The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-05
DOrOthy DiGS' Letter BOr
Tue ender-Hearted Mother Who Doesn't Enforce Dts ciptne-Shal Tue U1aaUd',ted Wife Leave Her Husband?--Athletic "Eighteem" Who
 Doesn't Attract Boqs
Doesn't. Attract BOys

Dear Miss Dix: My wife is so ten der-hearted that she does not demand obedience from our children except when she has her temper aroused, and then she corrects them severely. The result is that they do not pay any attention to anything she says. She invariably objects to my correcting them. This is all done before the children.
 Please express your ideas oh this subject k.
 Answer: Parents who do not teach their children obedience have failed in their first duty as parents, and have done thier children deadly wrong. Obedience is respect for law and order. It is the very foundation of character and of civilization.
 It is the disciplifed men and wom- en; the men and women who have been taught obedience from their cradle; the men and women who have been taught self-confrol, and to sub init to authority, and to do things because they are right, who are the successful and happy people in the world.
 And it is the undisciplined, uncon- trolled children who have never been taught obedience who furnish the hoodlum class and who fill our po- lice courts and homes for girls who go astray.
 You sometimes hear foolish people say that you will break child's spirit by forcing it to obey you. What non- sense! You might as well say that you would sap the courage of an army by forcing obedience from soldiers, or that you would weaken the morale of a nation by making it respect the laws. Obedience is the fire that tenn pers the metal of the sword and gives it strength.
 You see many mothers who do not make their children obey them be- cause they love them too much to do anything but indulge them. You see other mothers who are too weak and lazy to fight strong, self-willed, de- termined child and conquer it. But the result is always disastrous for the child. It wrecks it, body and soul
 The other day doctor told me about a case of this kind. He was called in to see desperately sick boy; and he prescribed f. certain remedies The boy refused to submit to the treat ment. The doctor told the mother that she must make him take the med icine. The mother replied, T canN,t do anything with him. He will not obey me- Then madam" replied the doctor, q cannot save him. Be- cause you have not taught your child to obey you, he will die" And he did.
 Many other mothers have seen their children worse than dead because they did not teach them obedience; boys who would not give up bad company, who would not work; girls who. went their headstrong way to perdition, and who would not listen to their mothers warnings because they had never been taught to obey.
 Of course, there is no more reason why a mother should teach her chill dren to obey than why the father should, except that the mother is with the children more than the father is, and that man can practically do nothing with his children against his wife. To raise children properly a man and woman should stand to- gether, and present a united front. There should never be any appeal from Caesar. DOROTHY DIX
 Dear Miss Dix: I am married woman, have only been married few months; but every time my husband and have an argument he tells me that should get out and go. I am getting sick and tired of listening to him telling me to go. What would you do if you were in my place?
 $. NJ. K.
 Answer: Why, no man could tell me to- go but once, S. NJ. K. I would be on my way before he had chance to say it the second time. I would have too much pride and self-respect TnNSl1lTIS