The Washington times., 1931-08-13
Chapter XVI


romance has certain universal
rules which must be observed If
happiness is to be attained.
These rules are not magic
formulae, but merely the result
OF common-sense considerations.
For instance, we both believe
in marital vacations. AS a mat
ter Of fact, Fay plans to leave
on September / for California
for a visit of several weeks at
the home Of her parents to keep
her father company while her
mother visits her old homestead
in Iowa. But aside from that,
the trip will provide one of
those periods of absence which
renew the intensity of love.
OF course, when she leaves
New York we will have been
married only about two months,
and certainly neither of us will
require any marital vacation so
soon. We both look forward to
her departure with the deepest
regret, but her absence is Ger.
tain to intensity our feelings for
each other.
Planned Vacations
In our opinion, it Is better to
take too frequent rather than
too few vacations from each
other. Even in our courtship
we planned that when we were
married we should take these
vacations, so that we might avoid
any semblance of routine in
our marriage. And we decided
that these periods of absence
should come when our love was
at a high pitch, rather than
when our attraction for each
other was beginning to weaken
because of being too much to-
gether.
We both realize that it is en-.
t1rely contrary to human ma.
ture that two persons, always
together, should keep their
love burning always with the
same brilliant flame. OF course,
they can keep their affection,
or mutual admiration, or COM
panionship on a comparatively
even level; but the stimuli of
love are too intense to be main
tanned constantly. When we
become too accustomed to any
thing 1t loses some of it's value,
To take a prosaic example,
the first fruits of the season
are always best. If we enjoy
them too frequently, however,
we become surfeited. It is a
law Of human nature that de-
sirability increases with unat-
tainability. Perhaps it is an
unfortunate fact, hut 1t is a
fact, so one must face it, and
act accordingly.
Hearts Grow Forde
Fay and I believe that the
best way to keep our love burn
ing brightly is to have these
periods of unattainability, dur
ing which our memories whet
our longings for each other.
But these vacations are not
planed to avoid the danger of
being bored with each other.
don't think there would ever
come a time when we were
bored with each others COM
pany, for as have said before,
one Of the chief bases of our
happy marriage is companion
ship. I enjoy her company
more than that of any other
person, in all circumstances.
We can sit by the hour and
talk, or be silent, as the mood
strikes us, and have a very
pleasant time. We are the best
Of friends. But there is more
to marriage than being good
companions. There is the
thrill and inspiration of that
vague emotion called love. And
that emotion is always height
ened after a period of absence.
For that matter, even two
friends are more friendly when
they meet after an absence.
Fay and I believe strongly in
the maxim that absence makes
the heart grow fonder," despite
the contradicting proverb, "out
of sight, out of mind" This
latter may be true for people
with a casual interest in others.
or for those who have naturally
drifted apart. But where love
and real affection is present,
I am confident that absence