man, to assert that women of affairs can also be women of true
domestic tastes and habits.

4. BRAINY ENOUGH.--What kind of women make the best wives? The
woman who is brainy enough to be a companion, wise enough to be
a counsellor, skilled enough in the domestic virtues to be a good
housekeeper, and loving enough to guide in true paths the children
with whom the home may be blessed.

5. FOUND THE RIGHT HUSBAND.--The best wife is the woman who has found
the right husband, a husband who understands her. A man will have the
best wife when he rates that wife as queen among women. Of all women
she should always be to him the dearest. This sort of man will not
only praise the dishes made by his wife, but will actually eat them.

6. BANK ACCOUNT.--He will allow his life-companion a bank account,
and will exact no itemized bill at the end of the month. Above all, he
will pay the Easter bonnet bill without a word, never bring a friend
to dinner without first telephoning home,--short, he will comprehend
that the woman who makes the best wife is the woman whom, by his
indulgence of her ways and whims, he makes the best wife. So after
all, good husbands have the most to do with making good wives.

[Illustration: PUNISHMENT OF WIFE BEATERS IN NEW ENGLAND IN THE EARLY
DAYS.]

7. BEST HOME MAKER.--A woman to be the best home maker needs to be
devoid of intensive "nerves." She must be neat and systematic, but not
too neat, lest she destroy the comfort she endeavors to create. She
must be distinctly amiable, while firm. She should have no "career,"
or desire for a career, if she would fill to perfection the home
sphere. She must be affectionate, sympathetic and patient, and fully
appreciative of the worth and dignity of her sphere.

8. KNOW NOTHING WHATSOEVER ABOUT COOKING OR SEWING OR HOUSEKEEPING.--I
am inclined to make my answer to this question somewhat concise, after
the manner of a text without the sermon. Like this: To be the "best
wife" depends upon three things: first, an abiding faith with God;
second, duty lovingly discharged as daughter, wife and mother; third,
self-improvement, mentally, physically, spiritually. With this as
a text and as a glittering generality, let me touch upon one or two
practical essentials. In the course of every week it is my privilege
to meet hundreds of young women,--prospective wives. I am astonished
to find that many of these know nothing whatsoever about cooking or
sewing or housekeeping