I have nothing to say about extravagant or untrustworthy wives, who do not come into the subject at all.  I am only referring to the magnificent multitude of good, careful, thrifty, typical American wives, whose sole aim in life is to make a happy home for husband and children.  Nor am I denying that these women have all their wishes granted, and are allowed to spend their husbands’ money with reasonable freedom, provided they account for it afterwards.  I am only asserting that every married woman, from the farmer’s wife to that of the bank president, should have some money regularly which is sacredly her own.

Perhaps men think I am exaggerating the evil.  Perhaps they do not know that the only advice married women give to engaged girls which never varies is:  “Be sure you ask for an allowance from the first, because, if you don’t, you may never get it.”

I suppose that the majority of men do not know that their wives hate to ask them for money.  Of course it does not seem so terrible to those of us whose fathers occasionally want to keep back enough money to buy coal when our daughterly demands get refused.  But it never occurs to us that a girl’s lover-husband, this courteous stranger whom she has loved and married, would ever forget his theatre and American-Beauty days sufficiently to say:  “What did you do with that dollar I gave you yesterday?”

Now, frankly speaking, it never occurs to unmarried girls that the honeymoon can ever wear off.  We look upon husbands as only married sweethearts.  We sort of halfway believe them—­at least we used to, before we observed other girls’ husbands—­when they tell us that they long for the time when they can pay our bills and buy clothes for us.  We never thought, until we were told, that any little generous arrangement, which we expected to last, must be fixed during the first few weeks of marriage.  I dare say most of us had planned to say, in answer to the money question, “Just as you like, dear.  I’d rather have you manage such matters for me.  You know so much more about them than I do.”  It is a horrible shock, from a sentimental point of view, to be told to say, “I’ll take an allowance, please,” and then, if two amounts are mentioned, to grab for the biggest.  Oh, it is a shame!  It is a shame to be told that we shall be sorry if we don’t, and to know that we shall have no opportunity to show how unselfish and trusting we are.

It is all your fault, you men, that you do not think of these things more.  You might stop a moment to consider that it is rather a delicate matter for a woman to ask money of a man.  If your wife is like most wives, she is doing as much to help you make your money as you are.  She is keeping you well and happy and your home beautiful.  You could not keep your mind on business an hour if she did not.  Therefore she deserves every dollar which, after discussing your future life together, you feel that you can afford