The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-27
LETTERS OF
TWO WOMEN

BY ZOE BECKLEY.

Kate Dear:
Your letter helped Funny, isn't it,
how hearing of somebody else's trou-
b1es makes your own seem less bad !
The morning after the incident wrote
of, Curtis was contrite. Almost sym
pathetic-for him. 1 guess I looked
a wreck. 1 felt it. 1 didn't sleep
much; never do now.
But 1 feel better. 1 thought it was
because Curtis been kinder lately.
His mother says it is merely the calm
that comes to every woman when
nature is preparing her for the or
deal. Probably she's right.
Anyhow, it's a strange feeling,
Kits--sort of floating. AS if some
thing else besides your own strength
were holding you up and protecting
you. You have vague sense of ar
restment, as If at last the world had
realized the great thing that is going
to happen to you, and was pausing
to see that you get safely through.
My baby clothes are all made
such stock of darlingness-and my
house is in order. Everything is ar
ranged for, and suddenly I seem to
have no fear. Kate, tits
hard to explain the changes that the
coming of a baby work in a womans
soul. Perhaps 1 can best express it
and mind seem to be taken posses
sion of. wrought anew, cleaned
strengthened and purified of selfish
ness
For months. you see. Kits. you
simply have to live for some one else
friends You belong, first of all, to
your baby. though. You find your
self doing things for the good OF
the kiddie." You find sacrifice an
| actual pleasure. Things you used to
think necessary for your happiness
s1I, ~,
| simplest comforts and pleasures are
! received with gratitude.
Life appears in a different aspect
You see deeper into motives and into
peoples hearts. You understand
! causes and effects better. You for
You take interest in new kinds Of
| people-in children and in the old
the poor and the sick. You are more
| sensitive. more emotional
This makes you do a lot of queer
things. But on the whole. Kit, moth.
erhood is a great little teacher and
| educator was going to say broad
your ribald jests!
Yes. my hopes for the baby have
been a sta bilizer They have just
about. saved my mind these Ions
| months in kerrNville. For with al
due respect for Curtis. he has beer
just d III ulSdppOlIlIIllS III Tie IIldll0l
of mental companionship.
| He is such a Sphinx His energies
all run to physical exercise, and mine
to mental, especially in my present
state.
No one knows how I have missed
you, Kits, How desperately 1 have
| longed for someone to whom 1 might
talk of other things than the price OF
lots in Kerryville as against those in
Durkinsboro. or whether the war will
| make COW feed so high that the bach
| lot had better be planted to alfalfa
or how the hall where the ladies
literary socisty'' meets ought to be
decorated for the church fair.
And to think that you are suffer
| ing from an overdose of intellectual
ityi :! Well, you don't get any SYM
pathy from me, madam. For good.
ness sake, Kits, stop thinking you
| don't know enough to be the equal OF
PauTs friendsi Idiocy! Valuable
knowledge doesn't all come from
| books by a long shot You know
life and work and poverty and indie
pendence and love and motives and
all the things that really count Be
| satisfied. The book learning com IS
| easiest. Goodbye, darling. Wen
telegraph you the news.
Yours happily, MAIZE.