Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-27


Dear me, Mabel, it's a dangerous
thing to attempt to give a girl ad-
vice about how to handle her mother.
But let me assure you, it is pretty
nice to have a mother who does have
time to manicure her nails ana who
cares enough about making herself
as attractive to you and the rest of
the family to be interested in a per-
manent wave. Such an interest in
her personal appearance doesn't need
to mean that a mother is frivolous or
shallow or unsympathetic. You are
probably pretty proud to be seen
with your mother when she takes
you off on a lark,-and L have a
little idea that maybe she does
and you are glad when people look
at your mother with admiration and
you are glad that she has so many
friends. II she doesn't have to make
lemon pies and gingersnaps or do
the washing and ironing for a family
or eight or ten, you ought TO be
pretty thankful. Mothers that are
tired to death from such an av-
alanche of hard and continuous work
for a large family don't have much
time to enjoy their children, I've
heard a good many of them say so
rather sadly. ! have also seer them
devote themselves to their families
SO absolutely that they never had
time to do anything for themselves.
All the clothes went to Kate and
Margaret and Helen, while mother
went without, just because there
wasn't time for any but the plainest
sewing for herself. So she thought.
Well, II / am clean and neat, that
will be the best l can do.-the chill
dren do need SO much to keep them
looking as well as the other chill
dren."
Then when mother wanted to read
the new magazines, she would always
think of the BASKET Of mending, or
those buttonholes on Johnnie's romp-
ers, n the magazines would have
to wait. Well, it isn't a cheerful
story. Mabel, but these mothers hat
have really devoted every minute to
the comfort and happiness Of their
families often don't get much out CT
il when their children are grown up.
Because the children have grown to
think of mother as Il person who
would rather give up everything 10
the others, and 50 she isn't at all up-
to-the-minute in her dress ur her
conversation or her thinking. Just
a kind of pathetic back number.
There may be an exceptional child
who appreciates and adores mother
for her self-sacrifice, but not often.
The new attitude toward mothers
us human boings who have a right
to a little OF the fun and the leisure
and the opportunities of life is the
right one. THE conservation OF
Mothers ! call it. Divide I'D the
~drudgery and the self-denial, so that
mother has her chance too, and she's
a much better mother. and she lasts
lots better. She is interesting and
companionablc and helpful and gen.
orally valuable as long as she lives,
And much more respected, yes, IN
deedi
1t is quite probable. Mabel that
your mother still regards you as a
little girl" Horrid, isn't it? You see,
you probably don't look SO awfully
venerable to her yet, so you will have
to give her time to get used to The
idea of a 'g~rowing-up" daughter.
Mothers, you know, have to get used
to changes.
l think your mother sounds sery
attractive. She makes me think of
some n in a sweet cool dir ess, per-
haps pale green ~organdie, with little
white shoes.-you see, I'm sure she's
little and dainty,-and I know she
has golden halrl That's why she
hesitates about the permanent wave.
She doesn't want to look too frivo-
lous, and blondes have to think ABOUT
that, you know, they are 50 decora-
tive anyway. You see, I'm glad she
manicures her nails. 1t would spoil
the picture II she didn't.
glad too. In fact, I think you are
just a little humbug, and are as
proud of your mother as you can be.
When you feel that she doesn't I'M
derstand you, you just think of her
side of the relationship, and under
stand HER. 1t works both ways.
So many girls are leaving soon for
various camps and other vacation
spots, that I want to ask you to re-
member us back here in town. and
send Five~Fifteen an occasional let
ter telling US about the COO little
waterfalls and the sea bathing and
the canoeing and the sailing and the
camp amusements that you will be
enjoying. 1t will be pleasant to read.
and then you mother can cut the
letters out of the Evening News and
save them for you to put in your
memory book,
Bon voyage, and a safe return!
MARY g.