1930s How to be a good spouse quiz

This test will decide weather you could be a good 1930's spouse. Many of the questions can still apply today but their language may vary. It's worth giving yourself a test to see if you'd make your ancestors/partner proud.

It's worth remembering that divorce rates were much lower in the early 1900's so why not aim for scoring well in this quiz.

mens	womens
Opens wife's mail	Has minor children to care for
Tells lies, not dependable	Discourteous to sales clerks and hired help
Remembers birthdays anniversaries, etc	Tries to become acquainted with husband's business or trade
Eats whatever is served without grumbling or criticism	Polite and mannerly even when alone with husband
Often tells wife he loves her	Has pleasant disposition in the morning -- not crabby
A fast and efficient worker, not to puttering sort	Cries, sulks or pouts too much
Frequently compliments wife regarding looks, cooking, housekeeping, etc	Wears pajamas while cooking
Angry if newspaper is disarranged	Puts stockings to soak in was basin
Even-tempered	Belongs to parent-teacher club or child study group
Doesn't quarrel with wife before children or the public	Talks during movie, play or concert
Enjoys taking wife along with him wherever he goes	Tells risque or vulgar stories
A chronic braggart or boaster	Encourages thrift -- economical
Willingly prepares own breakfast	Lets husband sleep late on Sunday and holidays
Uses profanity or vulgarity	On friendly terms with neighbors
Fails to brush teeth regularly or keep nails clean	Has spunk -- will defend her ideals and religion
Usually comes home with a smile	Keeps snacks in refrigerator for late eating
Tells embarrassing things about wife when out in public	A good hostess -- even to unexpected guests
Reads newspaper at table	Laughs at husband's jokes and his clowning
Stares at or flirts with other women while out with wife	Greets husband at night with a smile
Courteous to wife's friends	Never goes to bed angry, always makes up first
Talks of efficiency of his stenographer or other women	Is a gossip
Leaves dresser draws open	Keeps husband's clothes clean and pressed
Defers too much to mother, a "mamma's boy"	Good seamstress -- can make her own clothes or the children's clothes
Kisses wife when leaving for work or a trip	Slows up card game with chatter and gossip
Willing to go shopping with wife	Doesn't want to get up to prepare breakfast
Does not use tobacco	Wears pajamas instead of night gown
Argues or curses other motorists	Talks about former boy friends or first husband
Leaves shoes in living room	Asks husband's opinions regarding important decisions and purchases
Tries to keep wife equipped with modern labor saving devices	Neat house keeper -- tidy and clean
Uses alcohol. If ever drunk	Saves punishment of children for father at night
Addicted to gambling	Visits mother too often -- a spoiled child
Has date with wife at least once per week	Likes to vacation with husband
Plays with children or helps them with lessons	Often whining and complaining
Is true to his wife	Goes to bed with curlers on her hair of much face cream
Consults wife's opinion regarding business and social affairs	Keeps self dainty, perfumed and feminine
Makes fun of wife's hats, clothes, cooking, housekeeping etc.	Uses slang or profanity
Writes on tablecloth with pencil	Eats onions, radishes or garlic before a date or going to bed
Doesn't interfere with wife's correction of children	Ambitious for her family -- urges higher attainment
Interested in athletics	Corrects husband's speech or actions before others
Reads newspaper, books or magazines aloud to wife	Fails to bathe or brush teeth often enough
Boasts about his former girl friends or his conquests	Frequently exceeds her allowance or family budget
Gives wife real movie kisses not dutiful 'peck' on the cheek	Squeezes tooth paste at the top
Attends parent-teacher meeting and educational lectures	Wears red nail polish
Too much a book worm -- doesn't talk to wife enough when home	Shoulder straps hang over arms or slip is uneven and shows
Steady worker and good provider	Fair and just in settling the children's quarrels with others
Writes often and lovingly when away from home	Good sense of humour, jolly and gay
Makes guests feel welcome -- an interesting entertainer	Tells family affairs to casual acquaintances, too talkative
Dislikes children, or scolds them too harshly	Puts her cold feed on husband at night to warm them
Neat, in appearance -- shoes shined, hair cut, suit pressed	Doesn't like children
