The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-28
'ManyRegaYd
Marriage as
Mere Game
RY MARTHA LEE

Informs ton gathered from the
letters I received from married folks
leads to a definite conclusion con-
corning the problems of matrimony
The chief source of trouble and
quarreling, any of it, pivots around
| the refusal of one or both Of the
contracting parties to take the new
existence as anything more than a
new game.
Instead of accepting the changed
status of their relationships with the
rest of the world, instead of
shouldering the responsibilities, they
play at marriage a couple of days
a week. When it becomes irksome,
when the newness has worn off,
away they go, to play at being single
| again.
Sometimes it is the woman,
whose husband can't get over the
idea that his pay envelop was his,
to do with as he pleased. Sometimes
it is the man, whose wife can't see
why it is not perfectly all right to
spend her leisure hours as she see
tit. Here's one from perpleXed
hubby:
Dear Miss Lee-My wife won't take our
marriage seriously She can't under
stand why it is not just playing at house
keeping, playing at cooking and playing
at responsibilities.
| She would not be able to cook if she
lost the can opener. The apartment, al
though smart enough, with just the right
number of OF lamps and occasional chairs,
could hardly be called spotless.
| She worked for her own living before
our marriage. Her position, not particu-
| larly one to cause brain flag, should have
| taught her punctuality and a slight
amount of efficiency. But it hasn't. All
working seems to have done for her is
to create a desire to be lanquid, play
bridge and shirk responsibilities.
love her dearly, but am tremendously
disappointed in the way things have
turned out. I had expected to get away
from that shiftless existence that makes
| bachlorhood such pain. Instead my
marriage has all the disadvantages and
none of the advantages of bachlorhood.
JONATHAN
You have one advantage that you
see yourself and have made no use
of. Since she has been in the bust
ness world, you can talk to her in
terms of business and be under
stood. Perhaps you have been too
indulgent in gratifying her whims.
Why not put it up to her that you
do not feel she is holding up her
end of the work well enough to hold
down the job unless some changes
are made?
| Tell her she must stop using up
all the profits, both in time and
money. Explain to her that you
expect just so much from her, in
the way of partner of the firm.
And a wife, who feels that her
husband is playing the married
bachelor, writes:
Dear Miss Lee have been married two
years. When my husband and I we're
married, I had a good position. Because
we we're not in good financial circum-
| stances. kept my position.
My work keeps me down until 8 and 9
o'clock one and sometimes two evenings a
WCCh' vi NOul0C VIC dLG DC6JGl 4lASu 1luWS
! financially. but something has gone wrong
with our marriage. My husband goes out
! the nights I work. never thinking to wait
for me, or to call for me when I am
through
We have companionship of sort, but
it is not what I had expected. The little
homemaking can do must be done in the
evenings. And if I decide to wash the
woodwork or Straighten the place up on a
night my husband has planned to go out,
it is just too bad. He goes without me.
| What's to be done?
| PART-TIME WIFE.
Stop being a part time wife; that's
the answer. You say you are bet
ter situated financially. Give up
your position and devote your time
to your home. When your husband
wants to go out in the evenings
you will have no reason to refuse
It is so foolish what young wives
will do for the sake of few dollars