730 r MARRIAQE Marriage plays a very important part in every woman's life, and, on account of its universal interest and importance, will be dealt with fully in Every Woman's Encyclop-1£DIA. The subject has two sides, the practical and the romantic. A varied range of articles, therefore, will be included in this section, dealing with : The Ceremony Honeymoons Bridesmaids Groomsmen Marriage Customs Engagements Wedding Superstitions Marriage Statistics Trousseaux Colonial Marriages Foreign Marriages Engagement and Wedding Rings, etc. LOYALTY TO THE HUSBAND By "MADGE" (Mrs. HUMPHRY) Tnie i-oyalty and False— The Irritation of ** Little Ways "—Betrayal of Confidence— The Value of Comradeship in Marriage bad taste to discuss a husband's failings in general company. One cannot respect a woman who does so. And, after all, she has taken him " for better or worse," and it is true philosophy to make the best of him. Most of us have our "little ways," but are quite unconscious of them, unaware that we do anything to annoy or irritate our com- panions. It is possible to some, who have a pleasant manner, to indicate any failing of the kind without giving offence, but it is a difficult thing to do. Most of us do it dis- agreeably, and there can be no greater mistake. And yet the purpose behind is not entirely selfish. We see that some trifling defect in one for whom we feel affection prevents his being appreciated by others as he deserves to be. We should like him to be perfect, liked and admired by all. Therefore, we venture on suggesting to him that there is room for some small improvement. This may be well received if sufficient tact has been brought to bear upon the task. Is not this, even if unsuccessful, a better way than making a joke of any small failing ? Of being disloyal to the man who should enjoy, and very probably deserves, one's best fealty ? Setrayal of Confidence One of the worst forms of disloyalty is that which betrays a confidence. There are moments of intimate fireside talk in which a secret thought or hope or memory finds expression, regretted, perhaps, as soon as uttered. The hearer should regard this as a T | ^_ OVAL je serai durant ma vie." 'Wf 1^^ This was the refrain of an old X IX troubadour song. With an *e' A J j added to the adjective, it would "2 ^ make a good motto for a wife. ^/f^>f^ There is too little loyalty in ■ ■ " the world, particularly in small things. In larger matters, self-interest may prompt a woman to do all she can to uphold ncr husband and set him in the best light, but the very same wife may be disloyal in little things. No man is faultless, and the husband of such an one may have defects of temper, irritating little habits, small weaknesses which it would be her truest wisdom to ignore. A great writer and a keen observer of human nature has said that merely to put a feeling into words is to increase it. To chatter among friends and acquaintances about a husband's small failings increases the wife's estimate of them and her irritation about them. Yet one often hears a woman discuss her husband in a disparaging way, and forms a low opinion of her discretion. '• For Better or Worse " It is but seldom that men speak depreci- atingly of their wives, except perhaps among their closest friends. And yet there are just as many annoying, irritating little feminine faults as there are masculine. If only women could realise this, and, instead of magnifying the husbands', would try to Tninimise their own, many thousands of homes would be happier. To put it on the lowest ground, it is in very I
