVES V. BRITISH WIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7766, 25 July 1903, Page 3

AMERICAN WIVES V. BRITISH WIVES.

. (By AN AMERICAN GIRL.) (Pearson's Weekly.) As a, woman, is far mere likely to make a good wife when she marries the man o* her choice,, rather than one who has been ! thrust' upon her. for ibis money or position, .' the American*woniun has the advantage In the very \firs%' instance, because there are not so many " arranged " marriages in that country as there are over here. Even when an American, girl is poor, she does not look upon marriage as the only road out of her dilemma. She generally feels that she has resources within herself upon which she can rely, and she is seldom afraid to put them to the test. As a rule she infinitely prefers to turn her abilities to account than to hamper herself with an unloved husband. Her innate, inherent independence enables ; her to overcome the obstacles in her path, and! to strike out for 'herself in a way in which most British girls would be afraid to do. To be sure, many British women have, In recent years, added to dwindling incomes in one way or another ; but»these are usually married women, who can take such a step with more or less impunity. The American girl willj as a rule, take more time for reflection before casting her lot in with that of a man. There is generally a goodly supply of bachelors, so she does not need to feel that she must step aside to give someone else a chance, nor does, the idea thai people will think she could not be married if she wished 1 hold any terror* for her. Because of all this, and of the greater independence generally which she enjoys, the American girl is accustomed to having men for her friends, and she is mot bo prone to regard each one as at possible lover, or to succumb to the first one that pays her attention. This also better fits her to be the companion and helpmeet of her husband when she, does • marry. She stands a) better chance of making a success of matrimony than a giri/whb has little or no previous knowledge of the peculiar animal, man. It would' be ridiculous to assert that the American girl "understands" men — that anybody really "understands " anybody else —but she knows more about him than the average British bride. : Girls who jump from the nursery to matrimony, with only a few months of carefully supervised social festivities to bridge over the gulf, cannot have gained more "than a cursory knowledge of men and things, or have more than a superficial idea of homemaking. Doll baby aitst do well enough for the courting period, but they dp not wear. There must be a more solid foundation to enable a girl to cope successfully with the problems whic^ are sure to present themselves to the newly married. This reserve force and versatility the / American girl posessses to an' astonishing degree. t . . Her social duties do not mean so much co her as they do to a British woman; she has' been accustomed to making them fit in with other interests, so that after marriage she seldom becomes so absorbed by them that she cannot find time to keep in touch with 'the matters that are of moment to her husband. She is too wise to interfere with or tact* lessly nag him, but if he wishes to discuss his business with her she is able to do jt interestedly and intelligently, whereas' few British women have any notion of their : husbands affairs. / Many! an American man frankly admits thtfc; h*' owtfs much of his success to, his wife's suggestions and encouragement— 1 many more,, who d«* not admit it. There are, of course, American girls wiho go to .extremes, and flaunt their indepeudence too flagrantly; bub as a rule they are a pretty level-headed lot, aud eminently practical. Indeed, there are few things which, at a pinch, they cannot turn their hands to. : ,"','■,'., The way in. which hundreds of them, reared in luxury, have, met and conquered 1 adversity which has come into their roamed ' life has made onlookers marvel. - Even the rery rich American girl learns many homely lessons. She is taught to cook and sew, she studies domestic economy, and— ai distinct point in her favour— ; she knows how to take care of ter health. > Every year she improves in. this -respect! 1 There is a mistaken notion over here; that the American prl is averse to walking or

'taking exercise. As a matter of fact she is, if anything, more/energetic than her British sisters, and she takes her exercise scientifically. A healthy woman is apt to be a happy woman, and & far more agreeable companion than one who is constantly ailing. It is probable that her children will take after her, aaid she will be able to do much to keep them as they linve been born. In the matter of training children tho American women still have much to learn. There is no doubt but that the British children axe a far better behaved 1 lot- than the American youngsters, who are frequently hopelessly "spoilt," and a perfect torment to everyone—sexcept, perhaps, their doting parents. The process is not one to be commended, though it seems to agree with them, for when they grow up they certainly compare favourably with the products of the British system, who have been kept in the background during their early yotrth.