What Wives Think About Their Husbands - our competition brings diverse opinions on “Men’s Hobbies”

The wise wife will recognise that the man whose idea of bliss is a week-end on the links, or on the banks of the river, will never make a satisfactory stay-at-home. He requires out-door exercise and male companionship. She will, therefore use all her ingenuity to effect a compromise - secure some share of his companionship without spoiling his hobby.

“If Tom intends to have a whole day golfing with Smiths on Saturday, mary will promptly suggest that he brings Smith back for early supper. She will invite Mrs Smith, too, and make such plans as she can for each to cheer the other’s “widowhood” and share the burden of the children during the day. Neither mother should make the children an insuperable difficulty to the little party.

Another time it may be possible for Mary to join Tom for tea at the Club House, or, if the club is of a “family” sort, to take bay for a while in the afternoon, and join other ‘widowed’ wives for gossip and a rest in the fresh air.

“But Mary must also utilise Tom’s love of sport in the interests of the children. She should gently insinuate that it is time Tom junio, aged 3, knew how to handle a bat and ball, if he is to become a sportsman like his father. His golf will be neglected a little while he bowls to a coming batsman. And let Junior only suggest that he would like to learn golf.

“Above all, Mary must fight hard against self pity and a tendency to protest at Tom;e absence. An outing together must be such a success that he will want to repeat it. A weeping, grumbling woman never kept a man from golf, but a cheerful and intelligent wife on a ramble or a motor trip has often proved its rival.”