The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-01-14
By KATHLEEN NORRIS
Bell Syndicate. -wNu Features

ct SUPPOSE I am just one
more confidential secre-
L tary who pitied a lonely
and misunderstood man."
writes Alice Carter from Buff
falo, ''but it didn't seem that
way three years ago, when Fred
and I were married. His wife
was entirely willing to divorce
him and hand over to him full
custody of their three-year-old
daughter, Carol. Fred's and my
love was the only thing in my
life that mattered, but adored
the child for his sake, and in
deed, until recently, when she
has been getting somewhat out
of hand, Carol was as sweet a
baby as ever saw. She is very
pretty, and her mother, who has
her every other weekend when
she is anywhere near, spoils her.
She has consulted Hollywood talent
scouts about Carol, and got Carol
a permanent when she was only five
years old, which annoyed Fred and
me, who want to keep her childlike.
"But these things aren't the prob
lem. What is, is that Arlene syste-
matically goes about undermining
my influence with Carol. She tells
her that I am no more to her than
to any other little girl at school, and
that when my own baby comes I
will not care for Carol any more.
She says not to ask me what she
may do or not do, but to wait until
Daddy comes home.
Confused Child Is Impudent.
"Carol is becoming confused by
all this, and with child that means
impudent and unmanageable. A few
days ago she said to me, 'Mommy
says you like money. She says you
would never have married Daddy
except for his money. She asked
me if Daddy had his face lifted be-
fore he married you
"The commences Of this sort Of
thing distresses me, as does also
the fact that Arlene takes Carol off
on rather peculiar weekend visits
to various clubs and mountain cab
ms. Carol, at six, naturally notices
nothing amiss, but the time is COM
ing when she will. Yesterdays event
was Carols teasing her father to
send Mommy fur coat. She said
she would give me the prettiest doll
in Watson's If you would give her a
fur coat
II don't know" Alice's letter goes
on, whether this seems actually
pernicious to you, but it does to me.
The constant nervous pressure on
the child is certainly bad for her;
the divided allegiance, the unfair
appeal to her little sympathies, all
upset her normal relationship with
her father and me. If Arlene would
only marry again things would be
better, but she is one of scores of
women who prefer freedom and a
generous alimony to domestic re-
sponsibility.
''Now she has written to ask Fred
to lunch with her, to talk about
our small girls welfare Perhaps
am bitter, but it doesn't seem to
me that that welfare has concerned
her much up to this point. But
Fred is rather touched by her in
terest. Lots Of charm in Arlene, >
he said at breakfast. I have had
full care of Carol for more than
three years; her baths and maps,
dressing and exercise, school and
clothes, days in bed with colds, gym
and doctor and dentist. Partly be-
cause Of Arlene's alimony, I have
never had nurse for her. We have
sacrificed many an evening engage
ment because our only servant Is an
old oriental, and not quite suitable
as nurse for small girl.
''Now her mother resumes inter-
est, and is annoying and upsetting
me as only a clever and malicious
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