The Washington herald., 1913-09-16
WHAT Is THE CAUSE
OF DOMESTIC WOES?
If Folk Were as Strong as They Ought
to Be Money, or the Lack Of Il,
Wouldn't Engender Unhappiness.
BY FRANCES sHAFFER.


Strange, Is it not. the difference in
angles of observation?
Some folk. looking at0the matrimonial
tangles, which are said to be on the in
crease, year by year, declare that dis-
agreements in the home easily may De
traced to the discouragingly high prices
that make living itself a hardship.
While others, noting the restlessness
of men and women who abide on the
luxury heights, with not financial prob
lem to vex them, say that, for them NE
is altogether too easy, and that what
thew sadly need Is the balance of pur-
poseful work, work for and about the
home, work and thought that will weld
their interests and furnish mutual an
chor.
And. viewed from either angle, the
vision is clear and true; at least that
is what we are told by those VINO pro-
fess to know. AS to which is the greater
reason, which the better excuse-well, II
folk were as strong and true as they
ought to be. and, happily as many are
the possession OF money would be a step
ping-stone to happier. better things
rather than a lure TO their ruin.
lust a little money here and there.
when IL reaches only the luxuries, Is not
so bad. and there is small enough excuse
for discord over the things that some
folk want and cannot buy. for they easily
can manage to do without them, to do
without and not to be crushed in spirit
They can, il there is anything strong
about them.
Hard Conditions.
But it is pretty hard and grinding
and wearing when the luxury point is
scarcely reached at all and when folk
are forever working on the difficult neces-
sity level, just laboring away at the
grim old task Of stretching and pulling
at ends to make them meet. You Know
in some homes where the calls are many
and the resources discouragingly small.
rent day rolls around with alarming fire.
duency; and, II there has been an un-
looked-for demand upon the family
purse, rent day spells disaster. And
when each article Of food for the lam
lily table scars and scars IN price, When
il calls for the work OF a genius TO fur-
nish a healthful and palatable variety on
the slenderest kind of an income. 1t Is
easy enough to see how peevishness, I'M
patience, and a bit OF discord slip In.
Because many times they have their be-
ginnings in nothing worse than tiredness
and in the encouragement that naturally
hoyers about in the presence Of the dread
money specter.
II all the world might be sympathetic,
patient, sweet-tempered, and understand
ing through the storm and stress OF the
stern, everyday problems, then We would
know no such unhappy condition as dis
cord. and families would remain undi-
vided in spite of the worries and the
wearing vexations attendant upon the
high cost of living. For they would make
the best OF the dismaying lack Of funds
REGARDLESS OF their limitations and re-
main loyal TO the end.
But the sad truth is that many folk
are not strong enough for that. and
when their way becomes rough and very
wearisome, and when the bars TO con-
tentment go up, they grumble and fall
out OF the race.
And, after all. while II is very untrue,
unlovely, and a few other things worse,
IL is easy to read between the lines, and
understand the grievous hardships in
the way OF peace.
As TO the other angle-well. one can see
how things drift sometimes when the
life-way IL made too easy. But it always
presupposes a bit OF natural weakness at
the start, one side or the other.
Apt TO BE Trouble.
It is quite true that when married folk
follow paths OF their own selfish choos-
ing, paths that have nothing to do with
work or with the mutual making OF a