The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-12-15
Mothers-in-L |

I ~ u Slfi mas, III deiance OF her moth
er's counsel, thrown herself away and
married the man of her choice, who
possesses only moderate competence
let that man beware of his mother-fn-
law. With the best intentions in the
world she will, unless his wife be in
decd treasure, make shipwrecls, of
| his married happiness. She, will con-
dole with her daughter on the loss of
luxuries which the young wife would
never have missed; she will speak in
terms of commissioning pity to her
"poor child" on her altered mode of
life; she will praise her for making
sacrifices, until the wife will at last
think that she has performed sacri-
flee; she will teach her to look upon
the economies necessitated by her hus-
| bands income, as proofs of uiggardli-
ness. upon that husbands part and
| finally she will end by sowing discon-
tent and disunion between. husband
and wife, and not improbabIy may
bring ruin upon them both by Undue
ing the wife to urge her husband to a
style ofliping beyond lhs means. In
either case looking upon the ruin she
has wrought, she say, "Thcre my
poor child, | told you what it would
be-" Of such a mother in law let men
beware. She is the most serious enc
my to domestic happiness that man
can possibly have to encounter, the
more so that she comes under the ruise
ola FRIENDS, and must ~accepteSt as
snch. The battle is the more painful.
inasmnch as tho man is comparatively
helpless. He sees his domestic hap-
piness threatened and he dare mot in
tertere.. His sole trust is in his wife.
Ii ne mterferes, if lie even presends to
notice the danger, if he lifts n warning
voice, he throws away halt his chance
OF victory. If the wife does bnt see
herself that the mother is medd}ing
and making misuhief, if she iherse!fsees
that barrier is being built mp between
herself and husband, and especially if
she sees her husband putting up with
this rather thank speak against her
mother, the wifc''s sympatl,ies will be
warmly aroused, the battle will be
over, and the mother i'll laws influence
for ill will be at an end for ever. But
let him not take part in the contest
If he expresses diSproval of the moth
er's presence OF impotence at her in
reference, he will, in nine cases out of
ten, throw his wife Into her arms
Give not n shadow Of excuse to your
mother-inlaw to complain that she is
sighted or disiked. Overwhelm her
with courtesy. Remember that the
contest is really between the wife and
the mother, and that the only part you
can play is to deprive the latter of
weapons. If your wife once feels that
her mother is unjust, the power of the
latter for mischief is at end. and the
victory is youis. Thank God, all
mothers ip-law are. Dot like this, and
yet this is too common a ly.,e Dowa-
days. The women who counsel ~. ;r
daughters to marry for an establish
ment will asstirctlly make such moth
ers-in-law if their daughters marry for
love. If the daughters follow their
advice, and sell themselves, then in
deed they make excellent mothers-in-
law. They try hard to reconcile their
children to the bargain; thew admire
everything; they tell them how Incky !
they are they smooth down discon-
tent, and sing the praises of their
snns-in-law. Now, strangely enough,
they take the part of the husband |
against the wife, and would fains per-
suade the latter that, if she is not hap
Ply, it is entirely her own fault. There
are other mothers law besides these |
Women who have only hoped and |
advised for their daughters happiness,
and whose influence after marriage is
all for good; but these do not belong,
never have belonged, to the match
making mothers of modern society,"
Of these latter we say that too often
their conduct towards their daughters,
both before and after marriage, proves
that while they have labored for the |
advancement in position of their chill
dren, yet that the question of their
happiness or otherwise in aftcr-hfe
has not even entered into their consid-
eration.-- Girl of the Period Misceila-
ny.