[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sur,—In the interesting articles
and correspondence upon Married Women and Work no mention, or very little, is made about the husband. The married woman worker is probably very stimulating to her children. How delightful to have a " mummy " who plans houses or pleads in the criminal courts !
But does not the husband find her too stimulating ? The average man—even the genius—I venture to think, still prefers the woman who can listen sympathetically to his little worries—the rejected poem, picture or novel, the obtuse- ness of the chief at the office, even that terribly tedious round of golf. Now, the woman, absorbed in her work, at the end of a tiring day has neither the patience or the inclination to assume the sympathetic role. Many of our great men have owed much to their wives ; but would not the concerns of Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Disraeli or Lord Salisbury have been very different if Mrs. Gladstone had been running a hatshop or Lady Beaconsfield had battled for briefs ?
If a woman feels she has no aptitude for managing a house or taking charge of her children—very few women have the nerve to take complete charge of small children all day and every day—are there not other occupations besides a trivial social life or games ? If she lives in the country there are generally pigs, poultry or a garden—all very absorbing and exciting employments, especially where no gardener is kept. If she lives in the town : but then no sensible married woman lives in a town if she can help it. Even the comparatively well-to-do are liable to be left servantless at a moment's notice in these days. Then who is " to feed the brute " ? for, alas 1 it is only the woman who prefers " something on a tray " !- I am, Sir, &c., A MARRIED WOMAN WORKER THOUGH UNEMPLOYED.
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