Evening star., 1942-08-03

ana iebVlnS OtnerS walk rOugnSnOG'
over them as some mental quirk that
makes them enjoy suffering.
But while we all recognize the
family goat when we see one, we do
not know how it became one. For
It Is not born that way. 1t is made.
And how this process of evolution
takes place Is one Of the unfathomed
mysteries of nature. Does one be-
come the family goat by design, or
accident? Who selects the family
goat from the herd? Is the family
goat fool or saint? No one knows
the answers to these questions.
Probably the one of the species
with which we are most familiar is
the wife and mother She is about
10. but she looks 10 years older, for
changing a pretty, carefree girl into
a family goat is a painful and aging
experience that leaves its mark upon
one. She always looks as though
she hadn't combed her hair or been
in . beauty parlor or had a new
dress since her. first baby was born.
She has given up all her accomplish
ments. She has dropped all of her
old friends. She doesn't belong to
clubs, or go to parties. because If
she did, the baby might get uncov-
cred, or one OF the girls come home
and want dress pressed, and she
wouldn't be there to do it..
She has become so much mother
che isn't human any more. She has
even lost the ability to talk enter
tainingly. She only bleats about
baby formulas and the price of
butchers meat and the best way to
cook spinach. She has become
nothing but domestic slave and
her family regard her as one.
They never think of including her
IN their pleasures, or making a COM
panion of her. "Oh mother
wouldn't be happy out of her kitch-
en-" they say. Or, mother doesn't
want us to help with the dishes.
Says 1t will ruin our hands" And
80 they leave mother to browse
among her tin cans and get what
enjoyment out of them she can.
People who see mothers froncsome
kids dancing about in hot spots are
often sorry for her, but it is wasted
sympathy. She turned herself into
the family goat.
Next to mother the most numer-
Gus of the family goat tribe are the
oldest daughters and, strangely
enough. 1t is mother who offers
them ur as sacrifice on the family
altar. BY the time little Susie is
old enough to wheel the perambu-
lator she Is harnessed to it and en-
slaved to the baby ALI during her
school days she has to rush home
from her classes, instead of playing
With the other children, to help
mother clean the house and get the
meals and wash the dishes. The
minute she Is graduated from high
school she gets job and thereafter
spends the balance of her life toiling
to support the family.
Mother takes her pay envelope
away from her without ever letting
her even open 1t and see the money
she has earned. and she spends 1t on
her younger children. Susie wears
her last years suit so Maud can
have pretty party frock. Susie
works overtime so Johnny can loaf.
Susie gives up all thoughts OF love
and marriage to send Bob through
college. And mother can't under
stand why Susie looks so old and
tred and sad when the other chill
dren are 50 good looking and high
spirited.
Queer about the family goat. isn't
4? Nobody loves 1t whether It's
name is Nanny or Billy. Nobody ap-
preciates 1t. or is grateful to 1t. And
nobody who is one knows how he or
she got to be one.