The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1941-05-15

Here is a letter from a Mollie that
tells its own story.
II am 48. and never having been
in a position to buy handsome
clothes, and having two daughters
to dress, I was often accused by
my husband Of being dowdy and old
fashioned" writes this Illinois wom-
an angrily. 'The girls are 26 and
"a and we have a son of 20, away
in camp. I have saved, cooked,
worked hard for my family; I am
not socially minded, o have I had
time nor money to entertain on the
scale of my husbands associates
and friends. I never have heard
that it vas a sin for a wife to wear
old clothes and love to live quietly
in her home.
Daughters Painfully Shy.
1.-Two months ago my husband left
me and he is now asking a divorce
so that he a marry a divorced
young woman who works in his Of
fice.' the letter goes on. THAT isn't
what I mind, nor what I'm writing
about. I want your help with my
daughters, who are both painfully
shy. Both are teachers: neither one
ever has had a beau. They have
lovely natures and are far from un-
happy, but meeting strangers or 60
ing places are things that make
them frightfully nervous. Helen,
the older one. plays the violin
delightfully."-, but if I ask her to play
for my friends she runs from the
room and does not appear again un-
til the callers have gone. We have
very few visitors, those few are old,
old friends, but the girls avoid them.
and confine their interests to the
primary grades they teach and to
each others company.
THE other night when a young
man called ! was distressed by the
way Anna and Helen behaved. They
laughed like nervous children, spoke
together and were silent as if COM
plete strangers to each other, and
when l finally asked him to stay
for dinner both girls said at once
that they had engagements It
must have been evident to him that
they had not. for the table was set
for three and in full sight.
yet I know Anna was immense
ly pleased. and Helen was pleased
for Anna. They leased about it
when he was gone-he would not
stay for supper-and have talked of
him ever since. He had asked
Anna if she liked dancing and she
said no, although she dances we'll.
How can l form a pleasant social
circle about them and my boy? 1
have sufficient mean and would be
glad to help them to find friends
and eventually go on into happy lives
of their own"
Train Children in Hospitality.
Just about 20 years too latei
When Anna was six and Helen four
was the time to begin with simple
hospitality. with the welcoming of
their friends and their fathers
friends TO the house; viii Sunday
picnics upon which a few neigh
boris children were invited. with
home dances to radio or recorded
music. with joyous scrambled hours
in the kitchen over the connecting
Of biscuits and cocoa.
Children r hospitable: they love
to bring their friends home. Games
are a little slow to start, but eyery-
one in the world likes pencil games.
Bread and jam and milk are a
party in nursery days. and young.
sters will boast for a long time of
the fun they had roasting potatoes
in Helen's back yard. or that they
each had to bring four sandwiches
to Annals picnic.
But let the younger years slip by,
let the girls grow to the twenties,
shy, friendless. and there is nothing
more that mother can do.