The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-14
Dorothy Dix Tails
PsychIe AfaInutritIon-2.
BIZ DOROTHY DIX
worlds Highest Paid Woman Writer,

Father is suffering from psychic
malnutrition, and a lightning cure
could be wrought by mother and the
children telling him how wonderful
and great he is, and how they love
him, and admire him, and thank him
for standing between Them and want.
No man minds being sacrificed to his
family if they make a fuss over him
and call attention to his noble hero
ism. What gets his goat is being
sacrificed to a family that never even
notices that he is a martyr, and that
light their cigarets from the flames
that are curling about him, and go
on talking about the new automobile
they are going to nag him into buying.
Same thing about the ordinary
woman. The domestic career means
a life sentence at hard labor for her.
Bringing up children. Walking the
collie. Cooking. Sewing. Mending
Patching. Stretching one dollar over
the space of five. She develops nerves
Gets to nagging. Is peevish, fretful,
whining, and complaining.
Husband suggests that she had bet
ter see the doctor, and he never
dreams that he and the children have
the only medicine on earth that is a
specific for her complaint. She is
suffering from psychic malnutrition
and all she needs is large, allopathic
does of flattery. She needs to be told
that she grows more beautiful each
year, that she is the greatest man.
ager on earth, and the most wonder
full mother, and that she can cook
better than any ten thousand dollar
chef.
The reason that homework and the
domestic life gets to be so monotO-
nous to women is because it is work
that is taken for granted. 1t has no
claque to applaud it. 1t so seldom
H..
writes, or sings, or paints, or sells
goods, has her work praised, if she
does work, but the women who keep
a house immaculate, and sits her fam
lily to superlative meals, does nc
more than is expected of her. People
gulp down in five minutes a dish that
has taken two hours to prepare, and
nobdy says turkey about it. Nc
wonder that cooks are subject, above
all other individuals to psychic malnu-
triton. The marvel is that they sur
Vive such a lack of appreciation at all
Children grow irritable and unruly
They are not willing to stay at home,
and resent everything that is said
to them. Unmistakable diagnosis
Psychic malnutrition. Nobody thinks
of children having it. We consider il
an adult disease, but children suffer
from 1t even more than grown ups
In MANY families it would be con-
ranything but tell child of his faults
and hold his shortcomings up before
him. That is the reason that young
people are so crazy to get away from
their parents. They are starved out
for a. little appreciation, and they want
to go to strangers who will give it te
them.
Old people are also victims OF
psychic malnutrition, and much OF
their crankiness, and kiIl-joy spirit
could be cured by a little appreciation
a little recognition of all they have
done in life.
1t is a terrible, devastating COM
plant, this heart hunger, and we al
have it. but fortunately we can al
be healers, If we will. So let's get
busy and feed those nearest and dear
est to us on the words of love, and
admiration, and appreciation that will
not only make them live longer, but
make their lives worth while.