Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-18
Woman,s Life and Loue
Mothers and Daughters
nv VINIFRED HARPER COOLEl

Is of no Importance. whereas the girl
thinks IL the most exciting event that
ever happened in all history. She re.
sents mothers lack OF sympathy and
understanding. When these expert
rnces multiply she turns away in
even to tell the truth. Many girls
systematically lie and deceive their
mothers, yet are doing nothing objec-
tionable to hide. They simply say !:
"She doesn't understand, and Just prizes
through curiosity and cruelty, and l
won't tell her a thing "
know a mother who Is very young
and beautiful. She and her only daugh-
ter are like two exquisite sisters. This
mother prides herself ON her affection
for her girl. She is passionately mater
nal. But, she nags and questions, and
fuses, till the daughter, being naturally
tactful and amiable, and determined
not to have continual pickering and
quarreling, has worked out n systematic
deception. She evades and lies, and de-
ceives, yet she is very good girl,
and never commits any actions she
confded in an older woman pathetic
little quarrel she had had with her
sweetheart. She wanted mature advice.
based on a knowledge "of male psy-
chology. "You understand" she ex.
claimed. You are a woman of the
world !" That mother would have beer
furious had she known the girl did not
reveal every action and thought-that
indeed she did confide in another.
The same young mother ia frankly
jealous Of the daughters youth She
Is widow and sentimental, and al
though the two do not have the same
men as friends and callers, the mother
feels that just the presence Of n grown
daughter Is shock and disagreeablc
fact that startles and displeases men
admirers who call.
There are selfish old mothers who
keeping her from marrying, as they
never would have monopolizcd a son.
They are querulous and like YAM
pire, sucking the young blood and Joy
and enthusiasm. I once knew a woman
ninety years old, tiny little creature,
whose will was as indomitable as that
of n Nero. She ruled her daughter (a
woman of nearly seventy y with iron
severity, and hurled nasty innuendoes
at her all the time, although she was
living under her roof. A son tended
to her whims and carried her about,
q so living on the sisters hospitality.
The ancient mother never neSltateQ TO
denounce her daughter before every one,
contrasting the son and daughter, in
sisting that the son was an angel of
kindness, whereas the daughter was
not
What is the secret Of the insidious
sex battle between such women, even
when they are of the closest blood tie
in all nature?
The case for mothers Is that so
many young girls of today are resist
ing with every fiber of their being all
restraint and authority. They refuse
kindly advice, or to be guided by II
knowledge based on many years OF
experience. They think they know it
all and that their mothers never have
gone through the same problems and
profted by them. A recent Broadway
stage success pictures the modern
generation Of girl in rich circles. go
ing the pace, like fast women of former
ages. Excessive drinking and smok-
ing, and loose conversation and action.
with no interest in dignifed or refined
phases of life, characterize them. The
dramatist. who is woman. claims
that it is the spirit of the times, but
that gir's really are sweet and pure
at heart.
If mothers and daughters could Just
bridge the gulf between youth and
maturity they might get together and
establish sane code of actions