The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-11-21
Ruling in
Child Case
Questioned
Few Mothers Likely Will
Uphold Vanderbilt
Suit Decision.
BY EVELYN SEELEY
Tf-~s Special Writer


NEW YORK. Nov. al doubt
~ that many mothers we're
warmed by the court decision that
little Gloria vanderbilt shall remain
IN the custody OF her aunt rather
than return 20 her mother.
Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney hid
her eiation; Mrs. Gloria Morgan
Vanderbilt went 70 bed III. Judge
CareWs decision. as he said. Ger
tTude Steinishly. was designed for
what 10 vas designed for" but
think most mothers doubt that 10
means Gloria's ultimate happiness.
IN the first place. most mothers
have a sort Of mystic belief-which
they can not Intellectually defend
that. no matter what occurs, a child
belongs 70 her mother. There is a
strong emotional. instructive bond
which IL Is dangerous 10 break.
But. more than that. many
mothers viii question whether the
court proved beyond the shadow Of
a doubt that Gloria Vanderbilt was a
poor mother.
Il was testified. mainly by
servants. that she drank at times
and once gave some gin 10 little Clio
ria; that she played about with
several young men: that her Con-
tinental peregrinatiOns moved little
Gloria from place 70 place. giving
her no real home. no continued
schooling. no roots.
Exposed TO Liquor
I don't know any mother any
where who thinks that gin is good
for a child or who would want her
child 20 drink II. But I know a
number Of modern crildren who at
some time or other have had a sip
Of some guests cocktail
Apparently that little sip did not
hurt them, nor are any Of them
growing up into miniature drunk
arcs.
II a child wanders into her
mothers cocktail party and. just for
the fun Of u. asks for a sip out of
some ones glass, isn't it possible
its wiser 10 let her have It than TO
have 10 withheld as a grownuF's
forbidden delight that she will
thereafter covet2 She Is almost GER
tain 10 dislike the taste of liquor,
anyway.
We are not Gloria Vanderbilts,
bu. We have friends with children
who do not always want TO go and
play IN the garden while the cock
tails are going around. Sometimes
they want TO share the party. The
sensible mothers We know merely
give the child a cocktail for her own
lemonade or ginger ale. with which
is delighted
But either course. chosen Thoughts
fully for the child's social develop
mont. would sound badly in the cold
legal Technology Of court.
AS 10 Mrs. Vanderbilt's men
friends II Is too much 10 expect that
a beautiful young widow should
have no men around at all And a
child would see no harm in their
presence unless It we're so construed.
Ills of Moving Questionable
The prO-Whitney faction leaned
heavily on the fact that Mrs. VAN
derbilt moved about from place to
place What they portrayed as a
major menace probably hurt Gloria
not al all. Most children love NOV
ing. Il is exciting and interesting.
II IS educational. and it makes them
adaptable-trains them TO adjust
themselves to new environments,
new situations. new children.
The children of theater folk are
always on the move. They live in
trunks and take their schooling
where they may, or are left at schol
by themselves. They seem to turn
out all right.
It is not the physical moving days
that have disturbed little Gloria,
think. or that will continue 10 dis
turb her. But emotional moving
days are more than a child should
be asked TO stand.