Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-30
Concerning Poor Men
DoUSCHKA,

Dear Aiss IhUInas. L seems TO NC that one
Of the most misunderstood letters yet published
an this paper IL that OF the mother VINO sald
that she did not want her daughters to marry
dead poor men,"
thoroughly agree with her and, at the risk
Of myself being called mercenary, l am going
TO give some examples. Sometimes l think tnat
about -one-fOurth OF the readers of papers are
like some ignbors / once had. The woman In
that family would listen TO you tell something
aud get idea about FAR from the real
meaning that idea that the lady really said
she would rather her daughters dead than
married 10 poor men.
Now there various sorts Of poor men,
Some are ''hoodOoed'' and the girl WHO mar
ries such a must have more than raO-
otis foot. even one killed on the dark OF
the moon N q grave yard to offset that habit
ual ''hoodOO"
sympathy is a mighty fine thing, but good
judgment must be well mixed In or the girl
who Eaarries that sort Of poor man may export
10 live poor all her life.
There Is the poor who has his mother and
some invalid to provide for; and the girl VINO
thinks she is going to be helpmeet must re-
member she certainly must be helpeat and
LePwear as well. When she becomes mother.
and sane people must consider that phase OF
married life, she may not actually regret her
narriage. but she must at least see that she
has not lightened his burden and has added
many an ache and pain to her own body and
is not able TO comfort him as before mar
risge.
There Is tie poor man who works here and
there; gets a good place and does not keep "
because he is visionary aud VIII never settIe
down; chsSes all sorts OF get-rieh-Guick schemes
And the girl who marries him may think thar
she has VIII power and Influence enough 10
change all that will wear herself out ana see
nany a hope die in the bud ] knew a girl
who had a piece Of land OF her own. She mar
rled such a and every year or so ne saw
where a Thousand dollars. five hundred dollars,
or So wou.d double in no time. He was a
druggist and she mortgsged the home 10 get
hin, his own boss" In no time. year al
least he had that turned into something else
and Lost It. Her brother came 10 her rescue,
freed the home and said: This is yours, Nollie,
and at your death your children's on condition
trait you promise you will never sign paper
She promised. but he nagged the life out of
. Thsre Is fhe man who flies around in an au-
tomObile. He hasn't a thing beside the machine
and a poor deluded father who keeps him up.
The girl who marries him may expect all SORT
OF heartaches II she goes to live with her IN
laws" He will fail TO comprehend the mortln-
cation that any right spirited girl will suffer
that goes 10 a store and even buys necessities
on that father-in-law's account.
And so the story goes. As long as mere are ar
stfuct, may be expended on trifling man.
but as the years pass and she sees where
little money that did not have to go for rent, OF
cotton that could be spared from the accoun'
AT the store would relieve the tension, she mas
to get impatient or out OF heart with ner
1 ''hoodoo."
Every woman who has answered that woman 8
letter has had the exception. not the general
nm az moor men. The sort Of man who is Z
Christian IN the full sense OF the word-and
III don't call lazy people Chrlstians-is going
10 succeed IL he has a half chance. But II
takes a smart boy TO make smart man. Inc
man who hasn't a start at 70 must nave
good reason for it. or you may depend on ms
being downright trifling and his family TO %
pitied when he reaches 30. There are exceptions
10 ali rules Tut a girl runs terrible risk VINO
Z marries a POOR man who hasn't a good reason
for being poor and fair prospect for Improving
his condition. -,
The man who comes out Of school has bis
! profession which should be the same as money
: In the bank but two years waiting might
give him a better chance.
| Ysu need not tell that the man who mas
got TO find the material for the pot. and keep
Il boiling. can put bis mind as entirely on
the knotty points that may arise In MS law
lens as the man who has little ahead: There
would not be half the child murder, widowers
nor divorces II people used more common sense
and realized that half at least OF the so-caleo
s.Iovs-matches'' are infamed Imagination. This
is stronr language but let's take SaneI
view 81 this matter and remember that -true
iIove has not an. atom of selfishness In II. And
when A man asks a woman to put not only mel
head hut the lives Of little children In bondage
he hasn't the true sort
As rule ! do not believe in long en-
rarements. but In such cases do believe In
giving q man a chance 70 show whether ne mas
the grit to deny himself and get start or Is
too weak kneed 70 stand alone. As tn CIR
saving she can't help loving man, she nao
- business encouraging the companionship. mis-
tbfnr We call common sense Is sorely lacking
IN these Cant help themselves. or 50 tninks'
- MRS. FULLER.