The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-06-25
Romance Is
BHghted by
SeliShnesS
BY MARTHA LEE.

Many girls who are single at the
age when most women are sending
their youngsters of TO school are
not single through choice.
Nor are they single because they
have had no chance to marry. There
are plenty of girls who have grown
gray haired supporting their par
ents or younger brothers and sis
ters
Most of the time these girls just
20 along, getting down to their Of
fees at 8 every morning and going
back home at 6, to spend the eve
ming in service to others.
But every once in a while, one Of
them explodes. She resents the role
fate has called upon her to play.
She resents the fact that she has
been cheated out of all the things
in life that other people have.
The older she gets, the more 1t
looks to her like her whole life has
been as drab as a January landscape
and as monotonous as one-hnger
piano recital.
So she revolts. Sometimes she
turns against those she feels have
blighted her life by being too de-
pendent upon her strength. Some
times she simply gets sour on every
thing and everybody including her
self.
It all resolves itself into this ques-
ton. Just what do children owe
parents? Just what may parents
expect Of their children?
Owe Them Devotion
Children owe parents devotion
and consideration. When they are
TOO old or too feeble to take care
of themselves, the children are ex-
pected to contribute toward their
support, of course.
Parents may expect those things
Of their children and no more. No
child owes parent his entire life.
And no parent should allow it, let
alone expect it.
1t is gross injustice for any parent
to bring children into the world,
bring them to man and woman
hood and then expect them to be
robots who will have no desire fur
ther than padding the lives Of their
parents in their old days.
Dear Miss Lee: I am a woman IS. I'M
married and unhappy. I was an only
child. MY father died when I was II.
NV parents always kept me pretty well
under their thumbs as a girl. but didn't
mind much. After my father died. my
mother kept repeating that I was all she
had and that I must promise never to
leave her Which I did.
We we're not financially hard up when
nv father died. But went to work. just
the same My life became a monotony
Of down to the office and home. finally
me a'young man. who started to call on
me. Mother was nice. but awfully cool.
Finally the boy. who realized mother was
his sworn enemy. asked me to marry
him. I accepted. for I was very much
in love- When I told mother. she went
into Mysteries and stayed that way until
I promised I never would do this thing.
I didn't. The bow became disguised
with me. so much that he lost all love
Too Bitter to Bear
That is years ago. of course. But my
entire life has been made almost too
bitter TO bear.
Everything is past reparation for me.
but Miss Lee. for those girls who are
going to meet thre problem. is it fair for
parents to live their chiIdrens lives so
dominantly that the children are stifed
as have been?
No, it Is cruel and selfish. But
unless I am sadly mistaken, such
things are not so apt to happen in
this year 1890. Because children
have shaken off the sloppy sort of
sentiment that would allow a moth
err or father to sway her children
by such threats and Mysteries.
believe the modern daughter would
call doctor and go about her bust
ness.
See It Another Way
You think your mother has ruined
your life. Try to see it this way.
If you had been strong, you would
have seen through your mother and
her schemes. Parents these days
admit that children owe them moth
ing they do not deserve, not even
love And so the affection of their
children is more real. Anyway, your
mother used her weakness so that
it became her strength. At least,
you can admir- her cunning.
Forty-five isn't old. Get yourself
nice healthy hobby. Get out and
meet people. There's plenty in life
besides marriage for a woman if
you will just stop looking backward
at your lost romance.