The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-07-04

Dad Finds
LUePuSSle
BY MARTHA LEE

Raising a family is tough enough
proposition at best, but when you
happen to be an 1890 parent with
1910 model daughter or son, the
problems may look nearly insur-
mountable, simply because you and
the offspring do not talk the same
language, think the same thoughts
or see the same things.
There are parents with grown
children who have managed to be
as modern as their youngsters, who
have viewpoint about things that
rivals their 21-year-old fledglings,
who are so anxious and willing to
keep in close contact with their
children that they adopt the mode
without a question.
Still Live in Old Days.
Then there are the parents who
still live in the dear old crinoline
days, when young girls spent their
leisure hours tatting and making
burnt-wood plaques and we're
"courted" from to $50 on Sat-
urday night. And it was an &C
copied fact that if they we're courted
on said night the wedding was just
around the corner.
These parents are baff1ed at their
young daughters who step out, one
night with this boy and the next
night with another.
T9o WV t19nv1 70 fHOI Union
they start going steady with some
chap, and there is no mention of a
wedding date.
These same parents have found
it hard to accustom themselves to
the fact that their daughters are
self supporters and financially in
dependent, that their whole lives are
not taken up with learning the
gentle art of "wifehood," that they
consider cooking and cleaning house
and washing dishes as something to
be done, assuredly, but something
to be done as quickly and painless
ly as possible.
You are Wrong, Jack.
In other words, these feminine
birthrights are simply taken for
granted, and the future wives and
mothers step out to see what they
can do in the business world
A father who is seeing through
1890 glasses writes me this letter
about his daughter:
Dear Martha Lee: I would like your
candid opinion on the case I am writing
about. I have daughter 1e. a graduate
of high school and business college. She
has been working for year.
My wife and I have allowed her all
the privileges we believe young girl
should have. She pays a small sum each
week toward the upkeep of the home.
My wife and have done without a
good many things that we might give
our daughter and son high school edu-
cation, and more.
My daughter has been keeping steady
company with a fine young man for eight
months. She has four dates each week,
to which I do not seriously object. but
some weeks she gives the boy an extra
date. under protest from both her mother
and me.
I tell her too many dates with boy
tends to cheaper the girl in his eyes.
She becomes angry at this as she does
to most of the advice I offer We asked
her if she we're engaged to this boy and
she told us in so many words it was
none Of our business.
most concerned. I am sorry to say my
wife does not get my viewpoint on this.
My daughter and this. lad have planned
Afrfr fYNN Nv fsA a.
1o-yeay-old daughter, are to accompany
them My wife and two daughters are
to rent a cottage and the boy is to have
My position in this matter is that when
two young people have, to see each other
almost every DAY and then feel they must
thing for them to do is to get married.
What do you say?
think you are wrong, Jack.
These two youngsters enjoy each
others company. They can not
imagine a nicer vacation than a
vacation together.
They certainly have made every
arrangement whereby propriety will
be we'll taken care of.
They are too young to marry.
Why not enter into the spirit of
the thing and plan with them?
That is innocent fun for both
Of them and good vacation for
your wife and little daughter.
Remember, Jack, you said your
self he was a fine young man.
Surely you can trust your own
judgment of human nature.
Be a pal to them both, sy1npathet-
ic and understanding, and when
they are ready to marry they will
come to you about it.