Evening star., 1943-01-10
CHAPTER VII.
Wolves in Friends Clothing.


Don't think there won't be any
men after your husband goes to war.
You can be cross-eyed or bow
legged or hide your light under a
bushel at night-but you'll find
cross-eyed man to follow you,
bowlegged one to phone you, blind
one who will petition you in Braille.
Especially If you're "alone." All,
how men love the thought of the
little woman alone. You can be
devoid of glamour as turnip
(Which Of course you're not), as un-
seeking as sister of charity, as
wrapped up In your family as an
old retainer, but let you be manless
for a spell and, 10 and behold, there's
a man around.
The desolate woman is the most
appealing of all objects to the
wandering male. Her very desola-
ton implies the brutality of men
toward women, and the big bullies,
they love it.
Give a man a woman who is
eoooAy AloiliCoo hiiu Wlido hoo hC
got to gain? But just put him
on to woman who has been left
temporarily albne and it titillates
his vanity, offers the chance of
gallantry without too closely in
volving him, gives him a situation
where he's certain there's no out
ragged innocence to face
What are you going to do about
1t?
There are two things to consider
in whether you date or don't date
One-should you at all? Two-is
it worth it?
The wife who has been married
for quite while can make quick
work of the first consideration by
Jumping it in the second. She
should if it's worth it. After all, if
you're securely married you're in
soft spot where men are con-
cerned. You are emotionally tied
down. Your life has security. You
don't need awakening" If you
accept an invitation you do it on
a purely speculative level. Will it
be gay? Will it be better than
staying home tonight? Will it be
more amusing than going to the
movies alone?
You don't have to do what so
many of our unmarried sisters do
(Havent we all, at one time or
another?)-go out with men you
don't particularly like because it's
better to get out and about than
stay homeland always remember
the others you may meet when out.
1t would be foolish to pretend,
however, than you can 90 out
constantly with one man, no mat
ter how friendly the relationship.
and find that it stays on an even
keel.
There are some women who
can't be just -big-sister to some
men, no matter how much they
want to. Especially if they 60 out
IN a succession of dates that have
all the urgency of a courtship. If
you pile up cocktail date on dinner
date, luncheon on theater, flowers
and telephone calls on long daily
walks, what can you expect?
Go to the concert tonight if he
asks you. But be too busy to go
anywhere again for a week or two
Be really too busy-youll be the
better for it.
What single woman might do
is her own affair. The best you
can do is beware of any entangling
alliances before you get in them.
Regardless of whether your hus-
band is here or 5000 miles away,
you stand a better chance of future
adjustment if you don't get your
self in a stew. And the best way
to get yourself in a stew is to get
yourself in situation.
Mere wishing, however, won't keep
you immune from possibilities. No
matter how devoted you may be to
your husband, there's always some
man waiting around.
But by and large, barring only
such mad, true passions as happen
solely in Flaubert. you can keep
things under control or on a high
level.
One thing you ought never to do,
even if you romantically imagine