The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-07
Dorothy DiT
If You Lag Behind And Don't March Shoulder To Shoulder With Your Husband In The Progressive Parade, Some One Else Will
5ep Step With Your Husband

This is the story that the woman told in that mystic hour in which women let down their back hair to- gether and tell the secret of their souls.
 The talk had run upon a tragic story expressing the interest of that particular group, of middle-aged man who had forsaken his dull, middle -aged. devoted, domestic wife for fascinating young vamp. The condemnation of the man had been sweeping and severe until, at last, the woman with the contented eyes and the wise smile spoke: T am not excusing the man." she said. Undoubtedly he Is greatly to blame. And perhaps he Is most to blame in this: That he made the situation possible. He did not make his wife keep step with him. He let her lag behind, and drop out of the procession. and so they were no long CT comrades. marching shoulder to shoulder. That was the beginning of the end, for when a woman ceases to be companion to her husband there nearly always enters into his life the Mysterious Stranger.
 When John and I were married" :" she went on reminiscently, I've were very mitch in love with each other, very companionable, and happy. That first year was a glorious time of planning, and studying. and reading together, and going to lectures, and seeing good pictures, and plays, and having thrilling discussions over them afterward.
 Then the baby came and like most women with their first child, I became nothing but mother, and I offered up the whole world as a sacrifice before the cradle. I had an idea that if I was not spending every minute doing something for the baby, and giving every thought to him, that he would perish. So I quit going about with John because couldn't leave the baby. I cult read ing because the baby left no time for 1t. I quit dressing up because the baby rumpled my hair. and tore at my chiffons.
 1T became nothing on earth but a nursemafd, and I was just about as interesting as one, for my whole con- versation was about the baby, and was about as stimulating and lack ing in pep as bottle of sterilized milk.
 Finally, John said to me, Betty. I wonder if you realize how you have let yourself slump? You are not reading anything. You are not study ing anything. You have lost all of your ambition. You are getting dow dy, and dull. and tiresome, and, If you let yourself go on as you are doing, in fifteen years more, you will be a fat, frowsy, middle-aged woman who babbles about her children and her house because she doesn't know anything else to talk about, and who Is such a bore that people weep tears of self-pity when they see her com ing.
 NOW, let me tell you this, my girl. You may stay put, just where you are. if you want to. You may be content to just be the baby's mother. but I am not going to be satisfied with just being the baby's father. I am going to try to do something to make him proud of being my son. I am going on. And you can either keep up with me, or be left behind. The choice is yours. What are you going to do about it?'
 And if you won't keep up with me, don't expect. me to be faithful to you, for I will be out hunting up some woman who interests me, and who can think my thoughts, and talk my talk"
 Well" continued the woman, you can imagine that that speech gave me a jolt that brought me to my sensesl Thereafter I devoted less time to my baby and more to my husband Instead of holding the