Evening star., 1936-09-03

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that there Is SO much excite
ment and such parade made
- over the first child, while the
second, third, and so on, are always
accepted as a matter Of course? Be-
fore my first child was born had the
spotlight turned on me by my family
and husband and was the object of all
their attentions and solicitations. But
now that am going to have another
baby, it is Just lone Of those things"
and nobody is much interested in it
except me. I am not complaining; I
am Just wondering about it and can
not understand why there is such a
difference in peoples treatment of the
mother when the ordeal is so much
harder the second time, and it re-
quires so much more courage to bear
the second baby than it did the first.
There is no ignorance to veil the cruel
truth from her as with the first baby
and she has much to think about
other than the glorious illusion of
motherhood. Can you solve this puz-
zling thing for me? I think it would
make it easier for me if understood? :?
A PUZZLED MOTHER.
Answer: suppose the reason that
the first baby rates the most attention,
has the most fuss made over it and
gets the most presents is because every
first thing is in the nature of miracle
1t is something wonderful and to be
marveled over because it has never
happened before.
+ X X 4
THE young mother is cherished with
a peculiar tenderness by her
family and friends because the trailing
clouds of glory of her girlhood still
hang about her, and because there is
something so touching and so brave in
the thought of the young creature,
hardly more than a child herself,
going down into a well of suffering to
bring back another life, that it grips
the hearts Of all who know and love
her.
But the feat once accomplished be-
comes commonplace that calls for
no beating on the drums. Drama
doesn't bear repetition. The surprise
and tenseness and excitement oozes
out Of 1t at second performance.
Lindbergh was the first man to cross
the ocean in a nonstop flight and the
whole world acclaimed his daring.
Now aviators come and go across the
sea and We pay little attention to them.
And it is the same way about children.
The first baby is a miracle. The sec
ond one is an achievement. After that
they are Just q habit.
And. curiously enough, you will find
that you will take exactly the same
attitude yourself toward your children.
No matter how many children you
have. there will never be one like the
frst-born. No other child will ever
seem such a marvel to you as your
first. You will never get another such
thrill as you felt when your first
baby's tiny fingers curled around
yours. Most mothers, think, love
their youngest child better than they
do any Of the others, but their first
child gave them a triumph and an
excitement that none of the others
ever brought to them as a birth
day gift.
Fortunately, a mothers heart Is big
enough to take in all the babies that
come, no matter how many they be,
but she will never wait for the COM
ing of another with Just the same
thoughts and dreams as she did while
she sewed on little garments for the
first one. Nor will her prayers be
the same, for she will not be praying
for herself, but that her life may be
spared for the little ones who need
her and who would be so forlorn If
they were motherless.
DOROTHY DIX.
Il y
DEAR DOROTHY DIX: My wife
and I have been married for five
years and we are happy together but
for this problem: am young doctor.
aili oClllCO LII tlAC S1Iy Ill "4ASI !
was born and have spent my life and
I have built up a practice that Is
good and getting better every day.
The future looks bright for me here
My wife, however, feels that she can
no longer bear to be away from her
family and friends and she demands
that I give up my practice and go to
live in a distant city among her peo-
pie. That means that I should have
to start all over again. but should I
do what she asks me to do?
YOUNG DOCTOR.
AnSwer-I think you would be both
weak and foolish to sacrifice your
future to crafty your wife's whim.
You would be weak to let her pull
you around by the nose and make you
do a thing that you know will jeop-
ardize your entire career just because
she wants to be near mamma and
the girls, and you would be foolish
because your sacrifice would be made