Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-04-22
Plea for MOthers-in.Law.


MoTHERs-IN-LAw have long borne an
unmerited load of opprobrium. Recent
developments in the neighborhood have
increased this burden, bringing down on
their devoted heads fresh avalanche of
depreciation. Their sad plight has moved
the pity and chivalry of the Rev. DIR.
Hall, of this CITY, who rushes, in the
Ledger, to the rescue of the victims. In
order not to irritate still further at the
outset the prejudices of the mob of gen.
tlemen who write with ease he adroitly
introduces the incendiary topic with the
soothing observation that mothers-in-law
are not necessarily old, or ugly, or dis
agreeable. Many of them are fair, viva
cious, agreeable, and in the highest de-
gree lovable, proving themselves gentle
wives, tender mothers, good neighbors.
They have sometimes appeared to great
er advantage on the wedding day than
the daughters that made the central fig
ure. Now, we put it to the candor of all
men, what is there in the marriage of
young lady that should turn all the milk
of human kindness into acid in the bosom
of her mother? To-day Miss Blanche's
mother is wise, good, kind, unselfsh, the
mother of an angel, and acting like an
angel in giving Blanche away. To-mor.
row Blanche Is married and Blanche's
mother becomes mother-in-law. Will
anyone explain what malignant influence
attends the rite by which the good, gentle
mother, who stood by dropping tears and
who receives kiss from her proud new
son, Is transformed into q "chimera dire!"
Yet, undoubtedly, troubles do arise
through mothers-in-law; and we now pro-
pose to inquire into the reasons.
L. Some Of them come from excess Of self.
lope. The mother has counseled, guided
controlled her son or daughter till the
wedding day. She cannot resign the
reins To give up power is hard to many,
male and female. She forgets that
father and mother are forsaken for the
new possession by the divine law. In
her overweening seh-love woman
looks on the second family now founded
as an extension to her territory. She
has, she thinks, her third term" and
indefinitely long. But this is apt to be
resented. The young husband or wife,
as the case may be, has been counting on
something to be exclusively his or hers.
murmured, written, sung, dreamed |!
ish, young fellow, "she is not my own,
but iirst her mothers, and then mine.a
He is disappointed, vexed, Jealous. In
this temper of his, If the amiable lady,
mother of an angel on his wedding day,
whom he proudly kissed, were to suggest
the excellence Of the Ten Command
ments, he would resent it, and quarrel
with the Commandments because she
opprovad fharn
The good mother who sees this will be
wise to withdraw. Let the young folk
alone. They may burn their fingers to
be sure; get the wrong kind OF carpet;
put the girl In the wrong room; and
generally make mess Of it for want of
your counsel. Never mind. Better
seeds of future trouble. Let them find
when the great hulking fellow comes
meekly with Mother, dear, Blanche
needs your advice" ETC., go and give it
are asked; keep on this plan and all will
be well.
2. Some Of the troubles come from defect
zoe manly aoisdom. A man does not al
low for the mother-heart. Blanche was
married yesterday. But she never could,
never did, take care of herself. Her
mother does not see that the wedding
ceremony gave her any new wisdom. To
her Blanche is still Blanche, and in need
Of all niotherly help as much as ever. SO
she tenders 1t; and the "lord of creation"
not able to see much beyond his nose,
wants his wife to have q mind of her
own" Poor Blanchel mind never was
her forte. She cannot get along with
out mother; and she doesn't want to
vex "dear Tom" So she consults the
mother oracle in secret, and pretends to
have mind of her own to Tom, who
finds out the consultations-which he
has no business to do---and imagines
half yards of silk whole dresses, and
gets from bad to worse till Blanche is
| forbidden 10 60 to her mothers, or vice
versa; and the knowledge. loving neigh
bors get . hint of it, and little vexa-
tious bad taste and bad temper get BAN
died about and magnified, until nothing
less than attempted assassination is sur
missed.
Then how much the case is compli-
Gated II there be second guardian in
the shape of Toms mother! Her Tom,
now that he is away from her, Is perfect.
Not many girls were fit for Toms wife.
For her part she never could learn what
he saw in that little chit, Blanchek who
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