The Washington times., 1937-01-30

sass ss5s1: I Rs: S:a!sG 5s5
to wriggle i'm aSS'sss -
patiently, count ELSIE ROBINSON
ing the dragging minutes.
What, I wondered, was this
awful mystery-"the sin against
the Holy Ghost? Telling fibs-
stealing watermelons- ns-already 1
had experimental more or less
successfully with law-breaking.
But these crimes would be
wiped out. Even mean old Mr..
Higgins didn't stay mad forever.
But here was something that could
never be forgiven! Not ever never!
A chill of horror crept down my
little spine.
Many a year has gone since the
dark fascination of that strange
sermon. Still I don't know what
the "Sin against the Holy Ghost"
may be. But were I to make q
moral standard, I'm positive what
sin I would rate as the ultimate
abomination, violating all decency,
passing all forgiveness. And that
would be? PosSeSsiveness!
BRUTAL WRONG
OF all the black and brutal
wrongs which we humans inflict
uopn each other, nothing, in my
mind, can equal the viciousneSs Of
our determination to own each
other and rule each others lives.
I do not know why we are here,
or what we are all about. But
the beauty and wonder all about us
assure me, beyond all doubling,
that the human spirit is infinitely
sacred, and that there is no buSi-
ness on earth more important than
each individuals development Of
himself. To live, to learn-even
though it be through bitter mis-
takeS-thiS is not only our funda.
mental right but our first duty-a
duty which, obviously, no one can
perform but ourselves. And, since
that is the first of all duties, there
can be no wickedneSs comparable
to our interference with it to
any attempt to dominate another'S
life.
To rob a man, hurt and betray
him, even starve or strangle him,
these are slight injuries in COM
parison with the mortal hurt we
deal when we try to run his life
for him.
And this is true of all relation
ships, no matter how intimate.
Mother and child, husband and
wife, lover and sweetheart-there
is no bond which is exempt from
this sternest of all laws. We can
advise and aid-if and when
asked to do so. We can demon
Strate or please-Within decent
limitations. We can leave the
door open to any call for help.
But there is a point in every
life beyond which we may not
pasS-beyond which we should re-
fuse to pass even if requested!
There is no more ghastly sight
than a human being who has lost
his grip on his own life-who has
allowed himself to become pos
Se6Sed by another person. Nothing
juStifies such an outrage. The eX-
cuse that it is done "for his own
good" is beneath contempt, since
no misfortune which a man could
inflict upon himself could pos
sibly equal the tragedy Of losing
his grip on his own life.
Any self-respecting person would
far rather go to hell under his
own steam than be saved for
heaven by another's interference.
If haven't spunk enough to re-
deem myself by my own decisions
and struggles, then let me rot.
HEADS THE LIST
PossessivenesS is not mentioned
in any list of legitimate divorce
complaints, but it should head all
of them. No marital malice ap-
proacheS it. There is nothing
more frightful to watch than the
lifelong struggle of wives to sub
jugate their husbands. or vice
versa.
Generally, however, the woman
is the attacking party. Men
usually find expression for their
will-to-power in their jobs. But
women seem to have a cannibalis-
tic streak. Most of them yearn to
consume someone either child,
mate, or friend-alive. A beastly
business, lady! If you must wreck
'em, use cyanide-it'S quicker and
kinder.
(ThiS column 1DeEconteS and
requests comments. Letters pre-
Senting personal problems mag
also be sent. All letters 10ilI be
handled conJtdentiGlEy and an
S1Oered promptly If stamped, Gd-
dressed, enveIopeS GrS In.
cluded.D
Copyright, 1881, by King Features
Syndicate, Ino.)