The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-21
VALUE OF COMPLIMENT
 IN MARRIED LIFE
MOST MARRIED PEOPLE TAKE
 LOVE FOR GRANTED.
Ethel No Longer Discards the Hat of Which Harry DisapprOves-Harry No Longer Brings Ethel Bon-
 bOns and Books.
HY MARGARET K. sANGsTER.

KCopyright. 1905. by Joseph B. Bowles.)
 When the domestic firm of Self & Mariner, has come to one of those par ticufarly hard places. where the wheels drive heavily over a rough and jolting road, try the efficacy of compliment Never mind whether the moment is jauspicious or the reverse In the hum- drum monotony of conjugal life though both parties are incomparably loyal and there is a solid foundation of confidence underlying the days and years, love does not fly out of the win dow. but compliments do. Glancing back at the halcyon period of court ship, how many husbands, if candid, nut confess that their behavior then was in marked contrast with their be- havior now that the manner of chiv- airy, of admiration, of efflorescent cour- xesy which then fitted them as smooth ly as their evening clothes. had not the most distant or the faintest resem- blance to the brusque, bearish and pos sfbIy boorish manner that too often Is a blot upon married friendship.
 I use the word friendship advisedly, for unless people are friends they have no right to. be married, and marriage to those who have entered 1t should be the highest friends Unfortunately, at is not always this, for. into the free- dom of marriage creeps the poison of
 
 timed frankness. A great deal of most unpardonable impoliteness shelters it. self behind the mask of frankness The man takes 1t for granted that his wife is aware of his love, and is at no pains to assure her of It's continuance in word or act, out of the commonplace. And she is not free from blame on her side.
 If truthful. some wives would be forced to admit that their attitude to- ward the lovers of their youth had wholly changed. They were intention ally attractive and pleasing in appear ance and conversation when with these knowledgedalovers. They do not now take the trouble to be the same. the lovers having become husbands with whom they have settled down into the easy jog-trot of double harness.
 Think of the contrast. What? Re- ceive Harry when he came to call of m evening, with tumbled hair, in dowdy gown. without collar, ribbon or 6 frill, and without so much as Hitting smile of approval! He is thus received now very often. But then 1t was different. Harry was then the magnet of every waking thought and probably focused the fancies of ones innocent dreams. Ethel was complete hy absorbed in the lad, and dominated by his lightest wish; "Harrys will is 
 Hf he did not admire a hat 1t was dis rarded in a flash. If he liked pink, EthePs summer muslins blushed with rosebuds She would not have let him see her in soiled gloves, or torn giounces. If he preferred one dessert ko another, Ethers fair hands com wounded it on the day that he came 10 dinner. Had he gained a promotion or some forward step in business, she praised him for it without grudge or reluctance, for to Ethel Harry then wore the glamour of warrior return ang with the spells from hardly won field.
 But, on the other hand, score Of gears ago, Harry seldom called empty handed. He used to bring flowers. bon hons, a new book or the latest maga- wfne, and these were tributes laid at hIthers feet. She never looked pretty That he did not tell her so, in some Rorn of honey speech with variations Her dainty toilettes were not lost on him. She dressed for his approval, and he knew 1t, and lavished compliments an return for the pains she took.
 Let us suppose that Harry grown a Hittle bald. a little round. little red 9n the face, plainly middle-aged. and mater-familias from the top of his hat Eo the toe of his boot. should again look at Ethel through the eyes of the liar ny he used to be- Supposing that his means permit him, and he should occas- Monally bring home roses as well As packages from the grocer and market