The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-22

rHE writer of the following letter
appeals to the opinion of the Cor
ner l am sure that the majority
of the constituency will be inter-
ested in what is said and in the
subject of which the writer treats:
My daughter and her husband Wis
tied us recently and we were all invited
to a reception one evening. | intro
duced her to several women, among
them being Two 1 especially wished her
to meet They talked with her for about
i've minutes, until one of them sudden
ly remembered something cute her little
Johnny had said thai day and that
settled it, They completely forgot that
as representatives of two of the leading
families they should be doing their best
towards making the stranger with them
feel at home.
My daughter listened patiently (sh4
has been married several years, but
ha. no children), but could plainly see
thai she was bored, SO after a while /
managed to find more congenial COM
pany for her. Later she asked me not
to introduce her to aly more mothers,
since the majority of them are down
right selfish. No matter where they
are. instead of trying to enjoy them
selves ana let others do the same, all
they can talk about is their children
as though strangers cared about the
youngsters sayings and doi2gs!
" asked my husband if when men
meet to enjoy a pleasant evening they
talk about their children and he re-
piled Scornfully that man who would
do that sort OF thing would be consid-
cred a fool. When 1 said l wondered
why women die he returned that the
majority OF women are selfish and mar
row minded Id 90 -ot respect the rights
OF others.
" omeL have SO many glorious OPP
portunities these days for developing
themselves mentally and no matter how
d. rly they love their children they
should De able to forget them long
enough to ENJOY a pleasant evening oc-
casionally.
Let us hear from the Corneritr ca
til question. A. f. B."
l have pondered over this letter for
some time and l am interested to know
how far the opinions of the constituency
will coincide with mine.
In the first place, / do not feel that
such discussion of ones children In
the presence of others necessarily indi-
cate. selfishness. l am inclined to think
that most women are pleased to talk Of
children. l grant that 1t is in bad taste
if they can talk of nothing else and
that 1t shows more consideration if
they do not confine their conversation
exclusively to this topic when there
arc childless women present, but near
ly all women feel an interest In the
children of others, especially when this
leads up to an opportunity t. tell of the
youngsters they have known.
More than this, it shou.a be borne in
mind that, after all, her children are a
mothers most absorbing occupation
She may not wish to tell of their say
ings and doings because these are hui
morous or clever; her desire may be
TO compare notes with other mothers
in order that she may secure SUCCESS
tons which may be helpful to her In
training her own little ones l know
for myself that some of the best hints
as to what to do as well as what not
to do have come my way L listening
to and joining In the talk of other moth
ers upon their problems, their failures,
and their successes. When a woman
has children of her own she has
craving to know what is being done in
the line of child development and it Is
natural that she should bring forward
the things that perplex her and wish