Evening star., 1942-08-19

and SO often Outllve their huSDands.
Heretofore we have regarded Wild
ows as an act of God, or a decree
of the divorce court, and, anyway,
as something that we couldn't do
anything about that wouldn't hap
pen to us, so there was no use in
worrying about it. But the time
has come when We can no longer
take that casual view of the subject.
We are confronted by the fact that
every woman is a potential widow
and every house is likely to have a
mother -in-laW in 1t.
Nor can we longer ignore the fact
that we have in our midst an army
of women who are miserable and
make other people miserable, SIM
ply because they have been thrown
out of their occupations. They don't
know where to go, nor what to do
and nobody wants them. And II
that isn't a problem, let somebody
ask a hard one.
There is no use in any mother
befooling herself with the old hooey
about her children wanting her to
come and live with them when
Father dies, and that they will
spend their lives petting and ador-
ing her, and believing that she will
be perfectly happy with nothing to
do except sit with folded hands.
No matter how much her own chill
dren love her, their husbands and
wives will consider her an enforced
guest. There will be friction be-
tween her and the grandchildren
She will be bored to death with hav-
ing nothing to do and no interests
of her own. Every woman who
goes to live with her children finds
out that she either has to be a rub
ber stamp or a firebrand. And 1t Is
not happy choice.
Nor are the children always tc
blame. John can't protect Mother
against his wife's temper. Nor car
Mary make her husband treat
Mother with even common polite
ness. Often the family income is
so small that even having one more
mouth to feed is a hardship.
The remedy for this situation Il
for every woman to realize that bu
for the grace of God she may some
day be deprived of the strong arm
on which she has leaned, and to fl
herself to stand alone when tina
catastrophe occurs. She should la.
up some treasures, spiritually ant
mentally as we'll as financially, 81
that she will not be dependent OF
others for an interest in life.
The women who boast that the,
are all wife and mother, never be
long to clubs, or take part in causes
or even go to parties are poorer thar
any pauper, no matter how mucl
money they have, when their chill
dren marry and leave them ant
their husbands.
They become parasites who faster
themselves on anybody who is good
natured enough to permit it, and /
they are rich they forlornly wande
from cruise ship to resort hotel Dor
ing everybody and becoming Publ
| nuisance mo. l. WUISt Stlil, IL lllc
are poor they fasten themselves OF
their children-although they knoy
they are a source of discord betweel
husband and wife-because the
have no life outside of Johnny an
Jane.
Every woman should fit herse]
to live alone if she has to. Sh
should keep up her friendships, he
reading, her interest in everythin
that goes on in the world SO tha
she can be good company for her
self If she has the misfortune G
losing her companion. Also, I be
lieve mothers would do their chill
dren far kinder turn If they lai
: up little nest egg for their old ag
: that would render them independ
ent than they do by spending it a.
r in indulging their children and the
being burdens upon them whe
, Father dies.
OF course II q women Is an IN