The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-11-29
Martha
Her Column

Martha Lee viii be glad TO give advice on
problems OF Times readers For personal
reply. send stamped. self addressed envelope.
Questions viii be withheld from publication
at the writers request
There used to be a familiar ex-
preston, heard less frequently nov.
Oh. he's Just sowing his wild oats d"
Il was an excuse for almost any
acts by boys and young men. Cases
which now are dealt with in juvenile
courts then We're explained by that
expression.
1t was taken for granted that the
crop OF wild oats" should never be
reaped, but should be forgotten when
the young man turned into more
serious paths.
It also was taken for granted if a
girl sowed any wild oats" she
should suffer the consequences.
That was in the days before the
single standard Of morals was heard
Of. Although we still are far from
accepting this standard, we have
progressed a long way on the road
toward it.
Dear Miss Lee. 1 am Is and have been
ID love with q mas four years Older than
myself since last June This man was a
member of the A z. F. during the war and
was awarded a medal for distinguish Z
service. He has a beautiful manner and
seems TO be quite gentlemanly.
met him at nv brothers ana Il seems
to have been a case OF love Al first sight
with both of us Hardly that. either, for
I knew him slightly before the war. but ]
was too young then 10 think seriously about
any boy.
On the sixth night after I saw him az
my brothers. ne proposed to me. 7 loved
him. but l think 10 very foolish 10 marry ar
IS. He said he would wait for me I got
a letter almost every day It seemed ideal
Then came the climax. Ny father
forbade my having ANYTHING 70 Go with him
called him d scouudrel. He knew this boy
before did and when the boy, jack. vas
ID or 10 he was very wild
I know Jack Is he IS now and father
knew him a. he vas six OF seven years ago
have tried 10 forget him. but ] Iust
an not 90 not correspond with him and
Rave not seen him since July. but 7 know
he loves me. and he swore he would not
marry II I would not marry him
OF course I explained why 7 must try TO
forget him. he argued that because he was
30 young then I ought to forgive him
What shall 7 20. I hate to ask him 10
ait Tor me. because DONE want 10 marry
or three or four years and nc is anxious
MARY W.
Jack is reaping his crop Of wild
oats" But. if he really has ''re-
formed" We should not be too hard
on him, especially after he has made
such an excellent war record.
Are you sure your father has moth
ing else against him? Perhaps his
early offenses We're more serious than
yOu know-serious enough to war
rant your fathers opinion.
think the best thing for YOU to
10 is to go TO your father and ask
him to tell you the truth about this
man even though it is unpleasant for
you.
Why doesn't the man himself go to
Your father? Direct methods are
better than indirect ones, anyway.
You are right to wait few years
be fast proposing six
days after he fell in love.
Don't disobey your father: that
would not make you happy. Instead,
convince him.
Dear Martha Lee: am ~ years old.
When seventeen 1 became engaged to
young man whom I loved very much. and
who seemed TO care for me. Later moved
away and We correspondent for six months.
Then his letters became less frequent until
they stopped altogether.
We were gone only year and then we re-
turned to the city. ] found David was
married TO wealthy girl. Later we met
and have been seeing each other frequently.
David seems very unhappy and SAYS he still
loves me. The reason for his marrying was
bis mothers influence over him.
Since have returned his love lac wants
to divorce his wife and come 10 me. She
cares nothing about him and goes out with
other men feel that I can not live with
out David, for l love him very much.
In the meantime l have met nice young
man. He has asked me to marry him. but
did not give him answer. He SAYS he
loves me and he is well eff: but 1 do not
care for him.
Should I let David divorce his wife and
come to mef Or should I marry the young
man whom l do not love: It seems that
David is my only road to happiness.
JANET.
You say you cannot live without Da-
vid. And 1 DO not understand how
you could live with him. He is my
idea of a cad.
He did not treat you fairly in the
first place. He surely should have