to the web to provide wet strength can be maintained at the desired level the chemical softening agents useful in the subject invention are characterized by having the following properties 2 the ability to reduce the strength of a pressure bonded dry formed airlaid sheet by partially preventing inter fiber paper making bonds h bonds from forming during the drying procedures used in forming air laid webs 3 compatability with the adhesive and the ability to plasticize or soften the adhesive bond and 4 effectiveness in providing softening over a range of from about 0 003 to about 1 percentage based on the weight of the fibrous sheet addition to the fiberous sheet 1 di alkyl di methyl quaternary ammonium chloride of the type r 1 r 2 n ch 3 2 cl where r 1 and r 2 are alkyl groups of 12 to 18 carbon atoms preferably stearyl chains provided by tallow the tallow may be hydrogenated 4 polyethoxylated quarternary ammonium salts having alkyl groups of 12 to 18 carbon atoms preferably as indicated above the softening agents used in this invention are cationic long chain fatty alkyl compounds having at least 12 carbon atoms in at least one alkyl chain a particularly preferred softening agent usefulin the subject invention is dimethyl di tallow quarternary ammonium chloride this chemical is commercially available under the.