The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-10-25

- EAR Mrs. Norris"
writes Blanche B.,
- from suburb near
Dubuque, ''ny problem is so
serious that it threatens to
wreck my married happiness.
I'm not a fool, I've been a bust
ness woman, I'm running a
home comfortably and econom-
ically, but I can't work this one
out. Please tell me what you'd
do in my place.
Frank and I were engaged
for four years before we could
marry, because his mother was
dependent upon him, and his
two brothers calmly refused to
do anything for her support. But
when I had a good bank account
and we were buying a home we
felt that we could risk it, and we
were married four years ago. was
then %; Frank 80. AT the time my
wonderful mother was running a
successful small grocery, with my
father as assistant. Dad drove the
delivery wagon, answered the tele-
phone, and SEEMED to be what
she called him, her partner but
it wasn't long after her death that
we discovered that she had been
carrying him all along as liability,
not an asset. The business rapidly
went to pieces, Dad sold out for
half its value, bought cottage,
and said he was going to retire.
Dad Definite Handicap.
''He made only seven payments
on the cottage which he lost, and
in II months had spent the more
than $4,000 the business had brought.
Then he came to us. That was a
little more. than year ago.
"Shortly afterward my uncle,
Dads brother, came to see us, and
Dad Hospitality invited him to stay,
paying me 81 a week board. This
Uncle Dan gratefully agreed to do.
I was at the time earning SIG a
week in a part-time job, but it didn't
work. The two old men got every
thing at home into a mess while I
was away; pipe dribbles, dirty
dishes, icebox left open, bathroom
disgraceful-they were worse than
children. I would have had to pay a
maid what I was earning, and we
had no room for her, so it seemed
wiser to do things myself. I like
homework, and am a good manager
and cook.
Husband Plays Sad Role.
''Now my life is simply that of a
board-house keeper for two rather
exacting old men. Uncle Dan scru-
pulously pays me dollar day; if
he goes away for three days to see
his married son, he deducts that
money. Of course this doesn't pay
me, and of course my husband
doesn't like finding the bathroom
occupied when he gets home; the
evening paper scattered about; the
comfortable chairs pre-empted. He
differs with both the others politi-
cally, and they argue and taunt him,
and if he holds his tongue they feel
triumphantly that they have scored.
They play cribbage by the hour,
talking all the time; they are late
for meals, slow about everything,
fussy, and with long explanations
and requests. We are both getting
horribly nervous about it, and it is
especially trying to me because
want a child, or children, and it
would be impossible to have a baby
in the house with one bath, two
bedrooms, and four adult occupants.
"Uncle Dan is rather sweet. and
willing, but Dad is exacting and
critical, and never says an affection
ate or appreciative word. But what
can do? He is GA, and slightly lame
from sciatica. I have brother
who can send me $40 a month for
Dads keep, but he demands that
for tobacco. My brothers. wife will
have nothing to do with Dad, so he