The Indianapolis times., 1928-12-31
Some Vices
BearAbuSe
to Be Mnted
BY MARTHA LEE

Remember that old song MY
Man? And how frightfully exag-
gerated it sounds? I had always
had positive misgivings as to the
authenticity of such emotion. How
any woman could stand for beat
ing before every meal, cursing
with every cup of coffee is more
than I can fathom, and from the
letters I usually get from women, it
is most aSsuredly more than they
can figure out.
AS a result of all this deep rea-
Soning, have, or rather had fig
ured out that it was just song
after all. But come to find out,
there are women just like that. 1t
may be a song to most of us, but
it's serous business with a few.
There are women who would rath-
er be knocked about than be single
and willing to stand the worst sort
of ignominy than give up their hus-
bands. Sometimes even their chill
dren do not count as much.
am of the opinion that men
respect and admire woman with
pride enough to stand up for her
rights, first, as a human being and
rot dog to be kicked around at
will, and secondly, as an individual
with a mind and a soul of her own.
Surely if person does not respect
themselves it is too much to expect
other persons to do it of their own
accord. Humility is a grand quality,
but 1t does not necessarily mean an
utter lack of pride.
There is a material pride, which
is very bad. and there is a pride Of
soul, which is very good. There is
something utterly revolving about
quarreling and surely it is the
height, or rather the depth of degre
dation for man to curse his wife,
much less hit her over the head
with a rocking chair.
And I can't believe it is real love
that causes a wife to stick to a huS-
band who treats her this way, who
is not happy unless he is making her
miserable by denying her anything
at all that might make her the least
bit happy.
The following letter reveals one
kind of woman:
Dear Miss Lee-When I married three
years ago I thought my life was settled,
but few months told me 1 was wrong.
My husband is cruel unkind and incon-
siderate.
I had a child by former marriage and
the language and environment OF the
home made it an unfit place for a child.
My health was very poor. so I allowed my
child to be adopted a year ago. L was
i'll in bed at the time these people took
my child. not knowing whether I would
live or die. I have almost recovered now,
and I want my baby back. The people
are willing to give her back because they
are sorry for me.
And as if things hadn't been had enough,
my husband refuses to allow me to have
her. He says he will not support her and
besides I realize it would be no place for
her with him here. He gets drunk. curses
and talks terribly, besides treating me like
a dog. She is old enough now to remem-
Der those things
I want her more than anything else in
the world and yet I am sorry for my
husband. My father wants me to bring
my baby and come home. My Stepmother
will care for her while I work. But if I
leave. my husband will drink himself to
death and in spite of everything I do
love him. He says I was a poor mother
or I wouldn5t have given her up in the
first place and boasts that he made me
DO it, He says he don't want her. but
he seems to want me. What shall do?
NELLIE MARIE.
/ You have simply got to take a
choice between your husband and
your child. 1t would not do any
good to expose your growing
daughter to the influences you have
described in your letter, and if he
docs not want her anyway he will
certainly never change. just because
there is youngster in the home. In
that case, let her stay at the home
of her adopted parents. and do not
interfere with her upbringing by re-
miHding her Of you constantly.
Or else, give up your husband
and go to the home of your parents
with the child and work. But if you
take her from a good home, you
must be sure you can do as we'll for
her yourself in the way of education
and training. Not in material
wealth, but those things that will
make her thank you, when she is
older, for the bravery of your love
fOY. Ia1.