The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-09-17
"A PORTRAIT OF the Greatest Sheik Of All Time
Famous Author
" On a Serious
Subject

happy" writes a correspond
ent. And il we can't find happiness
In one way. we should. in an
other. do not believe in light
marriages and still lighter d.
vorces, but somehow 1t seems too
bad that people should live all
their lives in misery because OF
q mistake
Then she tells the story OF her
friend and her friends marriage
and asks my opinion as to what
should be done to straighten the
tangle. i am going to tell the
story to YOU. Just sufficiently
ddsruised to shield those con-
cerned from recognition. Then 1
am going to pass the problem It
presents on to you, dear readers.
What would you DO II you
were IN Helen's plight?
Helen belongs to an old Amerl-
can family--a fanily Of great
pride, but. little wealth. she pc.
came interested, while girl
in her teens, in a young man Oh
foreign birth and slight educa-
ton. Finally. touched by ms
kindness and devotion, she prom
ised to marry him when he
could make a suitable home Tor
her.
The two were separated for
time. and Helen lost whatever
feeling Of infatuation she may
have had for him. But. reallz-
Inc how he idolized her. she
could not bear to hurt him py
talIinr him the truth. and so
she entered into loveless mar
For quite while they got on
fairly we'll. Helen tried to in
ferest her husband in the Things
thai meant most to her. she
tried to help him with his Eng
Iish hut this was especially hard
hecause he was uneducated in MS
avn language. Hers. 1t seems,
e the guiding intelligence ana
noainstay Of the little home.
Helen's husband is good-neaIlea..
honest, Woodworking, put ne =
incapable of relying on hlnlseil OF
planning ahead to any extent. I'll ~
this reason his wages are sHl@l'
lust enough to cover famlly ne s:e
stiles, without providing the Ht.ie
comforts and luxurles ana It's
hospitality dear to Helen 3 heaL l..
Yet he longs to give her every
thing for which she wishes.
Things have drifted from bad %
worse. Helen's health Is begin,
ming to give way under the mehlal
strain and hard work her mar
rage has meant to her. She does
not feel spark of love Tor her
husband. He idolizes her. Botn
love their sturdy four-year-olo boy
Recently friendship has
sprung up between Helen ana
man who frequently visits her
home as a friend Of the family.
Helen's friend writes. Inc
only happiness she finds IS in MS
conpany. Yet she feels she
shouldn't because it seems ais.
loval. He advises her to guard
her health above all else ana 40
as her conscience dictates.
what would it be like to live
with one / really love?" her friend
quotes Helen as remarking. AS
A. is" adds the friend, none or
them are really happy"
What is the way out OF TINS
dilemma?
nreams-dreans of perfect TO-
rnance4-of an ideal Marriage
the man who always understands
---of harmony and joy and peace
how we love to indulge In
them when things as they are
annoy and BATTLE us!
would Helen realize her dream
of romantic happiness if she
shirked her responsibilities True
II was mistake to marry WIN
ont love or congenial interests.
Rut that is done with now and
she faces situation, not a
theory.
Would not Helen, If she broke
her marriage vow, 'disregarded
the husband who lives up to MS
pledge to her, broke up the home
that means fathers love and
companlonship for her child-lf
she did all this would she not nnu
discomfort still haunting her:
Human nature is that way. Mar
ried or single, We cannot escape
problems and disappointments.
/ am sorry for Helen. / realize
that ner marriage demands every
siota Of her strength. physical,
mental and spiritual. And franA
ly, for that reason. ] also envy
Helen. For it IL only by should.
ering responsibilities and wres-
Ting with and overcoming diff
ficulties, that we gain power,
peace and success.
You went into marriage with
your eyes open, Helen. There are
two leaning on you now for then
happiness as the result Of the
step you took. Give them a homE
of joy and wholesome progress,
and in doing so you will finG
your own best happiness. Stop
being sorry for yourself, that :
always fatal. Nearly every happs
marriage has al some time
headed for the rocks, because
infatuation dies and every mar
rage has elements of failure a.
well as success.
What il the way out Tor yoC
Helen? ] can only echo youi
friends advice: Safeguard YOU
health and DO as your conscience
6istates," with due regard for IN
welfare. of s~two lives for whicI
you have assumed responsibility