I charge also the wife to keep herself as attractive after marriage as
she was before marriage. The reason that so often a man ceases to
love his wife is because the wife ceases to be lovable. In many cases
what elaboration of toilet before marriage, and what recklessness of
appearance after! The most disgusting thing on earth is a slatternly
woman--I mean a woman who never combs her hair until she goes out, or
looks like a fright until somebody calls. That a man married to one of
these creatures stays at home as little as possible is no wonder. It
is a wonder that such a man does not go on a whaling voyage of three
years, and in a leaky ship. Costly wardrobe is not required; but, O
woman! if you are not willing, by all that ingenuity of refinement can
effect, to make yourself attractive to your husband, you ought not to
complain if he seek in other society those pleasant surroundings which
you deny him.