The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-02
THE TESTS THAT COUNT.
BY FRANCES suaFFER.a

4 =
1t is a beautiful comment to make
of any one-"the sweetest disposition !
ever knew"
And when 1t was made awhile ago
curiosity and interest prompted the ask
ing Of a few questions. partly through
a desire TO understand the gracious make
up, partly as "a comparison with the
rest of us who are very faulty and hui
man, quite imperfect In disposition.
She has everything that money can
buy? Oh. yes, beautiful home in the
city, and when the summer time comes
paradise where she lives and dreams
the hours away. Automobiles and car
riages are at her disposal and her
slightest wish is almost law.
Her husband? Is she the one wom-
an, and does she please as in the days
of old? Indeed. yes: he looks at her and
the sun rises and sets right there.
Nothing 10 Bring Tear.
Their children? All. they are all that
heart could wish. In them, there is
nothing left to be desired. All the way
from the youngest to the just married
daughter there is nothing TO bring a
tear, nothing to cause a worry. They
are normal first, with every Scnse per-
are beautiful in body and in mind.
And outside worries? Nothing at all
but the ordinary troubles OF sickness, the
human fear that a higher hand than
theirs may step in and claim one of
their loved members, things that are
bound to come and go as the Yeas roll
by
She is sweet; Nature made her so, the
pleasant accident of birth helped to
keep the lovely gift; and life, kindly and
faVoring, conspired to make her grow
in grace and charm.
But sUppose-fOr il is only fair to the
many who are not so sweet and true, to
suppose once in a while.
What Would Happen.
Suppose that she was poor. had to
count every dollar that was spent, had
10 worry for fear the rent could not be
met on time, or maybe not at all. And
suppose sickness came, with more to
think about than the physical crisis.
more to do and more to grip the very
nerve center. Re-enforced by love and
sympathy. the worries might keep on,
the nagging annoyances continue, and
the dread abide, with only a slight
shock to the sunny disposition not easily
subdued.
But-think now. and wonder what
might happen. Suppose the husband
promised her all his fealty, all his
h, art-then forgot. Suppose he lived
another life, into which she could not
enter. with the shadow OF a stranger
" oman standing, surely and relentlessly.
between her and the happiness that once
was hers.
Test that Makes or Mars.
There's a test that makes or mars.
And don't you know that it takes su-
creme sweetness. marvellous courage. to
stand firm and true TO the last, under
such a test? When all is smooth and
gay there's no telling what sorry depths
may triple along under the surface. II
is the test that brings out the sweetness
that counts or betrays the weakness,
alas, too human and too frequent. But
how can We make comparisons until We
know all the steps of a smooth or a
sorry way? The possession OF money is
more or less matter OF chance, Of for
tune, or of marked energy or ability,
and no woman can justly complain If she
misses much in worldly goods. But
every woman has a right to expect as
a square and loyal treatment as a man