Belches without apology or blows nose at table	Is a back seat driver
Surprises wife occasionally with candy, flowers, gifts	Serves dinner but fails to sit down till meal is half over then wants husband to wait for her
Ardent lover -- sees that wife has orgasm in marital congress	Insists on driving the car when husband is along
Belittles wife's opinions, her judgement, or ability	Wears soiled or ragged dresses and aprons around the house
Handy about the house re fixing iron, vacuum, hanging pictures etc	Opens husband's personal mail
Kisses wife just after her make up has been applied	A chronic borrower -- doesn't keep stocked up
Monopolises radio on Sunday as for the baseball broadcasts	Is snobbish or too much concerned in "keeping up with the Jones"
Complains of being too tired to go out at night with wife	Writes to husband's parents regularly
Doesn't phone when late for dinner	Willing to assist husband at office or shop
Snores	Slow in coming to bed -- delays till husband is almost asleep
Neatly hangs up his clothes on hooks or hangers	Is of same religion as her husband
Will not help wife's relatives as much as his own	Often tells husband she loves him
Publicly praises bachelor days and regrets having married	Talks too long on the phone
Dislikes to dress or shave on Sunday	Can play a musical instrument, as piano, violin, etc
Picks teeth, nose or sucks on teeth when in public	Walks around house in stocking feet
Blames wife for everything that goes wrong	Is unselfish and kind-hearted
Waits up for wife or calls for her at her party	Reacts with pleasure and delight to marital congress
Fails to come to table promptly when meal is ready	Can carry on an interesting conversation
Carries adequate insurance for family	Is suspicious and jealous
Smokes in bed	Fails to sew on buttons or darn socks regularly
Objects to wife driving the car	Flirts with other men at parties or in restaurants
Shows wife attention and affection in public	Sympathetic -- likes children and unfortunates
Fails to bathe or change socks often enough	Dresses for breakfast
If wife is ill, phones from work to inquire about her	Praises marriage before young women contemplating it
Attends church or urges children to attend Sunday school	Likes educational and cultural things
A chronic ailer or patent medical addict	Healthy or courageous and uncomplaining
Criticizes wife in public	Keeps hair neatly combed or shampooed and waved
Is suspicious and jealous	Willing to get a job to help support the home
Teases wife re fatness, slowness etc	Often late for appointments
Kind, but firm and the head of his household	A good cook -- serves balanced meals
Good humored in the morning	Personally puts children to bed
Shares his business and personal problems with her	Smokes in bed or has cigarette stained fingers
Careless in bathroom -- leaves razor our or ring around tub	Reminds husband it is her money they are living on
Helps wife with dishes caring for children, scrubbing	Faithful and true to husband
Gives wife ample allowance or turns pay check over to her	Makes evening engagements without consulting her husband
Stubborn -- rarely admits that he is wrong. Seldom apologises	Gives husband shampoo or manicure
Brings guests home for meals without warning wife	Dislikes husband's hobbies as fishing, baseball, etc
Is a careful auto driver	Serves too much from tin cans or the delicatessen store
A good conversationalist	Seams in hose often crooked
Ambitious -- works or studies to gain promotion	Writes often and lovingly when away from husband
Calls 'Where is ...?' without first hunting the object	Is more than 15 pounds overweight
Well liked by men, courageous -- not a sissy	Tells lies -- is not dependable
Eats onions, radishes or garlic before dates or going to bed	Often comments on husband's strength and masculinity
Hangs ties or clothes on door knobs	Praises husband in public
Leaves car for wife on days she may need it	Has meals on time
Leaves lights burning all over the house	An active member of some women's organisation
His children are pleased at his arrival home	Bravely carries on during financial depression
Compares wife unfavorably with his mother or other wives	Religious -- sends children to church or Sunday school and goes herself
Holds wife's coat and opens doors for her	Smokes, drinks, gambles or uses dope
Polite and mannerly even when alone with his wife	Fails to wash top of milk bottle before opening it
Rolls in bed covers -- pulls them off wife	Has pleasant voice -- not strident