San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-01


mond-on your left hand, tool"
"a lovely ring"
"You lucky grill" .,
Tell us all about it, Betty!"
These and dozens of similar com
ments and ordinations greeted Bet
ty when she appeared at the offic,
one morning not long ago wearing 9
diamond solitaire in its wrought plat
mum ring setting.
Betty smilingly admitted the impli
cation that she was engaged to Ken
meth, whom she'd know since the,
were youngsters together, explained
that she realized an engagement rim:
was perhaps not advanced, but botr
families wished her to wear one, re
piled to a thousand and one question.
and congratulations.
During the weeks that followed Ell
gagement gifts poured in, for botf
Betty and Kenneth were popular. Tht
marriage date was decided. Then ont
| day Betty arrived at the office minus
her ring.
mo, 1 haven't lost it." she replied
to the first friend Who exclaimed ovcl
the absence of the diamond. Il gav'
it back. My engagements broken.
Breaking with Kenneth-especiat
ly' at this late days the hardes
thing ] ever did," Petty confessed lat
or to Marion, her best friend.
"Kenneth's a dear. As You know
we grew up together. I've Away!
liked him and always will.
Ever since i can remember he's
been in love with me. For the las
couple of years he's been begging mi
to marry him. Our families approved
he has wonderful position. Their
seemed every reason why we should
marry and be happy except that
don't love him.
FINALLY he took my refusal so tt
heart and 1 grew SO tired of saying
no that / said yes. AS time went b!
my betrothal bored me beyond endur
ance. / dreaded the thought of his
touching or kissing me. :.
Suddenly 1 realized that I'd made
a slave of myself--a sort OF human
| doormat--because / lacked courage
and strength of mind TO say no.
was marrying him just to be obliglng
| So I broke our engsgement-faeed tht
| music-rather than go through witt
the dreariness of a loveless mar
riage."
You can't be true to anyone else I'M
less you are true to yourself--true to
your own opinions, convictions, ideals
Your yes will never be Lore precious
to anyone unless you have also the
courage and initiative to say no.
We pride ourselves ON our modern
daring, independence and freedom. But
are we really free? Are we indie
pendent? Are We daringly courageous
in matters of popularity, friendship
and love?
There's Charlotte who looks every
inch the up-to-the-second, advanced
fearless, fascinating flapper of 1926.
81 realize l have a wishbone instead
of backbone" signs Charlotte. just
don't dare stand out IN any way from
nv crowd. l drink dreadful bootleg
cocktails which / don't enjoy and
which make me dreadfully i'll, because
lack courage to refuse when the rest
are drinking.
81 travel witha swift set and dance
dances of which I'm morally ashamed
because everyonc's doing it, and I'm
afraid 1 might stand alone il l re-
| fused"
Il don't like petting-its disgusting
and vulgar, but if l refused l might
seem disagreeable," writes Anne and
Belle and Claire ard Estclle and hun
dreds of other girls seeking my advice
"You have to give every man who
invites you out a goodnight kiss, oil
you'll never be asked again." is an
other oft-repeated complaint.
We laugh at the humble lack Of
spirit of q generation who signed
| friendly letters "Your humble anc
obedient servant" She SCOTS at the
idea of obeying a husband as grand.
mother did. Yet isn't the modern CIR
humble and obedient servant of the
sidewalk shiek type of modern man
Isn't she desperately afraid to say nc
to him lest she lose HIS precious favori
The fate of the human doormat is
not enviable. Always walked over
and downtrodden doormats, are more
often than not kicked cheaply about
and soon become soiled, ready for the
discard.
Have the courage of your convic-
tons. Dare to BE- your real self.
You'll gain a thousand times in self.
respect and you'll not lose one friend
worth having by living up to your
honest ideals. Moreover, when love
comes to crown your life with happi-
ness it will be mutual true love and
respect, not a cheapening doorrnat.