Evening star., 1953-10-21
Problems Today
Wife Finds
Husband Is
TightWod
By MurieI Nissen


DEAR MISS NISSEN: mar
ried Stuart six years ago-when
] was 16 and he was II. We now
have two little girls, whom we
adore, but here is my problem:
Stuart waits until the last minute
to pay a bill, and he is SO dis
tresSed at parting with a penny
that I had to go to work for food
and clothing money. I pay a
nursery school to care for the
children.
My husband won't pay the rent
until the landlord threatens to
take the case to court. The same
goes for all utility bills. He earns
a good salary, but what he does
with the money I don't know.
There's hope for a drunkard or
philanderer, but what does one
do with a man of this type?
SYLVIA
ANSWER: You sum up a
miser very completely by placing
him in so hopeless a position.
They are almost impossible to
reform. Your method of solving
the problem, which follows that
adopted by most women with
your trouble, is, as it happens,
the worst one. The minute a
parsimonious husband realizes
that his wife will go to work to
buy the groceries, he'll sit more
firmly on his boarded pennies
and refuse to part with one of
them. You might enlist the help
of one or more of the utility
companies, who are disgusted
themselves with the futile ef-
forts to make your mate pay his
bills. Deprived of one of these
utilities for a time may make
him realize how far he has tried
their patience.
And here's another solution
which know has worked-at
least temporarily. When dun
ming letters begin to roll in. you
refuse to put another cent on the
table until the bill is paid. If
necessary, take yourself and the
children out to meals, but don't
feed Stuart.
DEAR MISS NISSEN: For
several years Ted was more or
less my steady, until I met Jim
on vacation this year. I realized
that I had more fun on dates
with Jim than I ever had with
Ted, and began falling in love
with him. I told him about Ted
and the next day he left me
without even saying goodbye. I
haven't heard from him since. I
don't know whether he was
jealous, or thought I was leading
him on. I would very much like
to see him again.
DOLLY M.
ANSWER: It seems to me that
Jim was genuinely attracted to
you, but didn't want to barge in
on another fellows territory.
There may have been some
reason. too, why he felt he
shouldn't pursue the acquafnt-
ance. Perhaps he had a girl
friend home to whom he owed
loyalty. There's no reason why
you shouldn't try to find out
something from him. Give him
a call or write him an invitation
to gathering at your home. If
the overture is rejected, all you
can do is call it another sum-
mer romance that curdled.
DEAR MISS NISSEN: In June
when I left school I parted from
a boy I liked a lot. There's no
chance of our paths crossing eX-
cept by accident. He lives in
another part of town and I
thought of passing his house to
see if I could See him, although
it's out OF my way. I also know
some of his friends. OLGA.
ANSWER: Don't be so obvious
in your pursuit of a boy as to
go miles out of your way to pass
his house. Rather, get the help
of a mutual friend in your quest.
Mention more or less casually
that you'd love to know how x
is doing and would like to see
him again. Someone is bound to
pick up the gambit and offer to
arrange a double date.
Muriel NiSSen tUW reply to all
readers Uho ask her help. Write
for free leGfet DIP, Financial
Trouble" In all cases be
sure to incIoSe an addressed,
stamped enuelope and send re-
quest to her, in care OF the
Womdn'S Department, The
EUening Star, Washington 4,
D. C.