The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-09-27
By KATHLEEN NORRIS
OW near are you to being
a perfect woman?

InlS is a faSclnaClng
question, and the answer to it
may suggest to you a fascinat-
ing occupation. It may amuse
you and keep you busy and
happy for years trying to turn
yourself into perfect woman.
A mans letter suggested this
idea. He writes me that he has
the perfect wife. They have
been married seventeen years;
they aren't rich or famous or
young any more; they're both
close to forty. But his letter
makes thrilling reading, and I
pass it on.
A Tough Beginning.
I'VE had to wait seven years for
our happiness" he writes. ''They
were long years, and sometimes dis
couraging years. Dee was taking
care of her mother, helpless in
valid, and teaching school as we'll.
There seemed to be no reason why
she might not be so held for many
years. was in medical school, with
the hope that a hospital appointment
might some day pay me SIS
month.
when Dee was % and I 80,
however, I was offered position
in a small country town, with $500
a month and free rent guaranteed.
At the same time an aunt of Dee's
was widowed, and came to live with
her mother, and we persuaded the
old folks to let us turn the upstairs
floor of the home into fiat. The
rent was $35 and we sent them an
other $35 and they managed easily.
1--WE went at once to our own
home, and I took up my clinic duties
at once. My wife kept wonderful
table and we could entertain SIM
ply on her food allowance of $25 a
month. Presently began to get an
outside case or two; every dollar
counted, of course, but we never
had any sense of anxiety or scrimp-
ing. Two boys came along, and
their mother took care of us all;
always gentle, sympathetic, under
standing.
81 think gentleness is Dee's out
standing characteristic. She is al
ways neat and fresh, always merry
and adequate and wise, but her out
standing characteristic is gentle
ness. If something comes up that
troubles her, \she is silent, thought
full, gentle about it. She made our
boys gentle.
Always Sees the Bright Side.
ssDee never will have a bill or a
standing debt. We may have to
go on short rations for a while, but
she must pay bills first. Her moth
er's final illness was long one; we
had doctors and nurses, but Dee
managed to make us all feel that
it was privilege rather than bur-
den to do all we could.
"She makes picnics, parties, fes-
rivals Of ordinary living. In wor-
ried time-for I had long, dull ILL
ness-she was never at a loss for
surprises, kindnesses, discoveries of
the first spring fewer, or a good
book, or a new little dish for my
tray. Our little girl, coming when
her brothers were and z, was born
almost blind. Normal now, for her
first two years her mother had to be
eyes for her. Dee never showed me
her bitter worry, never grew tired.
Her home is place of rest and
music and laughter and happy
meals and happy talks. In winter
we are the contest family in town.
In summer Dee's beloved garden
has our supper table in it, under
an oak. For vacations we have a
three-room lake cottage; for hob
bies-but we have them all
1.-THE vivid, eager, loving woman
who has done all this for a man and
three children is, think, the finest
human being ! ever knew. You hear
the other side; you write of divorces