The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-11-04
DR.. Marden's
Uplift Talks
BY ORISON SWEET MARDEN.
Copyright by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

Copyright by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
IN a recent divorce case the judge,
in questioning the husband about
his treatment of his wife, asked
whether he was in the habit Of making
her Christmas or birthday presents, OF
bringing her flowers, confectionery or
other gifts occasionally. NO." the
husband replied, 81 am sorry to say 1
never did. l always paid her bills
without question, and thought that
was all 1 should do, but l see now l
was mistaken, that 1t did not take the
place of my buying things and taking
them home, to her myself. 1t was a
mistake"
Many practical people think that
sentiment is a sign of weakness; that
such things belong only to silly peo-
pie. 1t is a sad day In any married
woman's life when she a say: Dear
me, 1t is not half so much fun to be
a wife as it was to be a sweetheart.
l do not begin 20 get the presents,
treats and little attentions l used to-"
It is a great pity when a husband
gradually ceases to be attentive in
little things; when he neglects to
bring home flowers or little gifts to
his wife, as he did before marriage.
1t Is a great shock in a woman's life
when she begins to realize that ro-
nance is dying out; that her husband
is always too tired to 90 anywhere
with her in the evening; too busy to
take her for a little outing; that his
mind is always on his business; that
he who vas once so generous with
her talks poverty, telling her that he
cannot afford this or cannot afford
that.
1t does not take q great deal to
make the average young woman
happy. 1t is not so much a question
Of the amount of money spent on her
as the little attentions, the little cour-
tesies that indicate thoughtfulness and
affection. 1t is the idea that she is in
her husbands mind; that he has
taken pains to express his affection,
to make her happy, that pleases and
satisfies her.
A Nudge Of large experience says
that one Of the chief grievances Of
women who come to him for relief
through divorce is that their husbands
neglect them and their homes, giving
their minds so completely to their
business affairs that even when at
home they are only surly brutes with
whom the angels themselves could not
lead happy domestic lives.
Men as a rule are so matter Of fact.
They do not realize what a little
romance and sentiment mean to a
wife. They seem to think that If a
woman has a good home, enough to
eat and good clothes to wear she
ought to be satisfied; but these things
do not feed the most important ele-
ments in a wife. The feminine heart
Is the most difficult thing to nourish.
1t does not feed upon things, however
beautiful. The heart may starve in
the midst Of luxury, and it may thrive
In a howell where there is not a car
pet on the floor or a picture on the
wall.
There are multitudes of wives in
this country today who do not really
know the meaning Of the word COM
panionship. Their husbands pay their
bills, their physical wants are sup
piled, but their affections are not fed,
and their hearts are starving for COM
radeship. This is often the reason
why SO many wives seek elsewhere
the sympathy which their husbands
deny them.
There must be romance in welded
life, constant expression Of affection
and appreciation not only on the hus.
bands part, but on the wife's as well,
or the most affectionate nature will In
time grow Indifferent and seek other
interests.