The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-06
Time Hangs
Heavy With
Young Vices
BY MARTHA LEE

One of the favorite topics of con-
troversy is concerned with whether
married women shall or shall not
work. Some say "Yes," but the ma
jority say mo" And apparently it
also is one of the. favorite topics of
my readers, for I constantly am re-
ceiving letters on the subject Most
of these letters do not ask any par
ticular advice. They are just a
means of giving their ideas on the
subject.
Personally, think it is any mar
ried woman's right to work if she
wants to, has to, or can. If she
doesn't want to and if she feels that
her place is in the home, that too
agrees with my version.
OF course, there are not so many
women, whose work, is so highly
specialized that, even after mar
riage, work because they are follow
ing their careers" Most of them
continue the eight-hour- a-day shift
after they have picked their mates
because the family budget is so
much more healthy and sufficient if
they do.
They'd Rather Work
Others can not have the clothes
and little luXuries they want if they
do not bring home the weekly pay
envelope and so they rather would
continue working than do without
the things they want A few work
because they enjoy the routine of
Office work and like particularly the
idea of having their days filled on
schedule.
The question of finding something
to do after the apartment has been
cleaned up is rather hard for the
young married woman who has
worked all her life. She has not
learned the gentle art of killing
time. She does not know of the
recreations of those women who
have spent years learning how to
kill time politely. And that is the
woman who is apt to want to work
after she has married to save her
self from sheer boredom.
However, the men have different
slants on the subject For the most
part, they seem to have no time or
sympathy for woman who, for any
reason at all, bar none, should want
to work after marriage.
Dear Miss Lee-My wife and 1 have been
married five years. and in those five years
we have been reasonably happy until the
last month or SO. We have not been a
quarrelsome couple.
We have not spent any of the five years
in pickering or arguing. but in the past
month we certainly have made up for lost
time. And the reason is that she wants
to go to work.
Now I detest the idea of a married
woman working. and most, especially does
that apply to my own wife'S punching
clock. We have no children, and my wife
says the reason she wants to work is be-
cause her days are SO empty and 1t is be-
coming too much of proposition to keep
herself amused and occupied AS if any
thing could be sillier. 1t is not because she
wants things I cannot buy her. nor yet
because we need the money, but just be-
cause she wants something definite to do
every day. And simply won't hear of it.
I have argued, pleaded and begged. OF
course, will not allow her to do it. but
can you suggest some way could get her
to stop talking about it? 1RATE,
The best way to keep her from
thinking about it (because as long
as she is thinking about it she will
talk is to find her something to
occupy her time. You can't take
that idea away from her without
supplying an infinitely better one
to take it's place. Why not adopt a
child? a ---
Would Occupy Her Time
fancy she would find that oc-
cupying enough that she would not
be talking or thinking or even want
ing to work outside her own home.
If she has no special talent you
may rest assured that even if she
insisted on looking for a job she
would have rather discouraging
time of it.
If you will stop arguing with her
and tell her you realize how lonely
and boring it must be, perhaps be-
tween you, YOU can strike on some
plan. Being unsympathetic and
surly never will get matters fixed up.
... = - ~