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    Don’ts for Husbands
    Don’ts for Husbands
    Don’ts for Husbands
    Ebook41 pages43 minutes

    Don’ts for Husbands

    By Blanche Ebbutt

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    "Don't look at things solely from a man's point of view. Put yourself in your wife's place and see how you would like some of the things she has to put up with."

    Originally published in 1913, Don'ts for Husbands provides advice that's as equally compelling as its companion, Don'ts for Wives. In this comical, enlightening, and historical booklet, Blanche Ebbutt shifts sides of the marital equation, delivering advice, "some of which still rings true today,” to help shape a proper and successful husband. Offering tips on "General Habits," "Jealousy," "Food," and many more timeless topics, Don'ts for Husbands is the perfect gift for anyone interested in the evolution of society, and who ultimately loves to laugh. In addition to Don'ts for Wives, a third installment in this series, Don'ts for Mothers, is also available from Cosimo Classics.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCosimo Classics
    Release dateFeb 27, 2015
    ISBN9781616409562
    Don’ts for Husbands
    Author

    Blanche Ebbutt

    Little is known about BLANCHE EBBUTT other than the knowledge that she is the author of the witty, instructive 20th century etiquette guides Don'ts for Wives and Don'ts for Husbands. It is suspected that she was also the anonymous author of the earlier Don'ts for Mothers.

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    Reviews for Don’ts for Husbands

    3.5/5

    13 ratings2 reviews

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    • 4/5
      For a book that was written almost 100 years ago, it's doing pretty well in keeping up with the times.

      Stay light hearted and don't take things to literally, like he is working for you , he earns the money for the both of you. Back in those days I guess it was normal for the wife not to work and look after the house & their belongings.

      Some wives can take a page of two from this book and really learn something.
    • 3/5
      In 1913, women were expected to wear smotheringly hot full length dresses in order to be considered decent. Most women did not work outside of the home, being expected to be happy in their role as wife and mother. In most of the world, women didn’t even have the right to vote. Surely any marital advice given at this time would seem incredibly outdated or, at the very least, charmingly quaint, in the year 2011? It was with this attitude that I first opened the pages of Don’ts For Wives by Blanche Ebbutt. It did not take me long to realise just how wrong I was. While some of the tips are no longer relevant to the average reader – those having to do with how to deal with servants, for example – much of the wisdom within this volume is as relevant today as it was then. I found myself taking note of many pieces of advice, with the intention of attempting to remedy my behaviour within my own marriage.Much chastened, I moved onto Don’ts for Husbands with a more open mind. Once again, I was surprised at how relevant much of Ms Ebbutt’s advice is to today’s relationships and the progressiveness of some of the points, considering the era in which the book was written.It is a shame that these books have been so unknown for so long, as I feel that the advice in them is more relevant to a newly married couple than a dozen books of the Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus persuasion. I would venture to go so far as to state that a copy of each of these books should be given to the happy couple as a wedding present (or perhaps a housewarming gift for those in less formal arrangements). Certainly anybody in a permanent relationship should consider reading them. You will be surprised at just how much you are doing wrong.

    Book preview

    Don’ts for Husbands - Blanche Ebbutt

    Children

    PREFACE

    My Dear Sir,

    You are neither as bad nor as good a fellow as you imagine yourself to be. No doubt you know a good deal about women, but (if you are in the early years of your married life) not nearly as much as you will in another decade. In any case I hope that, when you have read my little book, you will thank me for having told you many things that otherwise you could have learned only by experience, more or less bitter according to the discretion exercised both by you and by your other half.

    Women, married or single, are kittlecattle; and, as for men—well, I have a husband myself.

    —BLANCHE EBBUTT

    I. GENERAL HABITS

    DON’T drop cigarette ash all over the drawing-room carpet. Some people will tell you that it improves the colours, but your wife won’t care to try that recipe.

    Don’t throw cigar-ends into the bowl of water your wife keeps in front of the gas-fire. They are not ornamental, and she will not be pleased.

    Don’t increase the necessary work of the house by leaving all your things lying about in different places. If you are not tidy by nature, at least be thoughtful for others.

    Don’t sit down to breakfast in your shirt-sleeves in hot weather on the ground that ‘only your wife’ is present. She is a woman like any other woman. The courtesies you give to womankind are her due, and she will appreciate them.

    Don’t take it out on your poor wife every time you have a headache or a cold. It isn’t her fault, and she has enough to do in nursing you, without having to put up with ill-humour into the bargain.

    Don’t flourish a grimy handkerchief about because you have forgotten to take a clean one out of your box or your drawer. If your wife provides you with a reasonable stock, you might at least take the trouble to remember to use them.

    Don’t stoop, even if your work is desk-work. Your wife wants to see you straight and broad-chested.

    Don’t slouch. No one who cares for a man likes to see him acquiring a slouching habit.

    Don’t be too grave and solemn. Raise a bit of fun in the home now and then.

    Don’t keep all your best jokes for your men friends. Let your wife share them.

    Don’t look at things solely from a man’s point of view. Put yourself in your wife’s place and see how you would like some of the things she

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