The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-08-20
Hunt for Thrills
Wastes Capacity
For Deep Love
BY Beatrice Fairfax
An Authority on the Problems
Of Love and Marriage

Of Love and Marriage
81 DETEST emotionalism! I
cannot answer your ques.
ton.
This is said to have been the
smiling reply of Mrs. .Evangeline
Lindhergh. when she was asked
BY a group of women reporters
what. type Of girl she would like
to have her son marry.
The incident suggests several
interesting questions:
just what Is emotionalism?
How does it differ from emo
ton?
Is emotion characteristic Of
modern man and woman? What
effect. If any. has 1t on romance
and marriage?
Emotion and emotionalism are
as far apart in meaning, as SEN
timent and sentimentality, praise
and flattery. Mrs. Lindbergh,
who was forced against her
wishes, into the limelight of pub
LEFTY, illustrates we'll in her char
acter the difference between
sound, constructive, fine emotion
and the shallow hysteria of emo
sionalism.
To distinguish between emotion
and emotiOnalism, and guard
against the 'wanton indulgence
of emotion, which is emotion
alism. is infinitely important in
matters that concern the success
and happiness of romance and
marriage.
Emotion or feeling is what gives
value to life. Without it, SYM
pathy, imagination, unselfishness,
heroism and religion would be i'm
of all. love. is the lifesgiving ele-
1nent. which carries on existence
and imparts to it meaning and
joy Emotionalisnn is in its rela-
ton to love what sentimentality
Is to sentiment, and flattery is
to praise.
yielding weakly to the emo
tions. appealing constantly to the
emotions, lack Of control of emo
ton. constitute emotionalism. 1t
is display Of emotion at the
wrong time and place. an express
sion of emotion that is shallow or
insincere.
In this age OF extremes, it is
rather fad to seek cheap thrills
which air the emotions. The
morbid public interest in murder
trials is emotionalism at it's worst.
Peggy is a thrill-hunter, who
revels in emotionalism. Doubtless
you number more than one of her
type on your list of acquaintances.
Every month or two brings a
new intense love affair into Peggy's
life. Then come necking parties,
joy rides, indulgence in this new
emotion without restraint or
reserve. AS result, since
what is too easily won is lightly
valued, Peg soon finds herself dis
carded in favor of new play
thing. Then she INDUCES in the
emotionalism of shallow regrets,
remorse and heart-breaks until
new affair arouses new hopes, only
to lead once more to disappoint.
ment and disillusionment. The
worse of this indulgence of the
slush of emotionalism is that in
time it kills capacity for strong,
true, deep, quiet feeling-for loyal
love. And so, in frittering away
emotion through insincere and
shallow enthusiasm or love affairs
girl loses the capacity to expert
ence and hold throughout the
years LIES most precious gift
deep, unchanging love, leading,
as it does, to happy marriage.
Another modern extreme Is the
hard attitude, the pose Of soothing
at love.
Love is bunk" decides Jack,
and concludes to fight off the won
derful, !, strange feeling Mary
Arouses in him, which amounts
almost to reverence, as well as
devoted love.
He is ashamed of an emotion
which. in its expression. he knows
will arouse him from the lazy
self-indulgence of his bachelors
existence to new responsibilities
So he continues to laugh off the
finest impulse of his nature. urg.
ing him to an honest avowal Of
his love and proposal OF mar.
riage.
Have the courage to guard love
against the shallow slush of emo
+ tionalism. But do not be ashamed
Of love.
Be proud or love when 1t Is I'M
selfish and cannot harm another.
Wise direction of your love will
give it strength and depth. deli
cacy. reserve, joy and power to
bless. Refuse to permit the shall
low vulgarity Of emotionalism to
rob you of your birthright Of noble
friendships, true affection and
when the right time comes, ro-
nance and successful marriage.