The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-30
THE NEW
GENERATION
MARGARET REVIEWS HER YOUTH
IN JOAN
Blu JANE PHELPS

Chapter 2.
As the first loneliness of her posi-
ton wore away. Margaret discovered
with pleasureable surprise that SIZE
was living in a greater state of free
dom than her mother had permitted
herself, arbitrary as she had been.
Someway she felt sorry for her
mother. But more than anything else
was she sorry for herself, for her
hide-bound childhood, her colorless
girlhood.
Her child never should have to feel
as she did.
Margaret was shocked to find she
had stopped grieving for either hus-,
band or mother; that her new free
dom of thought and action had been
SO delightfully."- pleasant it had put
somber thoughts and remembrances
out of her mind.
Her days were spent planning for
little Joan-who was to grow up like
a flower IN the sunlight of the mother
love Margaret lavished upon her; her
become when she was grown to girl
hood. Joan was such a little darling
BY the time the baby was four years
old she had sensed her mothers atti-
tude to q certain extent, and often
took advantage of it-as was but nat
ural.
Margaret never had said don't to
her. The mo, no, baby must not" had
no place in her vocabulary. If the
child were spoiled, as all the neigh
bors,' friends of her mothers, claim
ed she would be, why she, Margaret,
would take the responsibility.
Always she declared her child
should not have all personality, all
originality, crushed out her charac-
ter; that she should not grow up the
colorless woman that Margaret felt
herself to be.
That she too. was growing ont of
the rut of suppressed emotion and
speech at the sameg time she was al
lowing her child entire freedom of ex-
preston, never occurred to Margaret
her own horizon, her vision of people
and things, would have been sur
prise had anyone mentioned it to her.
Had Margaret expressed her real
feelings she would have said:
II live only for Joan-to see that
she wishes to be without interior
ence"
Yet Joan was unconsciously the
cause of the birth of a new Margaret.
In her desire to be a companion and
chum to her daughter as she grew
older, Margare0 commenced a course
of study. She practised her music
indefatigably when she found the lit
tie girl was inclined to be musical.
She must hear good music. She must
know good music, then perhaps she
will be willing-of her own free will
to study it. Margaret also kept up
her study of French and italian which
her mother had insisted she should
speak. She spoke French to the little
Joan. whose accent must be perfect.
Her whole life was built about the
tiny golden haired girl. Yet uncon-
sciously she grew younger, happier,
more intrigued with life as the days
and months passed swiftly by.
During her girlhood Margaret had
known many lonely hours. During
her short married life she spent many
sad ones. Time had dragged. Now
the days were not long enough for all
she longed to do so that Joan's future
might not know the boredom which
had been hers.
Joan was not like her either men
tally or physically. Margaret was
black-eyed, black-haireds with small,
aristocratic features, Joan was a
golden haired, blue eyed girl. with
piquant features and a skin of daz-
zling wilderness.
Who does she take after?" one of
the neighborS asked.
Some remote ancestor. perhaps.
Mother was not blonde. I am like
father am glad she is different, -
Margaret had replied.
She wanted Joan to be different
You indulge her too much. Some
day you will be sorry" they told her.
Il think not" was Margaret's smil-
ing reply.
Your mother never INDUCED you"
Perhaps that is just the reason I
let Joan do as she likes" she retorted
Margaret Hayden is spelling that
child. Some day she will rue the course
she Is taking" the neighbor whose ad-
vice had been spurned, informed her
They seem very happy together.
Margaret looks about II. guess 1
wouldn't attempt to advise her If I
were you"
Il only do 1t for her good. Her
mother would rise in her grave If she
could see the way her grandchild Is
pampered. And such a name-Joani"
(Tomorrow-Joan commences school. }