The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-09-19
CANNOT RELY ON JOHN
WIFE FINDS "sTRoNo RIGHT
ARM" THEORY WRONG.
She Thought He Would Rid Her Path
Of All Annoyances, Great and
Small, but She Knows
Better Now.

When I married my John, l firmly
expected to lean upon his strong right
arm, having always heard that that
was what a strong right arm was for
And I firmly expected him to rid my
path of the small annoyances of life
as well as be haven of refuge In
the vastor perplexities. In q word,
expected him to combine the roles OF
solicitous lover and proyident hus
band. l say l expected this, says q
writer in the New York Evening Post
John and l were married In the au.
tumn. When our honeymoon was
over we moved into an apartment
Our landlady had an apartment under
us. AS she would not give US enough
heat, | went to my John about It
John, of course, would see that ]
had enough heat. But did l really
need more heat? The house seemed
comfortable to him. Gle was out OF
1t all day. He sort of hated to get
into an argument with q lady. We
liked the apartment, didn't we, and II
we insisted upon more heat, 1t might
strain our relations with the landlady
which would be unpleasant, as we
were living in the same house
wouldn't 1t?
After surviving several bad colds, ]
gave John long, sneaking look. took
the matter into my own hands, made
the landlady give us written re-
lease, and moved out Of the apart
ment.
At first when | went out with John
to mingle with our best restaurant
classes I sat back like fat little para
site. lazily enjoying having a man look
after me, even to ordering my food
But John always confused the order
I got lobster Newburg when l wanted
lobster salad. John never noticed
which waiter was serving us-John
never could catch the head walters
eye-we were always having to wait
for salt or for bread while the dinner
cooled. AS ordering meals was In my
daily housekeeping routine. soon
took over the ordering and John sat
back like the fat little parasite.
Upon another occasion when tried
ito lean on Johns strong right arm we
barely escaped arrest. We were on a
Pullman car with an impertinent por-
ter. I mentioned his impertinence to
John, expecting John to Issue q repri-
mand. But John knocked the porter
down. There was a dreadful commo-
ton. Ladies' screamed and the con.
ductor came rushing up. John wanted
to knock the conductor down. The
conductor objected and threatened to
have US arrested at the next station.
After some pleading and arguing ]
Gained John, pacified the conductor,
tipped the porter and secured peace
When we bought our home we de.
cided to have some of the trees cut
down. l showed the tree chopper the
trees that were to be sacrificed, but
he sent his son to do the job before
we had moved out, and the son lost
his instructions and cut down every
tree in the froit yard. In tears | went
to my John, but John said: Now,
dearie, you are the mistress of this
house. don't want to butt in"
Gradually my own right arm has
grown a little stronger | don't re-
greet 1t. l don't even consider that 1t
would be fair to John to do too much
home leaning on his strong right arm.
He has good deal to worry him
downtown. All that l regret or con.
slider is that. possibly. good deal of
waste went into the forming of my 70.
mantle Illusions