A man full of thought and of genius requires for a wife, not only one who can understand his moods and enjoy his creations, but one who is content to take care of the home, and, perhaps, to manage the business affairs; while many a woman of genius and ability links her fortunes with a plain and appreciative husband, who gladly affords her every means in his power to work in her special sphere.  When the wife refuses to act thus wifely, because of her talent, the happiness of the home is imperilled, and the children suffer quite as much, comparatively, as they do in those manufacturing neighborhoods where the wife forsakes the home for the shop, and gives up the vocation of woman to do the work which belongs to man.  God made them male and female.  He fitted each for separate duties, not for the same duties.  Each fills a sphere when each discharges the duties enjoined upon them by their Creator and by society.  Wonderful women there are; few of them care to duplicate their power.  They prefer to obtain by marriage that which they have not, and which must be supplied by material from without.  Homely people oftentimes find beautiful ones to mate them.  The rugged seeks the weak.  The nervous, the lymphatic.  Counterpart that which makes itself complete.  This tendency to assimilate is often carried to extremes, because all naturally love that which they possess, and come to prize highly those who regard it with favor.  Hence, poor men sometimes marry rich wives, and seldom fail to give something in return.  The story is familiar of the two foppish young men who were said to have met at a noted hotel or on change, when one accosted the other by the question, “Who did you marry?” “Ah,” said he, “I married fifty thousand dollars.  I forget her other name.”  Such men, however, are exceptions to the rule.  There are brainless creatures called men, who will marry a pretty face, though the heart and brain be uncultured, provided there be associated with her sufficient of this world’s goods to gratify a mercenary ambition; but the majority, both of men and women, wisely prefer to marry money in a partner rather than money with a partner.  The world has a profound contempt for shallow, fussy, empty people, no matter what positions they may occupy.

All sympathize with the rebuke administered to a so-called lady of quality by a Quaker gentleman, who occupied a seat near her in a public coach.  She wore an elegant lace shawl, and was dressed to the top of the fashion, but was suffering from the cold.  Shivering and shaking, she inquired, “What shall I do to get warm?” “Thee had better put on another breastpin,” answered old Broadbrim.  The rebuke was timely.  Woman degrades herself when she surrenders to fashion that which helps the woman, and which aids her in securing the confidence, the friendship, the respect, and admiration of sensible men.