Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-02
Life'S Problems
Are Discussed
BY MRS. WILSON WOODROW

" heItNST we CO. Whatever we 40,
we never escape the drama of life.
The locale varies. the scene shifts.
but the same old problem plays thai
were enacted in the Stone Age are
still presented; and the performance
is continuous.
From the top of bus a capital
box-seat for an eavesdropper, l over
/ heard a mother and daughter inter-
preting an ever-recurring sketch OF
family life
Mabel was urging "Mother"to give
up her own home. and come and
live with Walter" and herself.
Mother objected. She looked har-
| assed and almost on the verge of
tears. 1t was evidently not their
first discussion of the subject.
Mabel however, was a persistent
nagger. She said, that anxiety about
her mothers health and welfare,
coupled with looking after her own
house and husband, was wearing her
TO skin and bones. 1t was not right
for a woman of Mothers" age to
live alone. AS it was she, Mabel.
spent all her time in running back
and forth, in Walters house Mother"
should have her own room with all
her own belongings about her, and
have responsibility in the world and
could pass the rest of her days in
enjoying herself
1t seemed to strike Mother" as
it did me, that this was not a wild
! ly alluring prospect. Who wants to
| be without any responsibilities?
| We're dead when we are.
Back and forth the argument
| surged. Mother" held her own fairly
we'll. but Mabel was born to argue
and determined to have her way.
Mothers" contention was that she
objected to being dragged up by
| the roots. In her own little place
no matter how humble, it was, she
! was somebody; she could do exactly
| as she pleased. But in Mabers home
she would be neither flesh, fowl mol
good red herring. She would not bt
a guest and neither would she have
the purchased right to demand wha
she wanted. She would just bt
Mabefs old mother who had come t
live with her. And it was plain tC
be seen that she hated the thought
IF only you and l were to b'
considered. it would be all right,
she said, But there's Walter"
Walter wants YOU" cried Mabe
reproachfully. He thinks it's dread
/ 1uls yOuI living lutIt all bS SOuISelI
don't think you have any righ
to speak that way of Walter"
81 am very fond of Walter" salt
Mother" But it is his home. H
has first right there, and you mus
consider his ways, not mine. In m!
own home 1 can do just as l wan
to; in yours, 1 would have to tax,
thought OF two other people in every
thing l did or said. l can't do it
am too old to change"
Mabers sulks permeated the at
mosphere. Mother" was sorry anC
tried to placate her: and then the
argument began all over again.
got on the bus here, but 1 left
with the conviction that Mother,
against here better judgment, was
going to yield-and go to Jail.
The "Mabels" of this world are
so dead sure they are always right
that they have no compunctions
whatever about mussing up other
peoples lives. Live, and let live,
has no place in their creed.
1t was impossible for this one to
see her mothers point of view
When Mother" came to live with
| herself and Walter" she would be
russed over. and repressed. and told
what to do and what not to do. Used
| TO airing OWh OplHlOHs, lne OIQ
| lady would soon have to learn to con-
ceal them. They might not coincide
| with Walters, or what Walter want
| ed to hear. Her friends of an older
generation would not be particularly
welcome, and would probably be con-
sidered hopeless bores. In short
Mother would soon begin to feel
old and laid on the shelf. and that
would be the end of her.
If economic reasons were to be
considered. Mother" might better
| live in one room and be her own
| mistress, with pet cat for COM
| pany, or a trusty dog for a guard.
than to "sit on a cushion and sew
a fine seam in MabeTs house.
A woman said to me: "I live
with my mother-in-law, and we get
along very well together; but
l yearn for a place of my own. My
husband can't understand it. He
thinks 1 should be perfectly
happy"
| The old adage that no house is
! big enough for two mistresses holds
good in the main. There are rare
exceptional cases where all is peace
and harmony; but this is usually be-
cause one of the women involved
has suppressed her individuality un-
| til she is a mere nonenity.
Peace is bought too dear at such
| a price.