The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-08
LIE TTERS OF
TWO WOMEN
A Way Out.
BY ZOE BECKLEY.

Cavalonia. Cal Wednesday.
Kate, Old Friend:
I was standing by the kitchen sink.
wiping my eyes on the dishtowel,
when your letter came. I was very
unhappy, Kits. The world seemed
just one huge weller of greasy dishes,
soiled baby clothes, meals to get,
stockings to mend and cross husbands
and rela tives 60 battle with. Then
your letter. dear, with its life-saving
plant Come to you, you say. and ex-
change my baby for a taste of work!
to lend you my kiddie; you to lend
me the sort of occupation 1 crave! Oh,
my blessed old girl, how thankful l
ami
To have an aim in life is about the
best thing there is, Kate. You have
given me one. 1 saw myself nope
less drudge, without even the Satls-
faction the drudge finds in pleasing
her master. For Curtis seems never
pleased with me.
Now see the future tinted a little
with rose 1t is awful to feel you are
capable of decent things. yet Will
never have chance at anything but
dishwashing and country church
bazaars!
get me into such a down" frame of
mind: Curtis and 1 had series OF
depressing jangles and for fort
night have shown each other scant
courtesy 1t originated in trip l
made to Los Angeles. 1 simply got
woozv here all alone with the babies,
SO I hired a good dame to take care
.-nf them for an afternoon took SO
had scraped together, Got on a trolley
car and lit out of town.
snopped KitSie-actually Shopped!
Bought Curt jr shoes and rompers,
and the baby a sweet little coat such
"a bargain. dear, for $4:29. Then L
went to a movie and had two hours OF
solid bliss, with a ten-cent bag OF
candy on my lap and nothing on my
mind but last years hat
Returned home glowing; only to pc
met by a scowl and the news that
AUNT Sarah and two KIDS WouIo
grace our home-to stay until tney
For five tending the babies and max
ing a scullion of myself Tor an m
definite period did not have the ap-
neal for me that it might Tor d ihore
devoted housewife
Instead of putting Welcome on
Tho doornat. | showed displeasure-
and thick, dark clouds gathered over
the household.
Newt morning Curt wouldn't speak
and / refused to make b1scults ioi
breakfast (the last being uneatapie1,
M offered pancakes instead, which
a-orsvated the situation to such an
estent that our Sunday drive was
eliminated p1aox
and hostilities continued ana muiu-
nIied until the excess baggage IN the
form of Aunt Sarah and her brats
arrived. Politeness was assumed be
fore the guests, but frigid silence
nnnctuated by lightning thrusts pre-
vailed in the privacy of our room
friend husband wrapping himself up.
like an Indian in a. blanket on the
edge of the bed each night.
This continued for week. 5When
an uncaIled-for piece of cruelty on
Curtis part crystallized an idea that
had been working in the back of my
head for long time 1 donned my
arnost becomings," took the car to
T,os'' and visited the offices of five
of the biggest business concerns there,
asking for a job as stenographer-
In several of the places the men
were Observation-Disclosures courteous,
usinesslike-until l mentioned sal
ary. So many people are willing to
work out here for almost nothing that
twelve dollars is considered princeiy
paw. and fifteen is about the maxi
fnumi What little encouragement was
held out melted into GOODNESS when
they learned 1 was married and
mother No one seems want a woman
who has other interests than her Of
| flee job.
| 1 came home weary and disco ur-
aged. went back to my drudgery and