South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-11
HusbandetteS and Other Husbands
RvEIe RnnL1n -Thrnuoh IInniL nenrto

"Oh dear." sighed the Widow.
1T would be SO much easier to give
delightful house parties, il one did
not have 10 invite all the little an
nexes and appendages, and super
nuIneraries."
Meaning stray bachelors, ! sup
pose, and other driftwood On the
tide OF life?" suggested the Bach
clor. as he watched her address the
last lavendar- tinted envelope, and
carefully lick all the mucilage of
the flap before closing il.
No, Mr.. Weathcrby," corrected
the Widow. Meaning all the little
grey moths 10 whom the most bril-
liant men are invariably married,
and all the 'husbanGcttes' and nus
bands and frances of the most fasCi-
mating women? Why do interest
ing, attractive people always seem
to draw such perfect blanks in the
marriage lottery, anyway? Why do
the peaches always seem 10 pick
prunes in the garden of love ="
Perhaps" said the Bachelor,
because they have so little time 10
give TO that sort OF thing. Ii takes
concentration 10 find a really desir-
able life-mate. You can't do II IN
summer afternoon. or on the side
or between flirtations, or between
dances"
The Widow shook her bronze
head. ruefully.
NO" she declared, Its not that,
at all. It's because they have such
bad taste, such astonishing caPrices.
For instance, I've seen a beautiful,
fascinating girl, with dozens of suit
ors. deliberately choose the runtiest.
stupidest, most colorless, uninte-est-
ing specimen out Of the lot They
always DO. And the most strikingly
brilliant men invariably pick either
brainless geese, or little drab frumps
for wives That's what they
want"
Then. maybe, they are more TO
be scOrned-than pitied." put in the
Bachelor, cheerfully. After all,
, if your husband or wife suits YOU,
isn't that all that is necessary"
Il suppose so, acQuiesCed the
Widow, doubtfully. Perhaps the
strong-minded. intellectual woman,
who marries a cheerful, little, fat
| pink-and white Billiken, or pretty
/ worthless papiermache ornament
/ for her drawing room, is just as
/ happy as the dollIbaby who is we'd
| ded TO a man OF granite, or as the
no doubt OF it," agreed the
/ Bachelor with conviction. Moth
/ ing but Il meachy piece OF human
moss would cling 10 the man OF
| granite, anyhow. His wife must be
either a parasite or a shadow
And the wife OF the humanity
naruo must lead the life OF a fire
man" rejoined the Widow. she
has to be ready to jump every tim,
| the door blows open. She never
knows what is going TO happen
next"
(Which goes to prove" concluded
/ the Bachelor, that matchmakerS
are always trouble makers. You
never can tell by appearances just
what sort Of mate Will make any
man or woman happy"
Nor by looking at a marriage
from the outside, just what there is
/ in it," laughed the widow After
all" she added, the secret OF a
| happy marriage doesn't consist in
getting a perfect husband or an
| ideal wife. but in getting one that
is a perfect 1T for your tempera-
mont. and an ideal match for your
| tastes"
Your own ideal" interpolated
| the Bachelor, decisively.
And when you have q difficult
/ temperament and luxurious tastes. "
| continued the Widow. no doubt a
/ bit OF bric-a-brac, like a husband
/ cite or a toy Pom is moro soul
/ satisfying than something solid. like
4 cash register. And perhaps q
/ Pince Charming with nothing TO do
all day but hans around and tell
/ YOU how wonderful YOU are is more
/ inspiring than good provider"
/ .'Exactly.'' commented the Bach
elor approvingly, And perhaps the
| dull. drab. little women who arc
| married 10 DULLES and tyrantS and
/ the placid women who are married
| TO thund erstornas and grouches are
| only too delighted 20 have somebody
| 70 infuse a little excitement into
l their Iives-perhaps. they would
/ rather be brOw-beaten than bored.
/ And doubtless the hen-peckeG nus
/ bands and over7vorIed wives enjoy
! being henpecked or overworked-or