The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-08
OF Interest TO Every Woman
Edited BY Martha Wesouer
Exit Mother-in-law Joke

To tho Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
Sir.-The obituary on your editorial
page OF Sunday. April &c, was rend with
profound thankfulncss. and know
that millions OF women classcd-by IA
strange law-as mothors-in-law arc
sending heavenward praise to God for
the death of tho aged mother-in-law
joker
blessings are ascending for tho ef-
forts OF the Brooklyn Domestic Rola-
tons Court In staying tho hydrahead-
ed monster; for your part in giving to
the public the figures furnished by
those officers. II Is OF incalculable
benefit and. "as one man." the women
from everywhere are wishing YOU tho
most Gratifying success with your
new purchase OF our dear old Times
Dispatch.
There Rre millions OF women, In
GLIDING myself. whose checks burn
and whose hearts arc made bitter by
the insults carried In tho cruel moth
er-in-law Joke. 1t is hard to realize
that these Jokes Rre made and allowed
by men when every mother-in law Is
the mother, wife, daughter or sister OF
some man: * is bitter and fragrant
persecution and, in most cases, con-
cocted by towards.
II lies with the all-poworful press
and with Jurisprudence to wipe this
injustice from tho slate against moth
tIS. II IuS Vducu moro 10
that cause than any other ono thing.
There nrc Mt this time number OF pro-
gressivc women who are formulating
plans TO blot out by legislation the
abused word "mother-in-law.
Every mothers heart is in the flow-
or OloSsomed from her own being; all
she asks and prays for is that this
flower he allowed to flourish in tho
new soil OF matrimony and not DO
compelled to forget and cast off the
very roots OF her being.
Any man, no matter how homely.
can win and keep his wifos heart by
Kindness and consideration. 1t Is the
littlo things--a look. thoughtful not
the thousand infnitesimnl iotas which
como from real souls-that win wom-
ems hearts. IT is tho lack OF these
that makes tho woman fly In despera-
tion to extremes. Dcspotism never
won woman's heart
A mother is pretty weary by the
time her children are grown and mar
ricd. She wants and deserves rest. ]
have studied this mothcr-in- law mis-
homer and have failed TO find single
case whore mothers have intcrfcred
with their married children until bru-
tai treatment compelled It. In one
case where q coward husband placed
the blamo of his unhappiness on his
wife's mother. it was proven that tho
mother had been dead for two years
and the daughter wns ignorant of
that fact. rs the husband had forbid
den her residence in the Same city
The hcart-brokcn mother had crept
away into tho shadow OF forgetful-
ness. She had hoped to gain n son;
she hadn't even son-in-law.
Husbands who wish their wives TO
forget their mothers nro towards
Many murders have been directly
caused by the mothcr-in- law joke
through suggestion, to tho abnormal
man. When a woman leaves her hus-
band and returns to her own people
dnstcad OF to worse company. 1t is
because her husband has made her
Let the press make big strike on
this mother-in-law Joke. and let our
judges frown II out of our courts. lost,
like Il certain vampire. 1t steal forth
from the grave and fattcn on the un-
dcvourcd.
Every mo,her-in-law Joke that finds
its way into tho editorial Offices of
Life" dies In the waste-papcr baket.
Let our good sonsin- law--there
are many. many of thcm-strangle
this insult to their women folk and
make us proud and not ashamed that
some certain man claims us as moth
cr-in-law through the pure. innocent
female flower we have brought TO per-
lection for his use and pleasure. Lot
every newspaper prcss-room hang
conspicuously on It's walls the text of
your obituary:
"DlED--At brooklyn. y. y, April II.
1914. THE MOTHER-IN-LAW JOKE,
aged 5.GSi years. Funeral notice
later. No flowers"
When Kipling wrote Tho Vampire"
he had poor respect for the sex of tho
mother who bore him. l am n native
Nirg!nlan MS were all my people; not
a drop OF other blood is In our veins
since the settling nj Jamtttown.. |
believe our Virginia mcu.' arc mostly
innocent OF the mothcr-in- law slur.
Give women fun Justice In all things
and they w.ll invest their voting pow
or into channels suited to their sex
peace purity. morality and general up
lifting ~ the human race.
Wo women pray tho press OF tho
world 10 let your slogan be: death
10 the mothcr-in-law Joke"
MRS. W. CARLETON ADAMS
1886 Madison Avenue. Memphis.
Tenn.