HOME FINANCE.

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 231, 18 September 1914, Page 12

HOME FINANCE.

There arc 1 thousands of women, in the civilised world, too! who work harder and longer in the day than their husband-., and really have more right to tin* money, who are obliged to practice, they think, all sorts of de'cit, in order to ge l t enough to buy clothing and other things essential to decent living. The dittic uh\ e.f extrac ting money from an unwilling husband has been the beginning of thousands of home tragedies. 1 have heard women say that they would go without necessary arlie and reasonable requirements just as long as possible, and be worrying for days and weeks, before they could summon up courage to ask for money, jii't because they dreaded a “scene,’’ and the consequent discord in the home. I he* average man does not begin to realise the humiliation it costs his wife to feci that she must ask him every time slu 1 needs money, and have to tell him exactly what she- is going to do with it. Then perhaps be met with a sharp rrpre of for her supposed .extravagance or foolish expenditure, or a c urt denial, a> il she wer- a child. Ali-ii who are extremely kind and considerate in other things, are often contemptibly mean respecting money for home am’, family necessaries. (What have bee cine of the sweet phrases and lavisl promises of the courting days?) Generous to his own acquaintance? and in treating his employees, and free, too, in his own expenditure, many a man will go home to bicker with “hi> best friend” a faithful, loving wife over a small sum for domestic oi personal purposes. So the 1 peace of the family is disturbed. And all thU could be avoided by a simple and definite understanding, a business-like arrangement between the two partners of the home, as to household finance. A certain (and promptly paid) sum in proportion, of course, to the income, for the wife’s own expenditure and which she need not account for. would mean peace and harmony, witn the avoidance of debt, in ma ly i home. “A world without music would be a dreary place. Men may build houses, but women make homes.’’ —Spurgeon.