The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-09
DOROTMY DIX TALKS
BY DOROTHY DIX
Worlds Highest Paid Woman Writer.
Taking Stock.


up his gains and losses for the past
year. He estimates the value of the
g pods on his shelves, writes off so
much for bad debts, SO much for mis-
takes, so much for the wear and tear
OF the plant, an finds out where he
stands.
Unless he is a fool he does not try
to deceive himself He does not try
to make himself think that he is bet
ter off than he is, that his business
has been more prosperous, or that ms
chances of success are better than they
really are. He looks the facts squarely
in the face, and if he has any intelli-
{ nee at all he profits by the knowl-
edged thus gained. He strengthens
the weak spots in his business. He
e larges in what has showed itself TO
be "a favorable direction so that when
the next new years stock taking takes
place there is bigger balance on the
right eide of the ledger.
What a pity that we do not all at
the commencement of a new year fol-
low the merchants example and,
casting vanity and personal affection
our families and try to see how we
stand, what goods we carry on our
shelves, whether we have gained or
lost during the past twelve months,
and so determine whether we are
headed TO- prosperity or ruin!
Suppose a wife shCulo take stock of
herself She would say:
ct am AZ years old. I am not young
or beautiful amy more. My hair is
turning grizzled and 1 do not take as
much care as I used to in dressing 1t
becomingly. l am getting fat. 1
weigh ten pounds more than did last
January. 1 am getting lazy and 1 find
it too much of bother to dress up
of an evening when there is going to
be nobody at home but the family.
When I take stock of my physical ap-
pearance 1 perceive, altho l had not
noticed it before, that it has depre-
ciated at least % per cent in the last
year.
LAS I look them over I perceive
that l am not carrying an attractive
line of mental goods. either. I've got
an over supply of nerves, too much
picked tongue, and that my CONVEX
sational reserve is dull and heavy and
runs mostly 30 complaints of the SER
wants. spats with the children. de-
mands for money, and fretful whin-
ing because 1 can't have everything
that rick women have.
IF 1 we're a tired man coming home
at night to a wife who had only that
sort of mental pabulum to offer me,
think I'd shop a little farther. and
when I counted up what it cost me to
support that sort of a family L would
thank that I had bought an awful gold
brick.
ION the ether hand, I perceive that
my stock of household accomplish
ments is of the very best grade. My
cooking, thrift land management are
strictly A No. r. Ditto sock darling
and buttons and seeing to my hus-
bands personal comfort. and while my
devotion may not have any frills about
it, or be put up in ia ICY package. it
is the genuine article and of the
brand he has tried for years and found
reliable.
'In balancing my accounts, there
fore, perceive that / am keeping an
CID fashioned domestic store which
has come to a crisis in its history. 1t is
now at a standstill, bit it must newt
ably go backward under the old man
agement and land in bankruptcy, or
else l must hustle around and bring
it up to date if 1 expect to make it
prosper.
so it's up to me to give everything
a coat of new red and white paint,
dress it up and throw away about
thirty pounds of superfluous old goods
and put some pep and ginger into the
management Moreover. as l realize
that / am dependent for my very life
itself on one customer it is my cue to
consider his tastes and whims and
jolly him along so that he will not
be tempted to even glance in at the
show window of the pretty new shop
next door"
of himself and say: HIM, 1 don't
know but what I've let my lot of ply
steal attractions run pretty low. HIM.
Here's one bald head, one bay window,
three chins. lot of fat, and some
clothes that are always in need of
pressing, but I don't know that it
makes any particular difference as my
chief customer doesn't seem to care
much for looks.
Mentally I carry two lines of goods
one for nome consumption and the
other for business and society. The
latter limo is extra fancy and attractive
wit that bubbles like champagne;
spicy stories; sugary compliments that
melt like bon bonS in the mouth;
clever cpigrams that people roll on
their toneles; flavor of good humor
and geniality permeating it all, but
never serve these tidbits at my fam
lily table.
For home use every day L carry
a supply of grouches, guinness and
dumbness that you have to wish on
people to get them to take. I've seen
, my wife looking at my company goods
and yearning for a taste of them hut
she's never got a bite of them since
my counting days, and my children
don't know that 1 even carry them.
.On the other hand, I've got an
over supply of money and I lavish
automobiles and clothes and jew els
and all sorts of bought luXuries on my
family.
But in striking a balance with do
nestle life do not seem to be max
ing a success of it, My wife seems
disspiriIed and lonely. l am not ac-
quainted with my children and they
appear 70 regard me merely as Il check
book. My daughters are growing up
to be snobs and fashion plates, my
sons to be wild and dissipated.
Therefore, L perceive that unless
my family life goes into bankruptcy i
must reorganiZe the business. i must
curtail the money making end and ex-
pand and develop the low and per.
sonal association end"
Suppose parents had the courage to
really take stock of their children and
| say to each other:
Here's Susan. She's as good as
gold; she's strong. healthy and ener-
getic; she's got excellent good, bard