South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-09
MANY Of WOMAN'S
ILLS DUE To HER
LACK Of HUMOR
She Should Realize Husbands
Seemingly Bad Actions Are
Only Meant in Fun.

Only Meant in Fun.
To everyone who takes an altruistic
interest in the feminine sex II is bound
10 be a matter Of profound regret that
women have so little sense Of humor.
They miss such a good joke IN not
being able TO see themselves.
What else, for instance, has ever
been so sardonically humorous as the
spectacle presented by the suttra5etS
Of starving themselves TO death to
spite a government that WOuldnt give
them vote?
or what could be more amusing
than woman's idea of enjoying her-
ing 20 "A deathly dun essay on the
Ancient Byzantine Empire" that
some sister club woman has dug out
Of the encyclopedia
And isn't il a scream that the ma
JCTity OF middle-aged wives are ac-
tually going through all sorts of tor
turing exercises. and enduring starVa-
ton diets In order TO keep themselves
thin and 1.-THE 10 retain the affection
OF fat, bald, rheumatic, bay Widowed
husbands
These and a hundred other fem
mine peculiarities-tO say nothing OF
the spectacle of stout lady in the
present style high water skirt-add TO
the gaiety OF nations. and II is heart
breaking TO reflect that the poor dears,
who furnish so much amusement to
others, miss the joke themselves.
Ii is, therefore, gratifying to notice
that the feminine bump of humor IS
beginning to grow. and that lovely
woman is at last coming TO the place
where she can enjoy joke on herself,
which is. as every one will agree, the
acid test of genuine appreciation OF
fun.
The proof Of this is furnished by
lady who recently had her husband ar
rested after he had beaten her every
day for a week until she was battered
and blue and had both eyes bun8ed
up.
At the trial. however, she withdrew
her charge of assault and battery,
stating in explanation OF her change
of position, that she had found out
that her husband was merely whip
ping her for fun. and TO prove TO
friend with whom he had made
wager that he could beat her every
dav for month Had 1 known that
at the time" added the humor-loving
wife. II should not have had him ar
rested. but would have helped him to
win his bet, but the miX-up came
through his not having let me in on
the joke!"
OF course, many husbands complain
that their wives do not catch the point
OF their wittiCisms. and SO the wife
who can take "a drubbing as a playful
bit Of repartee Will certainly do much
toward making matrimony merry
lest This new attitude of women
should be hailed with rapture, for
there is no doubt that it will do more
than anything else to lessen the do
mestic tension and change life from
tragedy into a farce comedy.
Everything depends on the point OF
view, and if women can only learn to
look at matrimonial cOntretemps hu-
morously instead of peSSimistlCally
their happiness and peace OF mind are
assured. For example, take the very
common case of the husband who
stays out late at night with the boys,
and comes home gloriOusly tanked up.
Very few wives have ever seen any
thing in that situation except tears
and anguish Yet ON the stage the
maudHn fellow with his hat smashed
IN. his collar of, who staggers around
from one side to the other. is con
sidered so eXCruCiatingly amusing tina
he gets round after round of applause.
II wOmen's sense OF humOr has
reached the point where they can see
"a Joke in a beating. may we not an
tiCipate the day when the drunkard' 3
wife will joyously wait up for the
spouse's return for the purpose OF
laughing at his funny efforts TO find
the key hole, and thus one of the
common sorrows of life be eliminated?
How much. too. it would do to
brighten life if wives could only learn
10 regard their husbands remarks
about the household bills as mere IA
seriousness, 1t is. really. when YOU
70. ~ "a Il
for man TO ask his wife what she
did with that quarter he gave her
week before last. or 60 expect her TO
keen house on air. and it's nothing but
women's lack of the sense of humor
that has prevented them from enjoy
ing these domestic jokes.
Certainly, II every man were court
Jester TO his wife. and she regarded
his criticism on her housekeeping and
his filings at her lack of management,
and her general vanity. and weak
nesses as an amusing monologue de-
livered for her special regallng, she
would save herself many a pang she
now suffers. Ii is better ID laugh than
to cry. and 10 have your funny bone
tickled than ii is 10 have your feel
ings hurt.
And think of the hilarious time
women could have if. instead of be-
ing worried into their graves 10y their
NOraS, ana filludSt anu l'ludL4>' anu
their in-laws. they could see that the
servant problem, and the mother-in-
law question are funny instead of
tragical. and that in wrestling with
them they are being permitted TO dip
into two OF the perennial fountains of
huuor. Likewise. that when their
children are bad and miscellaneous they
should laugh with them. as with the
Katzenjammer Kids in private life
In ali good truth women have al
vavs taken themselves too seriously,
and an appreciation of humor would
save them much trouble. And IL
would prevent them from making
fools Of themselves so many, many
times.