New Britain herald., 1916-05-06
Madge Really to Blame for "SpoiIing'' Dicky?

| Talk about the first year of mar Tiage telling the story. It's the first 1 two or three months that set the 1 pace for life in most cases.' 1 I was in no mood to challenge Mrs l Underwood's conclusions. After our l luncheon we had come back to the I fire in the library, before which she 1 had told me the secret which Dckys 1 past life and hers shared, and in the l telling forever banished Ny resent lnent against her.
 I know that her little s--tempt at philosophy anent the first months of marriage was the opening wedge of a warning she meant to give me con- corning my life with Dicky. She~had already asserted that Dickys un- oontrollable temper and jealousy had made a general mess of things, and I had not contradictede her. As I waited for her next words I thought erimly that if the first months of my marriage were to set the pace for fife, I would never be able to keep up the pace
 "Of course, where either husband CT wife was a dominant, masterful personality and the other end of the matrimonial sketch is a human door mat, tho problem is easy" she said. Dominant personality sweeps mag nihcient1y through life. and doormat trails along after, happy in being al- lowed to breathe the same air. There are no complica tions there. But when Greek meets Greek, when two people of equal or nearly equal mentality and will power marry, there are bound to be fireworks until each can look at things from thy others point of view.''
 For Greek meets Creek I suppose I may read Dicky and Margaret 2" I tried to put the question gayly but my voice betrayed the tension I was under.
 Exactly" Mrs. Underwood glanced sharply at me- And in your case the problem is complicated by the results of Dicky's training. His mother and sisters certainly did their level best to spoil a naturally un- selfish, generous, thoroughly lovable chap. I don't like to see you con- tinuing the process"
 Mrs. Underwoods Suggestion.
 "I!" My amazement was genuine. I could not imagine how I was spoil ing Dicky. Indeed I had censured myself for not yielding more to his whims.
 Yes, you! Not exactly the same way, but"
 She stopped, gazed a long moment into the fire, then turned to me abruptly.
 May I be perfectly frank with you, as a mother or sister would be-"
 "Of course.'
 Then take two little rules for y our guidance. Don't take Dicky seriously, as general thing, and be a martyr!"
 I flushed resentfully, but said nothing. She bent toward me.
 Don't think me presumptuous." she pleaded. The earnestness in her voice made me ashamed of my mo- mentary pique.
 "I couldn't do that" I returned. 'Please tell me just what you think. I need advice sOrely.'
 Tell me-" she said abruptly. "Every time Dicky lets loose in one of those tantrums of his you think your emotional world has about come to an end, don't you?"
 I nodded not daring to trust the stea adiness of my voice.
 Then the sooner you learn to
 
 stead of weeping over them, the hap pier you will be. Pardon me, my dear. I don't mean really weep-I don't think you are a teary woman, but there are tears of the spirit as well as of the eyes, and you are wasting them when you shed them ever those ridiculous childish out bursts of Dicky's. You may need them in a real crisis some day, and have no outlet for your soul.
 Remember this, Dicky has a devil Of a temper and the most aggravating tongue when he is in a rage of any enc I know. But he never means anything he says when he is angry indeed, I doubt if he ever emem bers the things he does say, and-he is a royal repenter, as you no doubt know"
 Did I not know? Memories of Dicky's royal repentance thrilled me. But I had not time to visualize them. Mrs. Underwood was speaking again. This time her voice held q graver no<e.
 "-\II the Cards.'
 'tThe real danger in your life with Dicky will come later You see"- she hcsitatcd, then went on steadily -"Dicky is not the most stable per son in the world. He has fancied Himself in love a dozen times hc probably will imagine the same thing @ dozen times more before he dies.
 Don't misunderstood me-" as she saw the look on my face. "I really believe you are the one grand pas sion of the boys life. You have all the cards in your own hands-but-- I am wondering if you know how to play them."
 "AlI the cardr n rl1r handStn The