The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-19

E HINO tha- many men read t4-e kkI Helping Hand. I wish some of
 them could be made to realize
 \ that a sympathetic interest in
 the work and hopes. ambitions and fears of their women folk would go Tar toward making women satisfied in doing their duty. In the house men and women both often drop all semblance of courtesy or consideration. the lack of which makes home to be spelled with the wrong four letters"
 The above is quoted from a long and interesting letter received not long ago. Most of it Las appeared in another DOT non Of the Corner, but the sentences l have put here seemed to me worthy Of more attention than I could give them when placed with the regular corre- spondence.
 know that many men read the Help ing Hand, Some of them are among my most valued helpers and am sure that those with whom I have exchanged let ters are not the ones who need tc have called to their notice their lack of cour- tesy and consideration in the home And yet have known men-and women, too-who enable one to understand what 'f~~~ @NASShAiS IAlC NOIluteIlL O1 the man who, when some one said in his hearing. There is no place ike home" remarked fervently, Thank Godrf The home that is spelled with the wrong four letters" is found more frequently than we like to believe.
 But IS It ai-ogeth s- to be blamed to the men? I don't think so. I feel that women have it in their power to set the tone of the home, and that no matter now much sympathetic interest their men folk may display it counts for little 1T the women folk do not make a point or conscience of giving an example of thoughtfulness and of courtesy.
 UT course -e all know men who seem impossible to please and whose chief business in life-when they are not away at work-appears to be fault finding If IS they who declare that women have an easy time of it, who belittle all the tolls and cares and anxieties of housekeepine and of motherhood, who growl when something goes wrong, and never find anything to praise.
 l recollect an incident that was told me years ago by friend of such a man as I have described. She was unfor- tunate enough to be spending the day at his house, and at each meal the man criticized everything that came on the table When at supper he objurgated the biscuits because they were so hot. his son, who had been sitting glowerins at the flaws picked in his mothers work broke into speech with voice trembling with wrath.
 Mother, am astonished at you.~ he said. with youthful satire You ought to have baked the biscuits in the refrig- erator.s
 Many of the adverse comments nro- yoke one to similar retorts. Not all women are as gentle as another one I know, who was telling me cf a family party who had descended upon her small apartment, slept in the living roo,n made hotel of the entire domicile. and never spoken word of apprecia ton of anything.
 The last night they were here n.ds some gingerbread" the harassed house. keeper told me, " and had come to the point of nerve tire that --her. some one sald. The gingerbread is very good.' put my face down in my hands and said Thank God! It seemed something to return gratitude for that they should be satisfied with anything
 Is this the exception to the peneraI rule in families? I wish I could think so.
 was relating to a young relative of my own a like experience I had had in one or the families where it is the boast