All he wants is the basic love, companionship, warmth and fun of a good wife and mother. He wants to be able to bring his friends home unexpectedly and find the house in order, a meal miraculously brought out of the hat without any fuss, and a warm welcome for everyone.

A man is the envy of his friends if he has a wife who does not greet him at the door saying, “Why didn’t you ring me and say you were bringing someone home?” He likes to know she’ll say, “What nice friends you have,” instead of “I can’t think why you bother about that awful bore….besides he doesn’t stop drinking. He hasn’t left a drop in the house.”

She sees that his clothes are always spotless and well pressed. Looking at him, his friends know that he has a good wife because he always looks well-groomed and his expression is contented.

There are some women who can’t wait to tell their husbands what kind of day they had, what they bought, what their neighbors had to say. Every woman might as well accept the fact that to make a marriage work she must put her husband first. Before she tackles her own affairs she should ask tenderly, gaily, kindly, brightly, thoughtfully, according to type, what his day was like. There are plenty of wives who complain that their husbands never tell them a thing. Are they sure it isn’t their own fault?

A wise woman plans for her man in an encouraging way. She won’t ever say, “Why can’t you earn as much as Bill Jones? You started at the same time and he makes twice as much as you do.” This is fatal. She’ll say instead, “Fancy that silly old Bill Jones doing so well. I bet he wouldn’t have got there without your help, darling….I’m really proud of you.”

With this wonderful spur, she’ll gently lead her husband the way she wants him to go, tactfully, with a word of praise. She neither pushes nor persuades. She simply angles whenever she sees the opportunities until, in the end, he takes the bit between his teeth and bolts just where he has been led; but he still thinks it was his idea and she is happy with his male misapprehension.

The sensible wife dodges sarcasm unless she is really witty. She may be so capable that she would make a strong man wilt, but she plays up her feminine weaknesses. While she does most things well – she never makes it a point to do so – she never neglects her appearance. She never seems to have moments with her hair in curlers, her make-up messy, or her face all greasy. She manages this sort of thing when her husband is at work.

She is probably a little extravagant – it’s the only way to be impeccable, whatever anyone may say.

And tired though she is from bringing up the children and all the other chores, she somehow or other manages to appear bright and interested to her husband when he arrives home. She never puts the children before her husband, but gives them a lot of loving when father’s not about; and she builds up a picture in her children’s mind that their father is a wonderful man.

She never nags – it’s the quickest route to the divorce courts, and even grounds for divorce in these days. She often flatters, but never so much that she appears false, and she never picks on her husband’s weaknesses unless as an indulgent joke.

She realizes that no one ever really outgrows their weaknesses but knows that a slight awareness of them isn’t a bad idea. He might overcome them one day. She didn’t marry the man with the idea of changing him. She just makes the most of the things she likes about her man.

From Woman’s World. circa 1950s

Guest Husband

“Geoff is away on business most of the week. The first time he arrived home unexpectedly there were only meat left-overs to eat. I ran to my neighbour, who most generously helped me with good things from her shelf of Batchelors canned foods. Gorgeous Batchelors soup, tender Batchelors peas, luscious Batchelors fruit – what a treat! Home from abroad, Geoff has awarded me nylons. He thinks I’m the wonderful one!” Give your family Batchelors foods today.

‘B’ for Batchelors

RECIPE FROM BATCHELORS BEE

Peaburgers (for 4 people)

1 can Batchelors peas; 2 teacups brimful stale breadcrumbs; 2 level teaspoons salt; 1/4 level teaspoon pepper; 1 tablespoon ketchup or piquant sauce; 1/4 level teaspoon mustard; 3 tablespoons thick brown gravy; pinch herbs; 1 egg (optional); 2 tablespoons chopped onion.

Chop and fry onions in a little fat and water until soft. Mash peas and mix all ingredients together including onions. With floured hands form into eight shapes. Fry in shallow fat for 10 minutes. Serve with potatoes and gravy.

Batchelors Wonderful Foods
English Canned
Soups • Vegetables • Fruits
BP/22/414/65

From Woman’s Weekly. April 15, 1950.

Washes Clothes. . .
Just heap in the washing M’lady. . . flick the dial. . . and Thor’s agitator-action swirls out every particle of grit and grime. Then Thor overflow rinses the clothes as no other washer can. Dirt, soap and scum are flooded off . . . instead of being drained back into the fabrics. This Thor process equals eight ordinary rinses. Thor then “spins” the clothes ’til they’re 20% drier than wringer-dry. Some pieces you can iron immediately. And the average household wash for four people is done in less than an hour!

Washes Dishes . . .
A swift switch of inner tubs (it takes just 90 seconds) and Thor is a dishwasher to wash crockery, cutlery, glassware – a table service for six in one load – and all the pots and pans, too. Detergent-charged hot water sprays away the grease. . . gets dishes sparklingly, hygienically clean. “Fanned” air does the drying. Imagine, the washing-up and drying-up over and done with in just about four minutes! Not once, M’lady, are your hands in hot water.

Millions of housewives in America, England and 69 other countries are glad. . . they waited for Thor.

Available from Thor Dealers Everywhere
A. G. HEALING LTD.
Box 87OJ G.P.O. MELBOURNE Box 50 P.O. Oxford St., SYDNEY Box 1189 G.P.O. BRISBANE Box 645F G.P.O. ADELAIDE Box 375 P.O LAUCESTON
West Australian Distributors: Cloaks Pty. Ltd., Box E271 G.P.O. PERTH

circa 1950s, Australia.