The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-01
THE IDEAL WIFE


 highest ideal of what a helpmeet should be. But do not let him fool you. Just listen to the cynical gen eralzation of most men concerning matrimony, and you can deduce your own conclusions as to their own ex- periences!
 | Theoretically, there is no more i reason for a woman bending. and yielding, and fitting herself to her mate than for a man doing this | Why should a wife lie awake nights studying means of being fascinating and tactful and satisfactory in or der to keep" her husband. when her spouse makes not the slightest ef- fort to trim his sails to the natri- monial gales for the sake of keep ing" her?
 Hard common sense, however, tells most wives that men are contrary beasts, and Independent and self-suf- ficient, and that if there Is any adapting to be done, for the sake of perennial connubial bliss. it Is ths woman who must do 1t! Foolish of her to be a human doormat for his lS0C, you say w ell, lu6L OCpCAoo OIl how you look at it She is wise to study the technique of her job, If marriage is her job, and she wishes to make g success of itl
 After all, modern men are kept hustling for the oil to grease the de- nestle machinery, and 1t Is not too l much to ask the women to be con scientious and skilled engineers and lcok after the running of the plant.
 In other terms. sentiment and emo ton are woman's long suit. and with 1 just little tact and graciousness usually she can foster these.
 The ideal flower or animal is the one that adapts itself to Its environ ment. If 1t stubbornly refuses to do this, nature ruthlessly weeds 1t out, in the survival of the fittest, and in spite of its originality and pride in being different" it perishes. and fails to leave descendantsl | 0 Q Q
 Loses The Man.
 The wife who has brainstorms and cherishes temperament, regards her self as superior to her spouse and as misunderstood by him. may get little comfort to her vanity, but she surely loses the man-such as he is. She may gaze with scorn and con- sternauon at her successful rival, knowing that one for & brainless, impossible creature-but if she bs honest. she must admit that the successor had something to give that misguided male which she was unwilling to givei
 An ideal modern wife need not be a negative. spineless creature, exist Ing only by permission of her lord, and signing with delight when he gives her a smile, and trembling with fear at his frownt" Sweet Alice. would bore modern men. They would surely desert her for . Tive | one"
 At the risk of shocking the con- servatives. we insist that the ideal wife herself be live onei Of course she must have many of the old-fashioned virtues, such as a decent amount of economy and thrift. She must manage her household efficiently and the mutual income expeditiously. But she must shed the old fussiness of the perfect house. keeper, and never place & speck oi dust above solid comfort, or wreck the nerves of the family by storm ing because the meals are not on | time,
 She must be calm and philoso- phical. seeing things in proper pro- portion. The other night we were admiring some exquisite and rare embroidery & woman had just brought from Athena 1t was al- most priceless. She has . keen ap- preciation of it. Just then. her hus- band let his cigar fall on 1t and in an instant. @ large hole was burned in the exquisite fabric. It was enough to cause a beauty lover to weep or rage. Not so Mrs. R. She controlled herself instantly, and re- marked that probably 1t could bs darned.
 A burst of temper or tears would not have restored the damage, but would have caused general wreched- ness. She has boise and serenity. skiIlfuI But Calm.
 We know an ideal wtfs. After 20 years of marriage. she dresses as carefully and delightfully."- as if she were expecting her sweetheart 10 call. She manages skillfully, but calmly. If they travel. she enjoys many pleasures without her husband. but when his business cares allow him to take an evening for e-avatv she waves aside previous engage ments. realizing that his time is limited and his opportunities for en. joyment few.
 If he has to leave for . thousand. mile trip on an hours notice it is a simple thing for her to arrange to ac- company him She does not bewafi and cry. Why couldn't you have tod me soonerr You know I can't hust.e like this. and now you have pre- vented my goingt~ She just plans. and goes!
 She IS ultra tactfuI. Her spouse fx a fine man; he has his times of depression, but never meets with nagging and complaints. He is not especially vain and conceited-but most men like to be flattered a bit.
 When others are present or when they are alone Esther shows him a decent deference-unlike so many wives who make display of differ ing pointedly with every remark their spouse chances to make.
 This woman is not a saint She Af f1x