The Lamar register., 1912-11-27
Complex
Problem

In low rocker OeloHe me nYe sat
the doctors wife darning stockinss.
Somewhere back in the room Sat the
doctor, reading his Newspaper.
The Doctors wife addressed the
IRE, but the doctor answered He
knew It was useless to try to read
when his wife had something on her
mind.
Il wonder what's going to become
Of u.s." said the doctors wife
"Of whom?" asked the doctor.
"Of US Americans"
whats the matter novr quss
toned the doctor.
I'm wondering where our Amsrt
can housekeepers are coming from
This afternoon. Just as l passed 4 big
ONCE building. three girls came out
and walked ahead Of me. You should
have seen how they were Creased and
how they acted"
Young girls?"
"Of course"
We'll, how were they dressedr~
You know, II was the usual way
hair pulled out, short skirts, low
necks. l don't object to all of that
You don't want them to dress like
back numbers. But you should have
seen their shoes and stockings"
Don't l know You needn't tell
me about the astonishing lack Of
sense that some women display"
And men. too"
"oh. we'll. men. too. suppose. But
you started the conversation about
girls"
Yea. 1 was going to tell you Those
three girls were dressed a. thin a.
could be. Not one Of them had on Q
wrap. and you know how cold and
damp it's been today. But that wasn't
the worst. Two had on velvet shoes
that were all run down At the heels
and the satin torn All Of the three
had on such short skirts that you
could see their thin. nimsy silk stock
ings- In fact. I thought one had on
black and white stockings till no
decd that the white spots were places
whore the stitches had given out"
| We'll. what about all thatf'
Il walked back of them to the cor.
ser Of the next street. They crossed
the muddy. dirty pavement. and I
know they must have got their fest
vet. I watched them for Q few min
utss and saw them 60 into . cheap
Ice cream parlor. and then"
And then what
We'll. I've been thinking. How can
such girls keep house and have homes
that give . man chance to make
something Of himselff"
They can't"
Then what's going to become Of ~
Americans?'
Ask the university professor. I'm
emily . doctor"
"oh. I know what the university
professors say. They tell you that
eur hope lies in the immigrants, the
people from the country. and all that
But. ten to one. these were daughtsrs
Of immigrants or country girls them
selves"
DO you know. madam, that I at
down here to read my nswspapsff-
Yes. I know. But I'm thinking.
Anyway. didn't ask you to answer.
You don't have to answer II you don't
want to. You see. l don't believe IN
darning and mending As much a. my
mother did. We don't have to. Times
are different and things don't have to
last so long: but girls should b
taught to take care of things to . req
sonable extent"
The man laid down his newspaper.
I'm surprised at you" he said.
"whyf"
Don't you know that the majority
Of people are abnormalr"
Il really never thought about that.
Maybe you're right People are kind
OF crazy nowadays. believe. It's
very unstylish to dress warm and COM
Portable when the weather's cold. and
women surely are crazy about their
hats and shoes-from their heads to
their feet"
Il tell you it's a fact" said the doc
tor. I'm not Joking. Don't see II In
my business every day."
Il suppose you do. Doctors ought
to understand people. II anybody does.
But II We think most persons are ab-
normal. what are we?"
Don't know"
Il think we're normal"
Maybe"
Then II everybody else II abnormal
and We are the only ones who are nor.
NAL. / suppose all the others think
we're crazy"