ands of years of experience and ratiocination. He was
safeguarded in his self-respect by the most elaborate and efficient
devices, and they had the support of public opinion.

Consider, now, the changes that a few short years have wrought. Today,
by the laws of most American states--laws proposed, in most cases,
by maudlin and often notoriously extravagant agitators, and passerby
sentimental orgy--all of the old rights of the husband have been
converted into obligations. He no longer has any control over his wife's
property; she may devote its income to the family or she may squander
that income upon idle follies, and he can do nothing. She has equal
authority in regulating and disposing of the children, and in the case
of infants, more than he. There is no law compelling her to do her share
of the family labour: she may spend her whole time in cinema theatres or
gadding about the shops an she will. She cannot be forced to perpetuate
the family name if she does not want to. She cannot be attacked with
masculine weapons, e.g., fists and firearms, when she makes an assault
with feminine weapons, e.g., snuffling, invective and sabotage. Finally,
no lawful penalty can be visited upon her if she fails absolutely,
either deliberately or through mere incapacity, to keep the family
habitat clean, the children in order, and the victuals eatable.

Now view the situation of the husband. The instant he submits to
marriage, his wife obtains a large and inalienable share in his
property, including all he may acquire in future; in most American
states the minimum is one-third, and, failing children, one-half. He
cannot dispose of his real estate without her consent; He cannot even
deprive her of it by will. She may bring up his children carelessly and
idiotically, cursing them with abominable manners and poisoning their
nascent minds against him, and he has no redress. She may neglect her
home, gossip and lounge about all day, put impossible food upon his
table, steal his small change, pry into his private papers, hand
over his home to the Periplaneta americana, accuse him falsely of
preposterous adulteries, affront his friends, and lie about him to the
neighbours--and he can do nothing. She may compromise his honour by
indecent dressing, write letters to moving-picture actors, and expose
him to ridicule by going into politics--and he is helpless.

Let him undertake the slightest rebellion, over and beyond mere
rhetorical prot