Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1947-10-10
By KATHLEEN NORRIS

wv IHEN I was honorably
A/ discharged after four
w years of SERVICE"
writes a man from one of New
York states big cities, IT found
readjustment very hard. I had
risen to the rank of captain, and
had had interesting duty over
seas. To come back to our upper
flat, in quiet block, and begin
to look for work was dishearten-
ing. I am A. My old firm, a
supply firm for big machinery,
had been absorbed, and I was
offered only half my former sal
airy and much less than half my
former responsibility. My wife
advised my refusal, saying that
we could wait for something bet
ter. That was two years ago.
Meanwhile she had become in
terested in woman who had pat
ented a certain type of children's
garments. After Adele had been
with her year, this woman died
leaving the business and a half
interest in it to my wife, who had
befriended her to the extent of
small loan in the beginning. This
means that Adele is now the head
and part-owner of a business en-
ploying five or six assistants, with
bookkeeper, sewing machines and
all the setup of small concern.
Her profits run to as much as 5000
or $500 month.
After consultation we decided to
buy a farm, II miles out of town,
and I put all my savings into that.
My two daughters, my mother and
I run this place. Adele pays the
bills and comes home once or twice
a week. My health and nerve condi-
ton are perfect now and I love
farming, but the place does not pay
for itself. 1t gals me to have my
wife settling down perhaps twice
month to discuss expenses and
write check for me.
He Does the Homework.
"1n fact, the whole situation gals
me. Jane and Pam are only and 9,
not old enough to be of much assist
ance. I help with breakfast, wipe
dishes, sweep porches, drive the
girls to school and stop on the way
home to market. 1t isn't a mans
life, yet I don't know what to do to
change it. My wife has her city
friends, her dates, her clubs, new
clothes, theatre trips. She has lately
met young actor who is producing
three plays for summer stock, and
has parts in them all. When she
comes home she listens to the chill
dren, is enthusiastic over newly-laid
eggs and sauce from our own fruit
trees, is always nice to my mother
and off she goes again.
IT said I was Strengthened out.
It's not quite true. This life is
ideally restful for me; I love it. But
crowds, responsibility, competition
in business, still confuse and ex-
haust me. know I am unfit to
seize the reins, become the bread
winner again. Yet to be free-while
she is working-to cut flowers for
my mother, help the children with
homework, saw up fallen tree for
firewood seems like play. Am I los
ing her respect by sinking into this
groove? We have 200 acres here but
only six under cultivation. could
get good price for top farm land.
Shall we sell, move back into the
city, and shall I brace myself to
enter the fight again."
Dear Frank, say in reply: Yours
is not the only home that has been
turned topsy-turvy by the war.
Among all the wreckage your prob
lem is so simple, and has been so
completely solved, thai it cannot be
ranked as real situation at all.
Women accept the status you find
so calling, and rejoice in it, and
l~&s -