The Washington times., 1922-10-15
By MRS. THOMAS HARDY
(WHe OF EngLands Noted NoUeisD
What is the Happest Year in Womans Period Following
Engagement Not Always Most Bssfu Time Jealousy Comes
Motherhood Perhaps the Happes-Secret Found in SeSur
rendering. n >-%@e +f 8.

one makes n. and happiness 10
ours II we choose to earn It for
ourselves" True. indeed. ard here
we are back again It the be-
ginning with ths question stiii un-
answered.
AFTER THE ENGAGEMENT.
At first flush the years between
nineteen and twenty-seven might
seem to be those from which the
happiest might be chosen. How.
ever. upon reflection, this idea
must be waved aside. Living IL
an art. and, Of all arts, the one
that needs most careful study.
Some acquire Il moro quickly than
others, perhaps. Some tempestu-
ous souls may never acquire It.
even though they live to be ninety,
which II not likely with such tenn
peraments. .s.. fs g..
It II quite possfbie-it 10 proba-
BILE even-that in most cases the
happiest year Of Q woman's life
comes when she 10 over thirty-five.
Passed then, are the first fret and
storm Of youth. the vain idealiza-
tions Of the young imagination.
But resignation must not be con-
founded with happiness. A year
Of dun aequiescence in fate il not
likely TO bs the happiest year.
One must preserve the vision or
the soul win perish.
There are two periods In Q wom-
ans life which ought to be su-
premely happy. One 10 the year
following her engagement to be
married. In many cases that is
the most rapturousiy blissful
time Of her life. But always? No.
Tho girl engaged to be married
may make that period an unhappy
one for herself. She may be jeal-
Gus. This In not IN inf-equent
trait In women a. wen a. men.
II she be Jealous II 10 likely that
tho year win be the most unhappy
Of her life, instead Of the happiest.
for she win certainly create . host
Of absurd grievances. She may be
selfish and demand much from the
husband.to-be. expecting him to
spend time in attendance on her
which ought to be devoted to build
Ing up . career for their mutual
benefit. ..st
She may desire expensive gifts
that are beyond his means at the
very moment when he should be
providently saving to insure for
her Q future free from money anx-
ieties- This. too. 10 not going to
help her to . particularly good
year.
Higher even than the Joy Of
mutual affection is another kind
Of happiness, the most perfect,
perhaps, that the human mind Is
able to conceive. This may be
found IN the first year Of mother
hood, when the young wife
realizes that q precious life has
been tntrusted to her keeping.
This should be q very foretaste Of
heaven. -
WHAT OF THE UNMARRIED,
: But. alas. there are mothers. a
minority. one IN thankful to say.
who repine at having to give up
certain gaieties and recreatons in
order to devote themselves to the
helpless infant whose care should
be their chief Joy. They may fret
at losing opportunities Of shining
socially. or at interrupting q
career. or some work they imagine
to be higher or more satisfying
than motherhood. One does not
care to dwell much upon the
thought Of such women. 1t 10
more pleasant to think Of the most
perfect sight to be seen in this
universe; the devoted mother bend
ing over her child.
At this point seem to hear
another voice, just one wee bit re-
proachful. asking what Of the un.
married women? Are they, poor
things. to have no happiest year7
What Of the Thousands who can
never become wives. who can
never even hope to be engaged to
be married? Must they resign
themselves to a dull level Of Joy.
less years? Certainly not.
We all know that this is the day
Of the happy and contented bache-
lor girl. the woman who can de-
vote herself cheerfuily to a useful
career by which she can often
bring comfort and little luxuries
within the reach OF friends or
relatives who would otherwise not
know them. But how can one
single out one year Of her life as
the happiest? Frankly. tha: IL
xgaHRl<..ss