The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-09
LETTERS OF
TWO WOMEN
From May, Who Has Too Much Home,
to Kate, Who Has Too Little
BY ZOE BECK4EY.
Cavalonia, Cal. the 10th.

SdNdlOIlld, Odi.s the 1UIN.
l have made up your mind for you,
Kate. You are going a-gypsying.
You are going to shut up your flat
fling a few shirtwaists into a bag,
put a smile on your face and go forth
with Paul on the long trip over the
country. Now / shall give you a num-
Der of good reasons why. First of
all, l can see that l and my troubles
are a problem to you. dear, stanch
friend that you are. If my problemat-'
ical coming to your home is the
slightest tiny factor in your possible
decision not to go with Paul. let me
hurry and tell you. Kits, that the pros
pect of seeing you out in this part Of
the country would offset il about a
million times! Besides-I have about
decided upon something which l be-
lieve will work out for the present
even better than would nv coming
east. l shall tell you about it in my
next letter; this one is to be about
you.
So you are still laundering after a
klddle and real, regular home!
Wen, darlint, the kiddie is great ad-
venture, l grant you, and L would not
part with my two babies for all the
wealth OF all the Indies. Nor would
Like the man in the story-'give a
nickel for another one!"
1 do not believe, Kate, that You
realize what a revolution baby
works in ones life. You, who have
been free always to work and rush
about. how you would squirm at being
tied down Indefinitely and complete
ly! You cannot assume the tie of
motherhood lightly, you know, and
abandon it, as some folks do an I'M
happy marriage No; it means devo-
ton to one object for the next twenty
five years-until you're way past the
prime of life.
Of course, dear, if you were~not so
happily circumstanced in your mar
riage and in your work, or of a sim
pier. quieter temperament, I'd weep
most sympathetically with you. But
somehow L have a feeling that the
charm of your marriage, the success
of your work, will be greater sans
bebe.
If this sounds barbaric, remember
that. l am suffering from what might
be termed all the ills of domesticity.
l am worn out. body and soul. 1
would give my right hand this mo-
ment, for such an opportunity to so
a-Sypsying as you and Paul now
havei
(At this point I had to stop writ
ing to feed and "change" the baby
answer the telephone and haul sonny
| boy out of the wet flowerbed)
The trip is not only a splendid
chance for Paul but for you as well
How few women have opportunity ta
go flashing about the world, seeing
| learning. broadening in experience,
and all the time having a comradely
devoted husband at their side &C
! it while you're young. sis! You've
plenty of time for the home and the
| family afterward.
interrupted here to see what Curt
Junior is bowling about and to put
| peroxide and kisses on the place
where the kitten scratched him when
he tied its tail in a knott
| l tell you, Kate, it is not so easy
to have Just the right degree OF
| domesticity and fomeness. You have
| too little, ] too much. And each OF
us idealiZes the estate of the other
Come out and see for yourself what
| trump and a wreck an unsuccess-
| full marriage has made of me. Bet
! ter half marriage" as you used
to call yours, with it's gay chances OF
! comradeship and travel, than a mar
riage like mine, complete only in its
motherhood
If I carry out the plan that is in
my mind, I'll let you know. Mean
while launch merrily forth upon your
gypsy trip. dear, and regret nothing
Devotedly, MAY.