The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-18

Wrecking
This Home
BY MARTHA LEE

ALI ONSooAOAA0A oAA4s GfCAA Al AZ 40
very serious, is forgivable. But
when it becomes habitua1 there is
little reason why one human being
should be expected to be an an
failing well of healing forgiveness
And of all the sins the basis of
every one is idleness. An idle mind,
idle hands, idle hours, are the play
grounds of the devil. Idleness in
time leads to an even worse sin
laziness. That is idleness grown
into a habit. In order to be idle,
one does not need to be too wealthy
to have to do anything. Many q
poor man has idled away hours that
have grown to laziness, both mental
and physical, that have not only
ruined his own life but that of his
wife and children.
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With the idle, dooiess hours come
hunger, poverty, misery and dis
grace for the wife and family. In
a case of this kind, the only thing
to do is to do an "out," if you r
getting the worst of the deal.
Strangely enough, it is very sell
dom that the laziness of a woman
will result in serious disaster for
the family. inconvenience are
about the extent of the trouble she
can do. But the laziness of a hus-
band and father can result in ter
rible tragedies. If you do not be-
lieve it, read the following brave
letter / have from a woman with
such a mate:
Dear Miss Lee-I have been married
thirteen years and have five children. the
oldest 10 and the youngest 2. both boys.
My husband comes from a family of
plodders. who have been content with
they had. with little effort on their
part to better conditions. He has been
raised on the axiom ''You must crawl
before you can walk
At first, my husband seemed to have a
desire to get ahead and amount to more
than his people did. I looked for great
things from him. He seemed to possess
pluck, determination and tenacity. But
during the years of our married life I
found these only transient qualities. When
opportunity knocked, calling for a quick
decision, he let it slip by. because it was
so much easier to sit and think about it
it was to get out and do it. When
would mention it he threw that "crawl
before you walk stuff in my teeth.
I have gotten him job after job through
and answering advertisements, only
to see him let them get away, because he
could not make up his mind until too
late. And I am getting desperate. We
have had to sell pieces of furniture in
order to have food. He spends all his
time sitting around a pool room and lets
charitable organizations keep his family,
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I will admit that work in his line Is
scarce in town, but I am willing and
ready to move any place with him in
order that we can get another start. My
nave offered to take us in, as
have his. but he will not leave. They have
sent things to help out when we have
been actually hungry and he sits down
TO eat 1t as though 1t were coming to
him. without even a grateful word, q
nan Of SO. with a wife and five childrenl
I can not go out to work because of
the baby and the younger children. They
must have some one here to get them off
TO school, prepare their luncheon and
take care Of them when they get out in
the evening. I dc all I can to make them
and keep them looking as much
other children as I can by making
clothes over.
My people want me to come on, since
he will not. and get away from the humili-
alton of being a charitable case. They
live in a town where I could get work.
They will care for my children during
the day. I am more than willing to work
to get out of this humiliation and nerve
wracking grind If I only had the chance.
The worst part of it ell is the degra-
dalton he is going through. Every time
they go to the store, they see him sitting
in the pool room playing cards-and then
see some kind neighbor give us something
to eat. Young as they are, their little
minds are absorbing this. When I explain
to him what his mode of living is not only
doing to him, but to all of us, he COM
plains about my lack of faith and pa
thence that some day he will have a streak
of luck But today, nor tomorrow. is not
what I am looking at. I am looking at
my children's future. I am just 80 and
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healthy.
MY husband is Just like an ostrich with
his head In the sand. He is not man
enough to stand up and face the truth.
He seeks to shove it out of his mind by
sedative of the lazy life of the poolroom
and that gang. He refuses point blank to
leave here. There is nothing I can do.
without some one to care for the children,
to help financial matters. n my five
babies are so bright and healthy and
strong. ] want them to have the heritage
of a good environment. What shall I do?
A WORRIED WIFE.
q Il
Go ahead, and good luck to you.
You have a fortune, in those five
youngsters and your healthy self.
Since he will not do anything to
help, and only deters the progress
and growth of your home life, it
would be much better for you tc take
the children and give them your
own idea of an upbring1ng His idea,
you must crawl before you can
walk" is about as snappy as last
years garter. Modern methods will
not permit crawling. Perhaps he
will hop out of it much easier and
much more rapidly if you let him
know that you mean business.
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