The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-07-29
THE SONS WIFE.
The Mother-i Laws Attitude Toward
the Bride-A Suggestive Painting
Seen at the Worlds Fair

The Mother-in-I.aw's Attitude Toward
the Bride-A Suggestive Painting
Seen at the Worlds Fair.
Among q set of pictures representing
home scenes at the worlds fair was one
that particularly attracted attention.
represented the homecoming of q re-
Gently married son of the house He
was entering the room where the fami-
ly was gathered his shrinking bride
clinging to his arm as she met the ex-
preston of cold curiosity upon the
faces Of his relatives. The bride
grooms face and bearing spoke Of
proud defiance and a readiness to meet
the first sign of unkindness and eglect
of the one whom he had chosen as his
hearts darling. So realistic was the
scene that many of those who crowded
near the picture strongly felt Its living
meaning, and here and there a sentence
was dropped that expressed the nature
of the various separate impressions.
Poor little creature, hardly more
than a child, to be taken among such
cold people" exclaimed little woman,
evidently bride herself.
But the young fellow looks as II he
her companion, no doubt the husbands
ana one measuring with the eye the
stalwart figure beside the slender,
graceful form wondered whether he
had proved his own power to defend his
bride against the criticism or unkind-
ness Of his kinspeople.
Even the dog challenges them" said
another.
Look at madame Isn't her face
and attitude enough to take the very
heart out Of the poor little wife,"
queried still another
But my sympathies are with the
poor mother" was the reply; and then
the voice added, Mothers meet an aW-
full stress when they relinquish a dear
and only son. There is much talk of
giving a daughter in marriage, but
there cannot be greater trial than
that Of surrendering a son to a new
love and separate life."
And so the effect Of the picture as
understood by the various expressions
was according to the experience Of
those to whom it appealed.
There is certainly much to be said on
both sides Of this view of the sons
wife. What it may mean to worship
full mother, whose only son has been to
her like lover, this bringing home Of a
bride can be comprehended only by one
who has had the experience. Even
when the mother has the most unset
fish and generous nature, and takes a
broad view of the situation, holding
herself ready to lend her being to any
thing that will contribute to the happi-
ness of her dear boy, it is a trial on ac-
count of the sense of change and loss
and the uncertainty with respect to the
sufficiency of the new affection.
There Is a passionate motherhood |
that keeps itself always at white heat |
in reference to the object of love, I'M
selfish with regard to her own ease and |
willing to lay down her life for
the treasure of her heart; a mother of |
this sort may prove herself very selfish
when the time comes for her son to
make his choice of wife.
Beginning to look upon the young
wife as the usurper of her own rights,
she is constantly on the watch for rea-
sons to Justify the critical attitude in
which she stands before her sons mar
red relationship. She becomes a veri-
table ferret in her habit of getting at
secret conditions and prying into the
smallest affairs of the new home.
Each act and purpose Of the newly
made wife are regarded in the light of
he necessity to contribute to the COM
'ort and happiness Of her husband,
md if the young creature fails in this
'espect God pity her.
The mothering Of son, how much it
means to the boy himself, relating it
elf closely to the quality of his man
rood; to the atmosphere Of home that
lie shall choose for himself; to the we'll
,eing or i'll being of his wife, and to the
nature and training of his children.
Said a man of superior ability: II
lave suffered all my life from the fact
hat was an only child, so precious to
ny mother that she would not allow
ne to be disciplined and had my own
way in everything"
One who was acquainted with the cir
umstances Of his life knew that it
vas the habit of his wife to excuse his
aults by saying that he had not been
roperly trained in his early life, a hui
admission, and one that GER
ainly could not reflect honor upon her
in-l law. ,
But there are mothers whose love for
heir sons is 50 discreet and compre-
ensive that it reaches out and takes in
ne happiness Of his future bride be- !
,re the boy comes to the experience of t
noosing her Wives who have been so :
,rtunate as to gain the devotion of '
ms well born, and reared with loving !
arefulness, have reason for regarding 8
lie mother with grateful worship. V
nd mothers who became possessed OF u
lie meaning of the breadth and ca =,
edness of their relationship to the son s.
ave rarely failed to receive the love of q
lie daughter-in-law.- Home n
: