Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-09
By Virginia Terhune Van de Water

Copyright. 1915. star Company
II wonder n. when 1 was young,
trained my mother as my daughter
trains me now" unused my friend. She
looked annoyed. and was sorry for her
even before 1 understood what was
troubling her
What do you mean by training" l
asked.
''Oh, telling me how | ought TO look or
behave, suggesting that ! am in danger
Of becoming old fashioned-in fact, set
ting me right in general" she explained.
Docs Mary do all these things to your
asked. ''She seems devoted to you
"she IL devoted to me- Mary's mother
fastened to assure me. But she does
correct me and tell mo Of my mistakes
1 suppose" with q sigh, that 1t Is good
for us mothers to have our daughters
train uR-"
1t II one Of the mysteries Of life that
so few OF the things that are good for
US are agreeable-from the time the
parent says TO the child who sucks her
thumb-'take your thumb out OF your
mouth" to the time when that child.
grown TO young womsnhood, suggests
that the bonnet which her mother wears
is ''hopelessiy old fashioned"
I say advisedly grown Ia young
womanh1od," for sons differ from daugh-
ters. II father has peculiarltieS, the
boys smile systematically and let him
alone. Is It that they do not caro- enough
about how he appears to incur his dis
pleasure by remarlting that certain
things he does are not strictly good form?
Or. is It that q boys training is not
along the lines that makes him notice
petty failings and trifling detans3
We take 1t for granted that sons will
not 10 over-critioal Of their mothers. A
devoted son seldom is. There are several
knows too little about ''the latest
thing in woman's dress to fancy that
his mother Is old-fashioned.
In the second place, IL he has been
properly trained by his mother he feels
for her a chivalry that casts mantle
of tender tolerance over her appearance
and actions. She is always dear little
mother to him--dearer. perhaps, for
certain quaint ways" that would annoy
his sister. They do not interfere with his
ideal of what his mother ought to be-
She In lust mother" that's all. Sup
lose the dear creature does wear trains
when other women are wearing short
skirts? They are her trains. the son as
serts, and IL she feels mere comfortable
when her dainty feet are hidden in folds
of drapery, whose business is IT. He is
glad his mother does not look like a
fashion plate.
At least, all this Us what he would say
If his attention was drawn 10 her
oddities of attire. II these were not
called TO his notice he probably would
not know of their existence.
In the third place. the difference in sex
prevents feminine fallings getting on
his nerves." as they might on the nerves
of a woman or girl.
So. after all it is the daughter who
is guilty of the "trainina" to which the
parent objects.
1T shall stop telling mother when her
hat is crooked" a young girl declared.
she has a way of tossing her head when
animated in conversation, and though
she may start out with her hat in its
proper place-and pinned there.too-by7
the time she has been chatting for half
hour it is over one ear. Yet when 1 say
to her softly and gently; Mother.
straighten your bonnet, dear" she
flushes and is wounded.
To-day she observed that IL was
strange that I was the only person who
ever complained Of her appearance. l
had just called her attention to the fact
that she had spilled something on her
lace jabot. leaving a stain there.
Il am sorry my looks mortify you" she
said stiffy. yet you are the only per-
son who ever complains OF my appear
ance"
II did not say TO her-what is true
that nobody else loves her so dearly,
nobody else is so anxious to have others
see her at her best. 1t actually hurts me
when I think that anyone to whom she
is talking may look at her critically and
wonder why Mrs. G. will wear her hat
over one ear or be surprised to see such
charming woman so untidy about her
dress 1 can imagine such a person
thinking. why. she has on spotty
neok-rig! Yet. much as I love mother
] must allow her to 90 about just as she
happens TO be and keep silent, but when
she says to me. Dear that collar you
have on Is soiled,' am grateful TO her.
But" l ventured lamely, she has
always been in the habit OF correcting
your faults OF manner and OF dress"
"And she has done IL because she loves
met was the uncontradictable reply
Yet she will not see that it IL love for
her and pride in her that make me suG'
gest little changes in her attire
> What would 1 say? l knew she spoke
the truth.
II am very much vexed with my
daughter" a mother told me. because
she allowed me to repeat to caller last
night the very same story which ! had
told him at length upon the occasion OF
his last visit to us. 1t was not until