The Washington herald., 1921-10-12
CLERGYMAN WOULD
SCHOOL 'IN-LAWS'
NPROPERCONDUCT
Blames Is Per Cent of
Wrecked Homes on
Interference.
ny DOROTHY DIX.


per cent Of the wrecked homes
the country are broken up by
sne Wife's mother or the husbands
her' urges the establishment of
noois In which mother-in-laws
tuid be taught how to be in-laws
.ead OF being outlaws as they are
at present.
ne idea Push 1t along. Un.
touotediy most mother-in-laws are
IN, sore need of an education that
,tt INT them UP above the primi-
thn animal Jealousy that makes
thsin nate their son-in-laws and
er daughter-in-laws, sight un-
seen. because they cannot endure
' their children should love any
one else better than they do them.
o, mother-in-law needs to be
iuunded In the elementary prin-
pies OF justice so that she will
ny Ivy mink that the man who is mar
70 her daughter should slave
iinseil 10 death to provide her with
nouslnes and pearls, while she
noius that the girl who is married
.r 70 her son should do her own cook
ing and not expect to have a new
nat oitener than once in two years
furthermore. it would certainly
make Tor sweetness and light IL
iihother-in-law could have IL forcibly
impressed on her mind that every
young couple have a right to man
ase their own affairs in their own
way, and have their quarrels with
out having mother to referee them.
Sor' can one deny that there will
oe a slump in the divorce market
wnen mother-in-laws learn how to
keep their fingers out of their
SnIdren's pies. and acquire a wis
uoh and grace that will enable
tEem to make their visits like
ahSels-few and far between.
But IN the in-law muddle the
mother-in-laws are not the only
sinners. There are also present the
uaughter-in-laws and son-in-laws,
and II II is advisable for mother.
ln-laws to be taught the ethics of
the in-law career, why Is II not
equally advisable for the son-in-
laws and the laws TO
fe likewise instructed in how to
conduct themselves properly in the
station of life to which they are
calling themselves7
surely a school for in-laws, in
which they would be taught the
duties and amenities of in-law-
@ noodness. so to speak. would fill a
long-felt want. and save many O
heart ache. many a barrel of wasted
tears, and many a sordid family
squabble.
The kindergarten class in the
college for In-Laws should begin
ey instructing the tender mind OF
the young bride and groom in the
folly of entering their new rela-
tionship with chips on their shoul-
ders. 1t is bromide to say that life
is a mirror that gives, us back ouI
own reflection. But IL is true. And
IT is especially true of family life.
The members of our famine,
whom we love best are those who
show a. perfect partiality for us
Those we admire are the ones who
we dislike are those who are cold
and distant to US, and critical Of
US. Therefore. any bride or groom
who wishes to draw mother-in-law
fangs. and cushion her claws, hai
only to make up to the old lady
and show that he or she desires L
win her affection.
There should be a special chaiI
in the School for In-Laws devote,
exclusively to cultivating an artis
tic line of jolly to be applied Il
mother-in-laws by brides and bride
grooms who have qualified as effici
ency experts in spreading the salve
The School for In-I.aws should ais,
give it's pupils a brief course II
natural history. showing that mar
riage does not automatically caus,
a woman to cease being a daugh
ter because she has become a wife
or prevent man from remaining
son after he has added a wife (,
himself. Neither does marriage pu
a stop to tender family ties. an
change the love OF men and womel
for their parents into indifference
Or hate. as so many in-laws seen
to think that IL should.
The College for In-Laws shoul
lay stress on the fact that ther
are no half portions of virtue. an
that the woman whose jealousy de
mands that her husband shall sacri
fee the mother who bore him l.
her whim. is so lacking in loyalt,