Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1911-05-11

yet the daughter.in-law who likes a |
nip" herself, does not realize that |
some day the thirst may be as strong
in her as in the lettering figure wait
ing to be sentenced to the almshouse
or a much grudged corner in the wee
fiat of her son.
We have one infallible argument
to hand these wives" remarked an
examiner, "and that is the bald state
ment that if the husband is not per
mftted TO house his father or mother,
the city will put him under bonds or
probation TO contribute certain
amount of cold cash every week for
the support of his parent. What the
wife says or does matters not mite.
The law holds the husband RESPONSE
BILE for his parents
And what happens when the pay
ments are not made? Follow the next
| couple, nagging wife. a stolid hus-
| band. into the eleventh district court
in East Fifty-seventh street. The
man has agreed to contribute dollar
q WYNN W AhS suppOll vi his otNo
mother. He has defaulted in his pay
ments. The couple, who had waited
year for their board, have hailed the
son into court. The fearful old moth
er sits hunched up In corner of the
| court room wondering what II is all
about The landlady is determined,
the wife alternately scornful and
fearful, and the son considerably
frightened. A trip to the island will
cost him his job. The landlady tells
her tale of money due, the old moth
er weeps In maudlin fashion, the son
hears the decision with white face
PAY up that board bill or go to the
island, and pay 1t today"
Get the Money Somehow.
The daughter-in-law hurries back to
the little fiat and somehow gets to-
gether the fifty-two dollars. 1t rep.
resents their rent-and perhaps dis.
possess notice. 1t represents clothes
the children need, food that will not
be purchased, and perhaps tiny
loan. and all because she would not
let his mother live with them. Oh,
yes, there are two sides to the story.
no doubt But If Father Knickerbock-
er listened to these and wavered, he'd
have many, many thousands more in
the almshouse.
The next case of this sort to reach
the domestic relations court Is almost
incredible.
The investigators of the division Of
domestic relations have summoned a
husband and wife who refuse to con-
tribute $25 a month to the support of
the husbands father. The wife wears
rich gown of shimmery satin, its
collarless bodice outlined with good
lace ON which real diamonds glitter.
Her coat is of Persian lamb fur Her
hat is set off by willow plumes that
must have cost nearly hundred dol
lars. The husband wears diamond
stud, diamond ring and handsome
overcoat with deep fur collar. The
father whose fate is under discussion
is old, feeble and shabby.
NotntnY TOT tnc Oto MAN,.
The husband and wife testify that
the former is no longer In business
and they have no means OF support.
The clothing they have incautiously
worn to court is described as rem.
nants OF past wealth and glory
though an expert in styles would pro
nounce 1t very much up to date. They
haven't a cent to spare for the old
mans keep.
Then the investigator takes the
stand. He has learned, first, that the
father is decent, respectable and SO
Der. Years ago, proud of his only
boy, he set him up In business giving
him $4,000 in cash. Bad luck and
illness overlook the old man and he
became peddler. Now his health
will not permit him to work.
The son has retired from the bust
ness founded on the $4,000 gift, owns
horses and carriages, lives in an ex
pensive apartment and his wife keeps
two servants. How his money Is in
vested, whence his income, the In
vestigator does not know. SO cleverly
has he shifted the burden of support
ing his aged father.
The decision of the court Is scath
ing. The man in the fur-trimmed
coat and diamonds will contribute $2E
a month to his fathers support or &c
to the island.
Work Never Ending.
Every Friday night in the Eleventh
district court, magistrate hears
these tales OF tilial duty shirked unit
the division of domestic relations can
not possibly arbitrate. And every
day In the week, except Sunday, the
: investigators of the division head
quarters in Fifty-ninth street arbi
trate and adjust cases and threaten
and cajole ungrateful children.
, What type of New Yorker shirk'
: responsibility in this particular form
Mostly what the investigators de
scribe as Americanized foreigners, tht
J children of immigrants The major
ity Of the cases which finally reach
court are those of people from east
ern Europe, who through extreme
poverty or ignorance of the law fai
| A..