Advise her, for her own satisfaction, and because it is "business like," to keep an account of her receipts and expenditures, but apprise her distinctly that you do not expect her to exhibit this to you, unless she should need your assistance or advice in balancing her books, or in some perplexed question of "profit and loss." She will be ready to appreciate that the one sum deposited with her is a trust fund to be used to the best advantage for the general good, and the proud consciousness that she is the actual proprietor of the other, and irresponsible, save to her conscience, for the manner in which it is spent, will make her the more careful not to use it amiss. As to the housekeeping money - the weekly or monthly "allowance" - you may be very sure that you and the children will get the benefit of every cent. However economically she may handle her private store, the bulk of it will not be increased by surreptitious pinchings from the family supply of daily bread.

I have known women whose sole perquisites were what they could save from their not large allowances, who, in the absence of their husbands from home, would keep themselves and families of hungry, growing children, - with the consent and co-operation of the latter - upon the most meagre fare consistent with the bare satisfaction of the cravings of nature, that the few dollars thus spared might go toward the purchase of some coveted article of dress for one of the girls; a set of tools or books for a boy, or a piece of furniture desired by all. Which bit of economy (!) being reported to the paterfamilias when the dearly-bought thing was exhibited, was pronounced by him, his hand complacently finding its way to the plethoric wallet in his pocket, to be worthy of his august approval. How many husbands have heard their wives remark how cheaply the family lived when "papa was away?" and how many have asked themselves seriously why and how this was done 1

Other women, and more to be pitied, I am acquainted with, who make false entries in the account-books, which are showed weekly to their lords as explanatory of "the way the money goes." It is easier and less likely "to make a fuss," to record that seven pounds of butter have been bought and used, his lordship having helped in the consumption thereof, when by sharp management, five have sufficed; to write down "new shoes for Bobby, $4,00," when, in reality, the cost of mending his old ones that they might last a month longer, was only $1,50, - than to confess to the -practical critic who does not overlook a single item, that the money "made" by these expedients was spent, partly in paying up a yearly subscription to the Charitable Society; partly for an innocent luncheon during a day's shopping in the city.

"Unjustifiable deception?" Have I pretended to excuse it But I look back of the timid woman - the pauper, bedecked in silks, laces and gems, - for most men like to see their wives dressed as well as their neighbors - the moral coward, who has lied from the natural desire to handle a little money for herself without being cross-examined about it - and ask - " by what stress of humiliating tyranny was she brought to this?"

All women do not manage monetary affairs well, you remind me, gently. Some are unprincipled in their extravagance, reckless of everything save their own whims and unconscionable desires. Must a man beggar himself and those dependent upon him, lest such an one should accuse him of parsimony? By yielding to demands he knows to be exorbitant, he proves himself to be weaker even than she.

I have said nowhere that a woman is the best judge of what her husband ought to appropriate from his gains or fortune for the support of his family. But he stands convicted of a grave error of judgment, if he has chosen from the whole world as the keeper of his honor and happiness, a woman whom he cannot trust to touch his purse-strings.

Let us be patient as well as reasonable. So long as a babe is kept in long clothes, and carried in arms, it will not learn to walk alone. The majority of women have been swathed in conventionalities and borne above the practicalities of business by mistaken tenderness or misapprehension of their powers, for so long, that, however quick may be their intuitions, time and practice are necessary to make them adepts in financiering. The best way to render them trustworthy is not by taking it for granted, and letting them see that you do, that they have sinister designs upon your pockets. They are not pirates by nature, nor are they, even with such schooling as many get from their legal proprietors, always on the alert to wheedle or extort a few dollars for their own sly and selfish ends. After all, is there not a spice of truth in the would-be satire of the old distich?

" What are wives made of - made of ? Everything good, if tliey're but understood! "

If you chance to be painfully conscious of the mental inferiority and warped conscience of your partner in the solemn dance of life; if there is more "worse " than "better" in the everyday wear of the matrimonial bond; if sloth and waste mark her administration of household affairs, instead of the industrious thrift you would recommend, and which you see others practise; if the rent in the bottom of the pouch carries off the money faster than you can drop it in, you are to be pitied almost as much as your bachelor neighbor, who sews on his own buttons, and depends upon boarding-houses for his daily food. Still, my friend, is there any reason why you should accept the consequences of this one mistake on your part, with less philosophy; bring to the bearing of it a smaller modicum of Christian resignation than you summon to support you under any other? Women have been as grievously misled by fancy or affection, before now, and have borne the burden of disappointment to the grave without murmur or reproach.

Then, there is always the chance that your wife is not "understood," or that, well-meant as your attempts to "manage" her have been, you have not selected the most judicious methods of doing this. In this enlightened and liberal age, nobody, unless he be bigot or fool, habitually thinks and speaks of women as a lower order of intelligent beings. But even in your breast, my ill-mated friend, there may lurk a touch of the ancient leaven of uncharitableness, and in your treatment of her "whom the Lord hath given to be with you," there may be a spice of arrogance, the exponent of which, were you Turk or Kaffir, would be brute force.

"I do not object to your proposal, my love. You always have your own way in household affairs," said a very "kind and affectionate" man to his wife, with the air of a potentate amiably relinquishing his sceptre for love's sake.

"Will you tell me, my dear husband, why, if I conduct 'household affairs' wisely and pleasantly (and you have often acknowledged that I do!) I should not have my own way?" was the unexpected reply, uttered in perfect temper - no less sweetly for being an argument. "For twenty years I have made domestic economy a constant and practical study. Is it reasonable to suppose that, after all this expenditure of time and thought, I am not a better judge of ways and means in my profession than are you, whose life has been spent in other pursuits? For all your indulgent affection to me, as displayed in a thousand ways since our marriage-day, 1 love and thank you. But excuse me for saying that I am not grateful that you have, as you are rather fond of saying, 'made it a point to give me my head' in all pertaining to housekeeping. That you do this shows that you are just and honorable. It is no more a favor done to me than is my non-interference with your clerks and purchases, your shipments and warehouses, a matter for which you should thank me."

The husband stroked his beard thoughtfully. He was a sensible man, and magnaminous enough to recognize the truth that his wife was a sensible woman.

"Upon my word," he said, presently, with a frank laugh, "that is a view of the case I never took before. I believe you are right."

One more hint, which may be of service to those who are not so ready to acknowledge the superiority - in any case - of feminine reasoning, or to such as are not blessed with sensible consorts - the best friends of these ladies being judges.

"Drive him with an easy rein!" said my John in trusting me for the first time to manage his favorite horse. "His mouth is tender as a woman's. You cannot deal with a thoroughbred as with a cold-blooded roadster."

"What will happen if I hold him in hard?" inquired I, eyeing the pointed ears and arched neck with as much apprehension as admiration.

I commend the laconic answer to your consideration, as altogether pertinent to the subject we have been discussing.

"A rear-up, and a run backward, instead of forward!"