Middletown transcript., 1909-02-13
GIVE MOTHER A CHANCE

4
: felt like saying, "Give mother chance.
! In the instance mentioned, of course
) the father very dishonorabIy broke the
| promise made to his daughter. He evident.
, ly was incited thereto by his wife, wo.
man OF weak character, as shown by the
favoritism she displayed where the
, younger son was concerned.
As far back as Old Testament times,
favoritism only brought sorrow and trou-
BILE to the unfortunate children thus
singled out by scheming or FOOLS hly fond
parents. But aside from that some Of
the arguments used in the article refer
red to seem 10 me little peculiar.
There must be something lacking in the
bringing up OF either son or daughter if,
when arrived at manageable age, they
enter welded life with the wish and ex-
pectation that father or mother, or both,
are to help bring up the family which
may come to them. "Mother" has
brought up her own family and now,
at middle age, is entitled to an easing of
the burdens SO long and patiently borne.
No niddIeaged woman of average health
and unimpaired mental faculties longs for
absolute rest. That would be absolute
punishment. But she does long for
and enjoys a chance of activities and
nights of rest unbroken by the cries of
teethiDg or colicky or croupy babies,
or later, the rest broken while listening
for those grown up children to come home
after long evenings spent in the pleasant
companionship of other young people.
All of which is right and their due,
but mother does not sleep soundly until
the last lotterer is safely home. just as
like as not she gets UP several times to
see that there is good fire for the young
people to warm themselves before they
retire, and perhaps cup of hot chocolate
aud lunch fer the ever-hungry boys and
girls.
Now, if any girl is not we'll enough
physically, or hasn't enough mental and
moral backbone.to take up courageously
the joys and burdens of wifehood-w
usually imply motherhood as well. with
out calling on mother to help at every
turn, then that young woman had better
not get married.
OF course We mothers all love to help
our daughters and daughters-in-law in
reasonable ways. It's fun to help plan
the layette of the expected newcomer,
or, getting out the little mother hubbard
worn by the baby's father or mothersome
twenty-five years ago, with few altera'
tions of the pattern, help make up the
supply of needed short dresses.
Or take the outgrown jacket Of the high
school girl, who has no younger sister to
wear it out, and therefrom evolve natty
little coat for the grandson just emerging
into the glory of Buster Brown garments.
And it's a pleasurable change to go
some day and help tie couple of pretty
puffs or get good start on house dress
for busy young mother, But that is
because We enjoy doing it, not because
the young people married with the ex.
pectation that mother is to hold herself
in readiness for another siege of baby tend:
ing to last through another decade or
longer Mother has usually all Ter mid
dle-aged shoulder can bear doing her own
work without any of the children left to
helps her, and when done, she enjoys the
chance OF donning her good elothes-bet-
ter clothes than she INDUCED in while
she had growing daughters to do for
and with some boon companion of her
own age, taking little outing or attend.
ing good lecture or frst-class concert.
Things which she: always enjoyed but res
olutely put behind her during the long
years when her numerous brood needed
her day and night, and the pennies all
had to go for the clothing and educating
OF those children. She and father worked
hard and long and gladly, but now they
are entitled to a little change. Therefore,
| say yes, give the girl chance-an the
boy, too,-to live the same brave, self.re-
liant, patient and self-denying life their
parents have lived all those years.
II the girl is home making and house
keeping she will not vail for a'career"or
about "living her own life'' or 'having
good tune. ''She will be having good time
\ following the career OF being the help
meet Of good, honest man, and the hap
py mother of his children provided there
are not more than she has strength to
care for properly and that, too, without
calling on mother to help whenever things
are hard.
As for the boy, he and certain girl
had better postpone getting married for
few years until he has little start fnan-
eially. This is certainly not hard to OBJ
tain in these days of good wages, if said
young man is fond of work, steady aud
reasonably careful of his earnings.
Then he can have homs of his own
no matter If it is but three room cottage
Ito take his young wife to, where she
can keep house just as she likes, without
fear Of unfavorable criticism from anyone,
and all parties concerned will be better
off for having chance to live by theni-
selves.
They viii love and respect each other
| more aud still gladly render each other
loving service if the occasion requires.
| But il need not be ali OH the side of |
mother. Several daughters aud daughters
in.lsw whom 1 know intimately are so
capable and so lovingly appreciative that
if sickness overlook mother they would
come unasked and do all in their power
10 ease mothers sufferings because they
love her. NJ. s. G.
six-Foot Actress
Miss Irene Smith, who plays La Bebe
u -. ~ = 4.