The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
THE NEW
GENERATION
INTRODUCING JOAN.
By JANE PHELPS


Chapter 1
Margaret Hayden had been very
properly raised-in the opinion of all
her mothers friends, as well as of her
mother herself. The mother was a
stickIer for propriety, etiquette and
manners, and Margaret's girlhood as
well as her childhood had been one
series of: You must not do that, dear;
it isn't proper" DO not do that
again!" No, you cannot go, it isn't
the place for a girl of your age mo,
they will be late and it looks badly for
a young girl to be out late" etc, etc,
ad hbitum. ad infinitum.
When Margaret had married Henry
Hayden, her mother had been more
than satisfied. Why should she not
be? Had not she made the match?
Henry Hayden was just 80 years old,
a solemn sort of individual possessed
of a small fortune and all the habits
of an old bachelor. Margaret was just
20 and had no idea of rebelling, altho
she looked with envy at the young
girls who had married boys of their
own age and seemed to have such
good times.
cit is very suitable MATCH her
mother had told her when Margaret
spoke of her elderly suitors age.
But 1 should like to wait while.
Mother. I don't want to marry any
body, yet
Everything is arranged. We will
begin at once to shop for your trous-
seau," her mother replied.
Margaret said no more. From past
experience she knew it would avail her
nothing.
And she did not know that her con-
ventionaI mother had another reason
than expediency of a financial sort in
marrying her to this "old man." as he
seemed to her-that fearing death
suddenly from an incurab1e disease, of
which she knew nothing, her mother
had deliberately angled for Henry
Hayden as husband for her daughter,
man suitable in every respect to care
for her.
Margaret's father had passed away
a year after his marriage. People who
knew him said that Margaret resem-
bled him. There was nothing of her
mother in her, either in looks or dis
position. Yet she had been so DOM
mated by that mother that all color
seemed to be lacking in her character.
Il wouldn't stand it," one of her
girl friends said to her upon one oc-
casion. Her mother had refused her
permission to go on a straw ride, al
tho the party was to be chaperoned.
Yes, you would.' was Margaret s
answer.
On her twentieth birthday Mar.
garet married Henry Hayden. With
in year both Nher husband and her
mother passed away. Margaret was
left with a baby girl just a month
old. t0af ~-e-s
Her first act of rebellion was when
she named the baby. Her mother
had wanted it called Mary; her hus-
band had rather thought Martha, his
mothers name, was more appropriate.
Margaret's mother died when the
baby was but a week old, her husband
three weeks later
1t was fortunate the child had not
been christened. Now she should
have a pretty name-not Martha, or
Mary, or any such plain name, but
something sweet, a name that sounded
pretty.
Naturally. Margaret grieved for her
mother; perhaps too for her elderly
husband. But it was not the grief of
child who has been petted and
loved, or of the wife who misses a
companion.
After a bit she had a feeling of
freedom she never before had ex-
perienced. There was no one to say:
You must not!" or You mustl" Her
marriage. and had never ceased to be
the arbiter of Margaret'N actions.
Henry Hayden had scenic Ugly taken
his cue from his mother-iA-law, and
had also helped to make Margaret feel
her dependence.
the tiny babe nesting in the crook of
her arm. And 1 never shall say
you shall, or you shall not! I am
going to let you grow up Just happy
because I won't boss you all the time"
The child was chfistened Joan
Hayden.
The friends of Margaret's mother
were scandalized. They had supposed
it settled that the child should be
called Mary" after her, or Martha
after Henry Hayden's mother. When
they said so, Margaret only smiled,
and said:
Il have named her Joan"
A bit of the rock-like will she had
inherited from her mother had never
before emerged Now 1t waste have
free play.
Margaret bought and read books
galore on allowing children the
privilege of self-eXpression, a chance
for their personalities to grow; on the
unwisdom of repression unless one
wished to kill all, originality in the
child.
Joan shall have her chance" she
would say often.
(Tomorrow-Margaret renews her