The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-02-19
.SeJShneSS
rs Cause of
.UnhabbineSS
BY MARTHA LEE

AS one who STANDS by and watches
the rather personal and intimate
lives of people in trouble. through
the window of their letters, there
is quite a bit of chance for retro
spectiOn.
The primary reason for a column
of this sort is TO nelp people get
at the base of their unhappineSs
and trouble. So often the real
motive for all the misfortune has
been covered up completely by a
series of superficial incidents, which
seemed to bear particular Signifl-
canoe upon the whole scheme OF
things at that moment.
Why is there so much marital
difficulty so much divorce, so many
unhappy girls and boys, so many
cheating wives and husbands? Why
is there a seeming increase of crime
in every form, to take up almost the
entire first page space in the news
paper every day?
What is the cause Of the terrible
unrest and dissatisfaction that
seems to be filling the hearts Of all
people, in all stations Of life?
Single Purpose
One of the most learned women
in the United States, Judge Florence
Allen Of Ohio supreme court, at
tributes all these things to the fact
that for the last twenty-five years
we slowly have been building up
an idea in our hearts and the
hearts of our children that the sat
isfying of material whims is the
sole business of life. That this
single purpose alone leads to hap
piness.
If that is true, if that is the rea-
son for all these modern going-on,
and I am firmly convinced that it
is, then the root of evil may be
plucked out, individually and col
lectively, through education of chill
dren to the idea that the purpose of
life is a complete reversal Of this
idea.
In the meantime, these young
sters who are the products Of an
education that teaches that all in
the world that matters is the salts
faction of desires are having a
pretty tough time of it. Especially
those who see the folly Of the whole
business, but have no other philoS-
ophy to fall back on.
Dear Miss Lee-This is going to be q
strange letter. I hope YOU will under
stand what I am trying to say, because 1t
is all so muddled in my mind that hardly
know myself.
am % years old 7 have had number
Of so-called higher educational advantages
and have had the usual social advantages
that come with college. My family is
fairly well off. I'm giving you these facts
because feel they are necessary.
1 am modern. 1 have quite liberal views
on life. 1 believe that what people do is
their own business. and If IT'S the wrong
thing, that's their business too. believe
their morals are q matter of personal adj
justment.
But. in spite Of the fact that I think
these things. I am stunned and shocked
at the way the old codes. the old tradi-
lions are 1dlllnS OH. IL WASH b % DdO
when the younger people were the ones
raving around about freedom and getting
rid of their inhibitions and living their
own lives. but when it comes to As and
50-year old mothers and fathers taking up
the cry. I'm worried. What's the world
coming to?
am engaged to be married. MY aance
and I both have talked things over and
we are both afraid for the future. Not
for ourselves. but for the children we
might have. Can you understand what
am irving to say? In other words we
do not feel it would be right to bring any
children into the world. to be exposed to
all the false teachings and standards that
80 $50 ,ou NIB.
Read it and weep. you parents
whose daughters and sons have
come to look on life in such way.
In the meantime, M. B., you are
suffering from repressed need Tor
. few good old-fashioned religious
talks that will give you at least a
mint to a new philosophy. 1t really
isn't new at all, but it's probably
tre only one you haven't tried.