The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-02-25
LOUe Rare
in Unity of
Age, Youth
BY MARTHA LEE

When a young girl fndrTleS IudIl
many years her senior, she may love
him, although there is small chance,
and the love inspired is seldom the
type of love the man intended to
have futter the heart Of his young
bride.
But giving the girl a break, she
does have an instinct, commonly
called mother instinct, which
might make it possible for her really
to love a man old enough to be her
father.
On the other hand, when a young
man marries an old woman. 1t is
seldom. if ever, because she Stirs
any form of love whatsoever in his
heart. The only old woman young
man can love is his own mother.
He can admire other elderly women,
because they are intelligent, sophis-
ticated, clever, amusing, but he does
not love them.
When young girl marries an old
man. she may be marrying him Tor
his money. But when a young man
marries an old woman, there is little
doubt he is marrying her for her
money.
There is no psychological instinct,
however far fetched, than can make
ANYTHING else out of it. The
mother instinct" talk is barely pos
sible. But it can be dragged out, if
need be.
1 believe women, as a sex, hang on
10 the hopes of youth much longer
than men. Youth has meant so
much to them, they can not endure
seeing it go. They hold it back
with all sorts of schemes; wheedle
it in to staying just a little while
longer, by touching their hair and
lifting their chins; by going in for
the most youthful models; by paint
ing their faces, a la flapper; by
every conceivable plot and plan.
And when they get a hint that
such labor has been successful. by
the f1attering attentions of a young
err man, they lose their heads so
completely they believe anything.
Dear Miss Lee-My mother. who has
been a widow for number Of years. is
contemplating marriage with man much
younger than herself. In fact, he is just
about five years older than I am. I am ~.
Now mother is pretty snappy looking.
She is intelligent (at least I always con-
sidered her sol and an awfully good scout,
She has Travelled quite bit and is good
conversationalist. And she has some
money There's the trouble. Miss Lee.
1t isn't that ! don't think mother is
sweet and dear and pretty enough to
have some man fall in love with her. but
I don't think it is possible for boy to
love a woman old enough to be his
mother Mother and I have always been
great friends. but this Is causing mis-
understandings between US. When she
told me she was thinking of marrying
this bov. I thought she was fooling. ]
was simply astounded when I found she
was serious. Astounded and fur Gus.
I told her exactly what I thought about
1t. I think It Is disgusting. 1 think It is
preposterous. 1 think this boy is after
her money. think he is trying to buy
himself an easy life with few sugary
phrases of false flattery. And she thinks
he really loves her, that at last she has
found true love. I am desperate. What
can I do to PERSUADE her that this boy
is not in love with her?
There is q problem. You had
better do what mothers usually do
when their daughters are in love
with some one they do not want
them to marry. Take her on a trip
and make her forget. If you are
very clever. you could show this boy
up. 1t would be a cruel thing, but
you might get one of your pretty
young friends to give him lot of
attention, and let your mother see
how he responds.
I am with you on the idea that a
boy that young could not really be
in love with a woman as old as your
mother. Not in love the way young
men of 26 are in love with women
they want to marry. But all the
talking in the world won't persuade
her. because as soon as you finish
telling her the impoSSibilities of the
situation, he will be right there to
tell her ali the flattering, sweet
nothingS that have deadened her
reasoning to the extent that she
can believe such a love possible.
You will have to show her. And
your possibilities to make that COM
plete are limited only by your own
ingenuity.