Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-27
SUB ROSA
BY MIMI.
Love Is a rathon.

I watched the winner OF a mara
thon the other day as he came breez.
ing into City Hall, running evenly
and easily, His face wore look Of
calm confidence. He knew he had the
race-and he knew he had plenty Of
endurance to so on for much long
er time than the race required.
AS my car moved UP Broadway l
met other runners-briskly trotting
at first. then the stragglers, limping
and hating, painting WITH fatigue. A
few minutes later / found myself in
the ranks of the failures-those who
had given up the attempt to run at
all, and We're walking along disCon-
solately scoWling at the jeering on.
lockers.
All of which, of course, reminded
me that one of the things we've all
got to realize about this fascinating
business of love is that it's a long
distance race really. Love which
leads to and perpetuates successful
marriages is a long drawn-Out affair,
and it can't be won by short sprint
at the start.
The girl who's just met some nice
hoy and feels herself falling heavily
starts out to interest him by methods
which show that she's not aware of
the long, long race ahead of her, II
she does interest him sufficiently.
That is, she starts out with ire
mendous burst Of speed; she over
Whelms him with the realization OF
her kindness, her sweetness, her gen
erosity, her infinite compa ssion and
understanding. He hears Immediately
Of her proves as a cook, her skill
with the needle.
All his favorite hobbies. she assures
him, are her favorites, too. Why, she
adores playing tennis-she's always
been pretty good at it, Yes. she loves
books. There's nothing like a quiet
evening at home by the fire with a
good book on ones knee. No, she's
not so keen about parties. She'd
rather not go to any at all, II they
don't please him. t.-
That's the burst of speed and as is
often the case. it puts her in win
ming position temporarily. She's got
her man and she thinks the race is
oVer-just as many a foolish runner
finds himself way ahead of the others
and figures there's no more work to
be done for the next miles.
AS a matter of fact, she's got the
worst part of her journey before her.
The long race ahead to be run will
call for infinite resources of love and
sympathy and understanding. If she's
been bluffing in the first brief sprint.
she's bound to lose out in the long
race.
If all the things she promised in the
first burst of speed are flimsy bluffs,
the rest of the race will he that much
harder for her. It's a difficult thing
to keep pretending after you're mar.
ried. And if you've built up a false
picture of yourself to your sweetheart
during courtship days, you've no other
course than to pretend when it comes
to lining up to that picture after the
good old wedding bells.
The girl is wise who doesn't start
out too quickly--who doesn't pretend
to be a paragon of virtue, far ahead
of all other girls. She proceeds more
slowly, not willing to set pace for
herself which will be difficult to keep
up with later.
the young man know that he has no
right to expect perfection from her
She starts at a nice easy trot-lets
and swings along at her usual pace,
serenely confident that she'll be equal
to the end of the race because she
hasn't promised too much at the start.
Copyright. 1927
Mimi will be glad to answer any inquiries
directed to this paper, provided stamped,
addressed envelope Is lnclosed.)