The Washington times., 1929-02-16
Noted Authority
on aSeriOus
Problem
By Beatrice Fairfax

IA that love and marriage move
In circles or cycles?
A cycle is. of course, period OF
time at the end of which certain
aspects of the heavenly bodies re-
, peat themselves. The rhythm OF
q successful marriage also has its
cycle.
The physical side Of love is a
response to natures urge: Pro
duce and propagate" This i'm
pulse causes a certain attraction
between a man and a woman.
which is often called infatuation.
Unless ACCOMPANIED by mental and
spiritual affection and suitability.
this material is transient and likely
to change at any moment to re-
pulsion.
In every marriage, it is safe to
say, the physical element has an
influence. But. unless a girl and
young man are interesting COM
panions, quite aside from love-
making, there is little possibility
of the attraction between them
lasting. And, most important of
all, they must share the same
ideals and earnest practical desire
to live up to these ideals If their
marriage is to have a ghost of q
chance to last and succeed.
The cycle of love began, let US
say, for Bob and Babs one evening
at q clubhouse party, when they
looked into each others eyes and
were mutually attracted. Babs
was the new girl of the neighbor-
hood. Bob had always lived there.
he was absorbed in helping his
widowed mother bring up her
younger children on a very limited
income.
Babs, who had a light. pretty
soprano voice, was asked to sing,
and she sat down at the piano and
gave one or two amusing little
trifles that were in vogue just
then.
What eyes! What crinkly,
wavy yellow hair! What smilev'
AC1ICSlCO GOAs
The very idea! I'm not used to
being sighted that way" de-
cided Babs, when Bob chatted
with her a moment after their
Introduction, then excused him.
self and stayed away for the rest
of the evening.
Hes made up for that by ask.
ing ne for every dance at an
other party" Babs promised her.
self in her pique. And Bob did.
Only shyness held him back at
their first meeting.
Bob felt the moment he saw
Babs that she was different from
any girl he had e.er known. A
year of courtship, then he. saw
his way clear to propose to this
girl of his heart when he was
offered better position in
more important law office.
He's darling" prompted
Babs' heart. And a man who
can be trusted" added her COM
mon sense. So Babs answered
yes, and the following year found
the two married, more in love
than ever, and established in a
tiny apartment. In due time ar
rived a third and most i'm
portant member Of the family.
who spent most of her time in
her tiny cradle, 1aughingly try
ing to catch her pink toes IN her
chubby fists.
Had there been just infatuation
between Bob and Babs. the com.
ing of Baby might have com.
pleted the cycle. But the love
between them was renewed. For
a while its flame flickered. 1t
seemed to Bob that all of Babs'
tenderiesss went to the child, that
he was neglected. There were
moments. also, when Babs felt
It was little Babs, not she, who
thrilled Daddy" Other children
came. And in the end these dis
fractions only drew them closer
together. Financial troubles, i'll
ness. trials and vicissitudes, the
tests brought to their love a cer-
tain depth and soberness.
Now the children have married
and left home. The house no
longer echoes with their laughter.
Once more these two comrades OF
many years are alone at their
fireside, as in the first sweet year
Of their marriage.
''I must hurry home,'' smiles
Babs on a visit to see her latest
grandchild, when urged to pro-
long her stay. II know Bob
needs me, and the day are very
long without him"
Time and trials, sacrifices and
victories shared together have
completed the marriage OF these
two souls. What a warmth of
peace, affection and understand
ing there is between them! The
years have burned away the dross
and only the gold remains. This
Is the spiritual Towering of love.
of which the sweet lure of youth
full attraction is only the root.
This is the cycle of love!
Infatuation, irresponsible self-in.
diligence. Fastening from the
altar to the divorce court. quick
to take offense, slow to forgive,
never learns even the most rudi-
mentary meaning of real love.
The girl who goes into mar.
riage thinking it will be easy
has, a hard time ahead. She is
going to lose illusions. There is
3 price to pay for everything
worth while. including love ara
marriage. If you are incanahIe
of adjustments and want abso.
lutte independence, then why
T,aarrv2