El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-31
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
On What Constitutes Real
Happiness.

woman; and all unconsciously 10 self
she built the cross and led the way to
calvary Scores of women find them
selves at middle life out of stem with
the husband Of the youth
Ihey do not realize how they failed
to make any effort 10 Iengthen their
own snort steps to accommodate the
Ionser stride or the man; and only
Wnen the man is far in advance and
the woman watches his receding figure
does she awaken to the fact that dis
lance has separated them and that IL is
impossible for them to walk side bv
side as Of old.
Then she wonders and weeps and
blames destiny and her husband. In
the beginning, the matter of happv
eompan1onship in marriage depends
Iarseiy upon the woman In the first
year, the husband Gin America. at
Ieast) is almost invariably more deem
~ IN love than his wife; and if she has
the tact and skill and the unselfis hness
10 study his tastes and to adapt herself
10 MS needs, she can keep herself close
~ IN touch with him; and while she
enters into all his pleasures. and
makes herself necessary to him. she
can lead him into bypaths of her own
choosing and help to develop new
tastes ana new interests for him
The Selfish Man.
1t is only the exceptionally selfish
man VINO, seeing his wife take a vital
interest in whatever pleases him. does
not respond in some degree where her
proclivities lead Once let a man and
woman make the determination TO keen
step along life's pathways, and to re-
main good comrades and lovers to the
end or the road, the lost Paradise is re-
found; life, with all its sorrows and
81
rainbow hues; and the most common
place duties assume dignity; the most
trivial pleasures become great lows.
Such companionship is worth some
effort
1t Is worth the exercise of self-re-
straint; OF self-denial; 1t is worth the
development Of the charity which over
looks little faults and forgives seventy
times seven
affairs though you arel to give some
hours OF each day, or of each week. to
showing your wife that you really care
TO be with her. and that you are not
sacrificing time which should be spent
otherwise, but consecrating time to
life's highest use. that of making hap
by those we love and those who love
US.
There is no pleasure or satisfaction
band stay at home or take her out as a
duty. Unless he can make her feel
that it is a pleasure TO him to be with
her he better remain away.
But many a man who imagineS he
enjoys himself better elsewhere than
at home is suffering from abnormal
tastes. acquired in pursuit of wealth.
He has grown to crave business con-
versation. even when he is out Of his
office. and to think and talk and dream
only of money making.
Were ne to resolutely pull himself
together and to realize all that his
state of mind endangers. he would be
able to feel the old pleasure in his
home and domestic and social rela-
lions.
And when man knows. as every%
man must. that only by Civ
ing Of himself freely. affectionately
and spontaneously, can he make his
house a real home TO his wife and chill
dren. surely he ought to feel that ii iS{V
the one avenue of true happiness fort
1910. by American
Examiner. Great Britain rights
reserved.