Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-10-14
A Woman's
Influence
Ry BEATRICE FAIRFAX.

Dear Miss Fairfax: what do you think
CT a girl who is engagsd to man she
doesn't love, but WHO Knows II her influ-
ence is taken away from him he WI
amount to nothing? She felt it her duty
to promise to marry tits man, after keep
ing company with him for some time.
The man loves the girl very much and
vows she will never regret marrying him.
He is not a bad man in any way but
would be weak If hi had the opportunity.
"PERPISrXED."
A woman's Influence is a wonderful
thing for good or evil and PerpleHed
raises a fine point in her letter. But
marriage without love mover yet led to
happiness.
The woman who marries n man either
to reform him from evil ways into which
he has fallen in the past or to save
him from falling into evil ways In the
future, must have infinite love, patience
and sympathetic understanding to bring
to her task But the greatest Of these is
love, for 1t win animate ard vitali1e all
the other qualities.
A woman's influence is es great for ovil
as for good. And a wlfe-wearied Of
starding between her husband and temp
tation, and longing for a strong man on
whom 10 lean instead OF a weakling de-
pendent on her-might easily become a
bitter and depressed woman, who would
utterly fail as influence and inspiration,
The task Of acting as mentor to any
human soul Is a grave one and not to
be undertaken lightly. No woman can
keep q man from evil unless she is a
vital power for good. And any woman
would tire OF acting as a mans guide
and conscience unless she had a very
tender love for him. Not a wild pas
sion, for weak men do not inspire surg
ing emotions, but a sweet. tender affec-
ton must the woman bring to her task
who marries a man to save him from
his own weakness.
II a woman really feels that without
her influence man will amount TO moth
ing, her responsibility is great, Blu
perhaps even with her Influence he viii
be q characterless parasite!
1t is possible that the Statutory influ
enee of being compelled to think FOL
himself would be good for a weak MAJ
such as PerpleXed describes. Perhaps
the disappointment Of losing the cir
on whom he depends would make a rea
man Of him.
The man whom woman can influenc,
SlIOnBiS lpi bpoh nus u pIeHsltlt
need of her influence. In most casei
the good in his nature that responds I,
her would be strong enough ITO fight ~
own way to the surface of his life,
II Perplexed does not love tina man VIII,
leans on her she will do him by far thu
graver injustice in marrying him and dis
appointing him all through life II an il
forcing him quickly to take the bittel
tonic Of losing the girl he loves because
he is not man enough TO hold her.
Because a man whines Il need you," Z
women in misplaced kindness may marry
him, and all through life both Of then
will be deprived of the real ovmradeshiE
and love OF true marriage.
A man must win love. not whine for 4
like beggar.
Don't make q pauper Of YOUR lover b!
giving him love because ne begs for il
Make him earn your love ~ proving hi
strength.
II to win his love a man VIII not figh
life and himself bravely ne will Away
be q weakling.
The answer to Perplexed is twbfold ant
applies to all women
Don't marry a man you cannot love-
Don't believe that a man viii amour
to anything with you as Ills wife unles
he tries to amount TO something ia orde
20 win you.