River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-02-28
The Other MOther-in-LaW.

1t might be reckoned hardship to in
terdict the repetition Of old jokes on wonr-
out subjects since SO many would be hu-
morists depend on the practice for the lit
tie reputation they possess. But the priv
ilege Of jesting on ancient themes ought
to be forfeited after cert in protracted
period of its exercise. Jokes on mothers
in-law, for example, ought long ago to
have expired by limitation, Tor they have.
had a run of we know not how many cen
turtles, and it is asserted that nothing new
has been said on the subject since the
dawn of the Christian era. They are per-
petrated, however, all over this and other
lands daily, hourly, momentarily, as if
each of the innnmerable antiques was
startingly original. The sole reason that
Adam did not try to get off something
sharp about mothers-in-law is that he had
none consequently he was debarred from
the right that every man has enjoyed
since. Were it not for mothers law,
half the photographers in the country
would be out of business, and that would
be misfortune-to them.
To read the newspapers Of the United
States YOU would think mothers-in-law,
always meaning the wite's mother, the
most odious Of human beings; that they
are eternal sources of discord and discon-
tent between the married daughter and
her husband; that they are specially crea-
ted to add TO the pains and penalties of
wedlock If any man should believe a
hundredth of what he reads or a 1.-THE of
what he says, he would no more allow his
r. - Al. Al, IL
he would adopt means for introducing
small -pox or yellow fever into his house
hold. But all husbands invite their moth
er-inlaw to visit them, and are glad to
see and entertain them, while many hus-
lands keep them nnder their roof, and
become much attached to them. Gener-
ally, indeed, in this country, our growth,
material, social and mental, is so rapid
that our mothers-in-law are apt to be inn
provements upon our mothers. A man
has more advantages than his parents have
had; on reaching his majority he is like
ly to be in many ways superior to what
his father was at the same age. And
when he marries, if he have any sort of
success, he will probably marry woman
Of naturally finer quality than himself,
woman whose mother has more culture
and breeding than his own mother has.
Such being the case, he is inclined to es-
TEEN and like his mother-in-law, who, in
stead of make bate and marall, is usual
ly an agreeably companion and an addi-
tional attraction to his house.
This factor it frequently is a fact
does not prevent the ceaseess misrepre-
sentation of mothers law as termagants,
disturbers of domestic peace, uncompro-
missing foes of the husband. Everybody
knows that it IS SANDER; that the satire
is undeserved; that the caustic humor is
hackneyed But then mothers in-law,
whatever their virtues, whatever marital
sympathy and affection they may solicit,
afford opportunity for jokes, and these, it
would seem, must be made, irrespective
OF truth, fitness or freshness, because they
arc so easy of manufacture. If it be pos
sible for good Jest, like good wine, to
improve with age-and of this there IS
grave doubt-a poor jest never can meni
with iteration. The .jegts on mothers-in-
law were poor enough when they were first
cracked, and that time was prehistoric.
What must they be now?
Not little of what has become stereo-
typed satire in relation to the wifes moth
er has some foundation, applied to the
husbands mother, who seldom, if ever is
re garded as the mother-in-law, because,
no, doubt, men are satirists, and resolved
to present only one side. Where the
hu bands mother is permitted to advise,
or has any influence in his house, it is not
he, but his wife who suffers. She bears
the brunt of interference, of prejudice, of
domination, while all the stories portray
him as the martyr. He rarely thinks of
his own mother as meddler, tyrant, trouble
breeder, and his wife is not prone to COM
plain and should she complain, it will be
strange if he listen to her with patience
or consideration. He takes it for granted
that there was but one mother-in-law, for
he looks at the whole question from his
standpoint sipgly, without counting ms
mother, who is not, and never can be his
mother law. 1t is the wife's mother
alone who sulks, scolds, renders herself
obnoxious, and raises the Ancient Henry
generally. Who has ever heard of the
husband s mother doing that sort of thing?
1t is very seldom spoken OF, because,
when there are any grand tantrums, she
is the chief performer The woman We
perpetually hear about is usually 1Dno-
cent; the woman we never near ABOUT Is
usually the guilty one.
1t is very easy to see why the husbands
not the wite's, mother causes dissension
when it is caused. AS a rule, all women
want to have their daughters married, and
they feel something like gratitude toward
the men who marry them. If their daugh
ter's husband treats her kindly and makes
her happy, they grow very fond of him,
since he his identified with her happiness,
and iIsseparable from it. And if he is
not what he should be, she is apt to re-
strain herself, knowing that interrosition
on her part cannot but make bad worse.
Moreover, there is between them the in
stinct and attraction of difference in sex,
which permeates and regulates the whole
economy of nature
With The mans mother it is by no
mems the same. Women generally do
not care to have their sons married lat
least to any body they are likely to get /
They are disposed to believe that no at
tainabIe she is quite good enough for /
their son, even though he may have moth I
ing to receommend him. When he takes
a wife, they are. in nine cases out Of ten,
bitterly disappointed. for they are sure I
lie might have done better: in TRUTH they +
can scarcely see how he could have done /
worse. The wife is their rival, and unless I