The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-11
AFTER MARRIAGE.

Barbara Leo. IN the North American.
Many women in their blessed single
ness are wont to consider marriage as
another name for paradise. To them it
is one long blissful honeymoon and the
joyous continuous performance Of happy
courtship days. Now, as a matter OF
fact, there are endless dlsappointments
for the romantic woman who dons the
orange blossoms with this dyed-ln-the-
wool conception of marriage. It is any
thing but the endless lovemaklng that
the two accessories before the fact prom
Use to the world in general and to each
other in particular.
To you, my trembling bride, let me
suggest a few stern, cold facts that will
confront you after marriage. You prob
ably will scorn TO accept them. and. sus-
tanned by an unfalterlng trust, will place
your finger through the ring. But in the
days after the honeymoon. when you are
settling into the grooves Of everyday life,
you viii remember that in the dim past
you heard something of a warning from
friend.
In the first place. you VIII awaken to
the fact one day that your husband is
no longer your lover-just a very mortal
man. with very mortal traits. 1t is true
that love is your meter, but do not be
surprised II your husband accept 1t as
a part OF his life and evince quite as
much interest in the rise and fall OF
stocks or the influence of the attitude Of
Congress on the sale OF his own brand
of glue.
You. no doubt, would be entranced at
the prospect OF uninterrupted lovemaking,
but your husband would be- bored. The
very ordinary man is built on another
plan, and the best thing to do is 10
accept the fact philosophically.
Man is proverbially selfish-a husband
especially He viii want his meals with
unromanuc precision. and instead of
your loving kisses he Will demand your
Wifely regard for his dislikes and his
preferences. At the breakfast table your
husband will prefer good cooking and
his morning paper to any little tete-a-
tete- But do not sob and wall out your
disappointment. Be sensible. Accept con-
ditions as they are, and be happier for It.
In the evening, after a very busy day,
he will expect a smiling, pretty wife
minus all recitals Of domestic trials. II
he cannot have this. your faithful John
viii suddenly discover that he must see
Blank about fixing up a little business
matter. You will wiring your little hands
in solitary despair.
Those little hands which he declared TO
be the dearest things in the world. and
far too beautiful TO perform any mental
task. will be called upon TO do a number
OF things. The hardening process for
yours Your eyes, into the deep blue OF
which his soul was drowned Cor. at
least, that's what he said at each fond
Saze, will be opened to a few straight
facts about your hus-
band.
Now, what are you going TO do about
It? There is a futility in the wringing
OF your hands and the emphasis OF sack
cloth and ashes in your outfit Brace I'D
and at least let the knowledge that a
husband is human dawn upon an intel
leCt that need not feel the disruption of
a first terrible shock.
This is not cynicism. It is common
sense, for which blessing many a young
wife will be saved unless tears and fool
Ish awakenings. When you marry there
Is an exchange OF your uncertain wooing
lover for a sure and very human husband.
Each one is very fine in his place but
weIl' 1t seems hardly necessary to sug-
gest the fact that the two are not inter-
changeable. And, after all, husband is
mighty good thing TO have around the
house!