The Washington herald., 1917-07-11
SELFISH MOTHER LOVE.
by DONOIHT DIX.
The Worlds Highest Paid Woman Writer.

the most important problems in her
iife-that of her relationship with the
men and women her daughters and
sons marry. Mother holds two rad
ically different codes az to the du-
ties of husbands and wives as they
affect her own offspring.
She believes that It is the duty Of
her daughters husband to toll day
and night to supply her Mamie with
all the extravagances she Graves, and
to generally make himself a door mat
before her. She thinks that II is a
terrible imposition for Mamie's hus-
band to expect Mamie to do her own
housework, or even keep house unless
she feels SO inclined. or to practice
any thrift or economy. or do anything
that interferes with her pleasure She
thinks the city Is too hot for Mamie
in the summer and too cold In the
winter, and that the Maine coast or
Palm Beach is her befitting habitat in
incleHent weather.
But mother thinks the city pleasant
at all seasons for Johns wife. John
wife should economic by doing her
own cooking and sewing and. baby
tending, and why on earth should she
consider that she's got a right TO
spend money by gadding around in
stead OF staying at home and making
her hubsand comfortable is some
thing Johns mother will never, never
be able to understand.
The worst phase of mother selfish
ness, however. shows itself in the alb
solute heartlessness women exhibit to-
wards those whom their children
marry. A woman will shut her lips
upon the secret of her child's in
trinity that absolutely units him, or
her. for marriage, and let the wedding
go on, although she knows that the
marriage will wreck the life OF the
unfortunate and innocent man or girl
who is getting her defective daughter
or son.
Murder IS a small crime compared
to this, yet women who esteem them
selves good Christian women. and
who are examples in the community.
commit this inhuman cruelty without
even a pang of remorse.
Not long ago, Just such a case fell
under my observation. A beautiful
and noble young girl. the darling of
her own parents, was invited to make
visit In the home OF a woman who
was leader in the church and fore
most In all good works and philan-
thropy in her town. The woman's
son. an utterly worthless, drunken,
immoral loafer. with a past as black
ms sin could make it. fell in love with
this pure young girl.
The mother urged on the suit in
every possible way. and with such
good result that the unsophisticated
girl married the moral lerer. Not
one word of warning did this mother
say to the girl concerning the pit that
she was laundering into unawares.
Not once did she make a single reve-
lation of her sons vile history. Shn
said nothing OF the sanatariums and
cures that he had been in and out o.
for years
Nor did the mother consider II he
duty to tell the girls parents of tn
sort OF man that their daughter W
about TO marry thourh she knew that
the marriage was bound to brin-
misery to the girl and break her
Parents hearts. She even took stems
TO keep them from finding out the
true character of her son.
You knew your son was not At 70
marry anybody" some one said 70
this woman. How could you sacri-
lice that innocent girl TO him."
thought Perhaps that marriage
might saw" him. II was a chance and
took It" replied the mother. with p
cynical Indifference to evcrvtbing brt
her own Child's good.
Is mothers inhumanitv 10 other
!hothcTs children that makes count
less thousands mourn.
tCoTyrSht lAI7 by the Ub.e,,- s,r5,,-..