Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-01
A chapter on mothers.in.Lav.

Msthersin-law are prosecuted beings;
always have been, and always will be-
in their opinion. SOnsiR-law and
dRughters-in-law are the prosecutors,
and are always selfish and exacting-of
course. If the old lady suggests with
the n~everfailing very best intentiOn) to
her daughter, Mary Ann, that Tom is not
treating her exactly right, and adduces d
score Of imaginary wrongs to substan.
tate the assertion, she becomes grievous-
ly offended when the accused, in vindi-
cation Of himself, and for self-protectioD,
suggests in turn that the maternal inter
ference is Objectionable and be wishes it
to cease. She enrolls her name at once
on the list Of prosecuted mothers.in.law.
II Tom happens to 90 to the Lodge and
remains q little longer than the usual
time his Mary Ann is sure to be dis
tressed withthe suspicions-Aowing from
that ev%er-proliic source, the mother.in-
law-that a secret intrigue is going on,
neither BETTING his marital relation nor
his moral dignity. II be corrects the
children, he is told BY the blessed old
lady that her dear John meyer dared TO
do it, and she is astonished that Mary
Ann sits calmly by and permits any such
treatment. If be INDUCES in a fishing
excursion, or r~ecreates a day or two in
field sports, which are really necessary
for his health, the darling old angel in.
sinuates to Mary Ann that it is an un-
warranted expense, and advises on the
part of her daughter a reputation of
further economy. We might 90 on and
enumerate a thousand and one instances
OF domestic interference on the part of
the dear old soul, and always prompted
by the best motive-s motive.power that
frequently engenders discord, and a
want Of harmony in the family circle
Even my motherin law, who is rather an
exception TO the rule, is somewhat
afflicted with the "best motive" fever.
Her daughter, my beloved and accom-
plished wife, was expected to make a
good match-that is, to marry a man Of
means and high social distinction. She
had been given advantages deemed by
the old lady worthy a more brilliant ALI
anee, and the dear. good mother could
not repress her disappointment at the
lusterless marriage Of her daughter to q
poor clerk " to fortune and to fame I'M
known" What if be is morally, intel
%lectually, socially and domestically &C.
ceptablel He is not rich. That's the
rub, Nay, he cannot even afford his
musical wife a piano, at the impeeuni-
osity of which the irrepressible old lady
hints that her accomplished daughter
might have done better. Moral, intel
%lectual and domestic worth are lightly
regarded in her eyes. She wanted her
daughter to "splurge in the gay world
Of fashion, and thereby satisfy that
false ambition and pride which are
ever the emsnstions Of a deluded votary
OF the god Malnmon. She did not know
her>own noble child, for she is happier
far in his humble little home, girded
about with the safeguards of love aud
duty, than she could possibly be in that
superficial throng, wherein Fashion is
the reigning Deity, and all the nobIer
impulses are subordinaied TO it. The
refinement, the polish, the appreciation
which education gives. has all the better
fitted my exemplary wife for the humble,
quiet sphere in life to which she has been
assigned. A diamond is no less a dia-
mond without the setting, and is just as
valuable for its intrinsic worth.
Memphis, May rs, II. WILL.