The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-29


The writer belongs to the eli
here is her letter:
"'Dear Miss Fairfax:
always l read your column, but
have never seen a problem which
approaches mine.
"My husband, whom I did love
dearly, is my second. l married
him when I was 81, not only be-
cause l loved him, but imagined
1t woulu be better for my three
little children to have q home, and
their mother to look out for them.
than have only part-time mother
who went out daily to earn the
family living. I was bank clerk
and made a good salary, as sal
aries go for women.
DECIDING FACTORS
"Were small town people, and
my husband is the leading banker.
Before we married I was employed
in the rival inStitu ION.
my husband and were good
friends and companions for two
years before we were married.
During that time he seemed to be
devoted to my children, would
take them on outings when l
couldn't go, loaded Them with
presents and had them call him
Daddy
"These were all factors in our
marriage, as saw a beautiful
home and a fathers loving care
E.. my little ones. But no sooner
were we married than an insane
jealousy of ~ children took pos
session Of him.
eff 1 kissed or careSSed them, he
was angry. He begrudged them
the very shoes on their feet, and
often / had to beg for old clothes
from my sister, to keep the two
little girls decently clad. ] made
over his caSt-Off suits for my boy.
81 had credit everywhere, but
never a penny'S allowance, though
he would make me expensive pres
ents Of jewelry. Once or twice
tried to sell these. but that lifted
the roof from the house.
This domestic tyranny con-
tinued until my son became Of the
age when naturally he would go
to college. He is q brilliant boy,
who has made an outstanding
record in our local school. He has
been given extra tuition, gratis, by
several Of the teachers, because
his record has been outstanding.
II begged, entreated, cajOled.
did everything in my power to
get my husband to supply the
necessary money for my sons
education. Then I used what in.
fluence I had and got him one OF
those scholarships where . boy
works his way through college.
''My son was to wash dishes.
But the Small-tOwn banker would
have none Of that. Nevertheless,
1 got my boy ready, and sent
him to college last fall.
PATIENCE CRACKS
'But my son is terribly in
awe of his stepfather, who has
shrieked 'Boy!' at him all during
his life. My husband mOtOred
to the college and insisted on
bringing H home when the
boy hal been entered as a stu
dent for only three weeks.
'My patience cracked. then
went to the rival bank, which
had employed me before my sec
Ond marriage, and asked to have
my old position restored to me.
1 think the rival banker had a
little personal satisfaction, not to
say amusement, at this. The job
is oper to me in a few weeks.
81 have told my husband, who
has threatened to divorce me.
/ merely quoted: Cry havoc! Let
loose the dogs Of war; My son
shall have his education, and I
shall be free.
"MARRIED MARTYR"
The solution Of this lady's prob
lem is open to the column. Though
I've had only one side Of this
domestic controversy, the hus-
ban1 appears to me as sadist-
one who gets his joy of life
from cruelty,