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men of her family （if not her own）； for what could be of little
profit to her。
It occurred to me that； if the people who are so quick to talk
about the elevating and refining influences of women； could take an
hour or two and inspect the centres in question； they might not be
so firm in their beliefs。 For； reluctant as I am to acknowledge
it； the one great misfortune in this country； is the unnatural
position which has been （from some mistaken idea of chivalry）
accorded to women here。 The result of placing them on this
pedestal； and treating them as things apart； has been to make women
in America poorer helpmeets to their husbands than in any other
country on the face of the globe； civilized or uncivilized。
Strange as it may appear； this is not confined to the rich； but
permeates all classes； becoming more harmful in descending the
social scale； and it will bring about a disintegration of our
society； sooner than could be believed。 The saying on which we
have all been brought up； viz。； that you can gauge the point of
civilization attained in a nation by the position it accords to
woman； was quite true as long as woman was considered man's
inferior。 To make her his equal was perfectly just； all the
trouble begins when you attempt to make her man's superior； a
something apart from his working life； and not the companion of his
troubles and cares； as she was intended to be。
When a small shopkeeper in Europe marries； the next day you will
see his young wife taking her place at the desk in his shop。 While
he serves his customers； his smiling spouse keeps the books； makes
change； and has an eye on the employees。 At noon they dine
together； in the evening； after the shop is closed； are pleased or
saddened together over the results of the day。 The wife's DOT
almost always goes into the business； so that there is a community
of interest to unite them； and their lives are passed together。 In
this country； what happens？ The husband places his new wife in a
small house； or in two or three furnished rooms； generally so far
away that all idea of dining with her is impossible。 In
consequence； he has a 〃quick lunch〃 down town； and does not see his
wife between eight o'clock in the morning and seven in the evening。
His business is a closed book to her； in which she can have no
interest； for her weary husband naturally revolts from talking
〃shop；〃 even if she is in a position to understand him。
His false sense of shielding her from the rude world makes him keep
his troubles to himself； so she rarely knows his financial position
and sulks over his 〃meanness〃 to her； in regard to pin…money； and
being a perfectly idle person； her days are apt to be passed in a
way especially devised by Satan for unoccupied hands。 She has
learned no cooking from her mother； 〃going to market〃 has become a
thing of the past。 So she falls a victim to the allurements of the
bargain…counter； returning home after hours of aimless wandering；
irritable and aggrieved because she cannot own the beautiful things
she has seen。 She passes the evening in trying to win her
husband's consent to some purchase he knows he cannot afford； while
it breaks his heart to refuse her … some object； which； were she
really his companion； she would not have had the time to see or the
folly to ask for。
The janitor in our building is truly a toiler。 He rarely leaves
his dismal quarters under the sidewalk； but 〃Madam〃 walks the
streets clad in sealskin and silk； a 〃Gainsborough〃 crowning her
false 〃bang。〃 I always think of Max O'Rell's clever saying； when I
see her： 〃The sweat of the American husband crystallizes into
diamond ear…rings for the American woman。〃 My janitress sports a
diminutive pair of those jewels and has hopes of larger ones！
Instead of 〃doing〃 the bachelor's rooms in the building as her
husband's helpmeet； she 〃does〃 her spouse； and a char…woman works
for her。 She is one of the drops in the tide that ebbs and flows
on Twenty…third Street … a discontented woman placed in a false
position by our absurd customs。
Go a little further up in the social scale and you will find the
same 〃detached〃 feeling。 In a household I know of only one horse
and a COUPE can be afforded。 Do you suppose it is for the use of
the weary breadwinner？ Not at all。 He walks from his home to the
〃elevated。〃 The carriage is to take his wife to teas or the park。
In a year or two she will go abroad； leaving him alone to turn the
crank that produces the income。 As it is； she always leaves him
for six months each year in a half…closed house； to the tender
mercies of a caretaker。 Two additional words could be
advantageously added to the wedding service。 After 〃for richer for
poorer；〃 I should like to hear a bride promise to cling to her
husband 〃for winter for summer！〃
Make another step up and stand in the entrance of a house at two
A。M。； just as the cotillion is commencing； and watch the couples
leaving。 The husband； who has been in Wall Street all day； knows
that he must be there again at nine next morning。 He is furious at
the lateness of the hour； and dropping with fatigue。 His wife； who
has done nothing to weary her； is equally enraged to be taken away
just as the ball was becoming amusing。 What a happy； united pair
they are as the footman closes the door and the carriage rolls off
home！ Who is to blame？ The husband is vainly trying to lead the
most exacting of double lives； that of a business man all day and a
society man all night。 You can pick him out at a glance in a
ballroom。 His eye shows you that there is no rest for him； for he
has placed his wife at the head of an establishment whose working
crushes him into the mud of care and anxiety。 Has he any one to
blame but himself？
In England； I am told； the man of a family goes up to London in the
spring and gets his complete outfit； down to the smallest details
of hat…box and umbrella。 If there happens to be money left； the
wife gets a new gown or two： if not； she 〃turns〃 the old ones and
rejoices vicariously in the splendor of her 〃lord。〃 I know one
charming little home over there； where the ladies cannot afford a
pony…carriage； because the three indispensable hunters eat up the
where…withal。
Thackeray was delighted to find one household （Major Ponto's） where
the governess ruled supreme； and I feel a fiendish pleasure in
these accounts of a country where men have been able to maintain
some rights； and am moved to preach a crusade for the liberation of
the American husband； that the poor； down…trodden creature may
revolt from the slavery where he is held and once more claim his
birthright。 If he be prompt to act （and is successful） he may work
such a reform that our girls； on marrying； may feel that some
duties and responsibilities go with their new positions； and a
s