The Washington times., 1929-04-06

Yes is the answer to all these
questions, according to some SEN
timental women novelists and a
few half-baked masculine philoso-
piers. mostly unmarried.
No, replies the typical Ameri-
can girl. And she proves beyond
question the kind of husband she
prefers by marrying the typical,
gentle, kindly American young
man and living happily with him
the rest of her life. Yes, Ameri-
can husbands have the well-de-
served reputation Of being the
kindest and best in the world.
Certainly they are kind to their
wives and children to the point
of indulgence,
Those who claim that kind, de-
voted husbands spoil their wives
end so undermine marriage point
to the high divorce rate IN
America as proof that American
marriages are unhappy. On the
contrary, there is such a high
average of happiness and con
tent in American marriages that
when a marriage does fall flat,
neither partner endures failure
submissively. knowing from OBJ
servation that successful, happy
marriage is possible-and the
rule rather than the exception
both are likely to insist on
changing partners and trying
again.
Do not misunderstood me.
am not advocating easy divorce.
Nor am 1 denying the fact that
there are good husbands and
happy marriages among all ma
tionslities. But ] do insist that,
despite many exceptions to the
rule. marriage Is successful and
happy in this land of the free.
where the masculine domestic
tyrant Is practically extinct.
I showed to a Contented Amerl.
can husband the other day a
ma game article by young
bachelor who advocated. as a
recipe for successful marriage
and contented wives, husbands of
the selfish type, who rule the
roost" to suit themselves.
A twinkle came into the eyes
of this American husband Of ten
years marital eXperience-a much
amused, friendly twinkle.
"Wait till that young fellow has
been married ten years. he
chuckled. Then see whether he
will advise men to try to boss
their wives"
Mr.. Husband, seated in the
only comfortable chair, ordering
his wife TO shine his shoes monop-
olizing the evening newspaper,
regulating the family to suit his
selfish uhlms-l@ far from edlfN-
ing picture of domestic life. His
wife may twist him about her
little finger with the AID of arttul
tears, But what standard. On
the one hand bully. on the
other a wheedllng, deceltful hypo-
critic.
Mrs. Wife, reclining on her IA
vorite chaise Tongue, reading nov
els, while her husband fetChes
her cushions and bonbons and
looks after her household duties;
or the absentee wife extravagantly
squandering her husbands cash
at pledSuIc ISSOllS Lar away "IlIlS
he slaves at home-thcse are
equally disgusting pictures! For
tllnateIy, neither is typical OF to-
day.
A man who encourages his wife
to bo a lazy parasite, with nothing
to do but brood about herself, can
thank himself if she becomes a
spoiled neurOtic and dpspiSes him
for his Well-meant but mistaken
Kindness. Every woman should
have constructive work to keep
her busy and make her whole
somelh tired at the DAYS end.
And happy is the woman whose
davs : work includes care Of her
household, husband and children.
One of the busiest executives
I know-a man absorbed in inn
portant public works. never too
tired at night when he arrives
home for a kindly chat with the
children before their bedtime. He
asks no greater pleasure than to
listen to his small daughters lat
est effort at playwriting. which
she reads with many gestures.
And his wife will assure you,
If you are in her confidence,
that Walter is always good
humored, always has a joke for
one and all of the family, no
matter how weary he is. Such
kindness cannot but win appre-
citation and responsive love from
his wife and children, who adore
him.
The man who cannot take
firm stand for right and prinCi-
pie and command the situation
i a weak1ing. His very lndul-
genCe Of her selfish whtms
through his weakness will dis
gust his wife and may kill her