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Show KATHLEEN NORRIS Sfrengfo in CptimismJ Bell 6yndicate-WNU Features By KATHLEEN NORRIS MOST of the things that make life pleasant don't cost anything. any-thing. This is a simple truth, but staggering in its significance. signifi-cance. It has all the force of that little chamber of steam that moves mighty locomotives. It has the compelling strength of that rippling peaceful little river whose power lights our great towns and throbs through our household machinery. It costs nothing to be agreeable, but if many men and women knew what it wins, our divorce, suicide, melancholia and general domestic tragedy statistics would be changed amazingly. Most persons are not agreeable. They didn't have an example of family pleasantness as children; they get into criticizing and dissatisfied dis-satisfied habits of speech; they went on into their own lives and marriages mar-riages Just being mean. Not always In action, but often in speech. Approach Is Bestile One of my neighbors is a fine, unselfish, un-selfish, capable wife and mother. But she is disagreeable. Her voice has an undertone of whine and contempt con-tempt She accomplishes wonders for her family and would die for their welfare; she takes tender care of her Invalided mother; she is a true, economic, sympathetic wife. But her first approach to any subject sub-ject or plan is hostile. When Jim Scott gets home at I night, Lynn often will start off with a string of discouragements that ac- . . string of discouragements . . counts for Jim's somewhat browbeaten brow-beaten and henpecked aspect. The best of husbands and fathers, he is meek, quiet, trouble-avoiding at home. "Shut that door quickly. For pity's sake, look at your rubbers," Lynn says from the kitchen. "Don't track that out here I've been cleaning clean-ing all day. If we're going to be crazy enough to go to the Smith's tonight you've got to change. Well, you have to. What am I doing out here? The children have to eat. Jim, whether we go out or not. You look terrible, I suppose you're going to have flu, now that we're through with it. That's the way one gets it, all get it There's Thompson's bill-awful, bill-awful, perfectly awful. I've nothing to wear tonight, I don't know why I said we'd go, but you always accept everything and then wish afterward you hadn't We've never had them here and I don't want them here, but we'll have to have them now. No, the kitchen isn't clean at all, Jim it's filthy. Rose had hers done. It cost $60. I said 'Not for the Scotts, not this year.' I'll get my teeth fixed, the next money I get. Rose said Bert's were going to be over $700. You're so tired you don't want it. That's all I get for heating you up a cup of soup." She Loves Her Family And during this monologue, Lynn will be putting a cup of delicious broth before her tired man, moving briskly about a speckless kitchen, setting the children's dinner down on a daintily set kitchen table and proving every second that she loves her own people and will do anything for their comfort Well, the physical service is valuable. valu-able. But equaUy important is the mental and spiritual help that a healthy, courageous philosophy brings to even the most drab or discouraging dis-couraging situation. We all know what it means when to our frightened and apprehensive questions the doctor says, "This is nothing serious. We can take care of this and have you back in shape in no time." To certain persons that optimistic, hopeful attitude is natural. But all of us should try to cultivate it. Courage is contagious and, when in the face of disaster, one's closest companion is undaunted and takes the position, "Why, we can meet this. We'll weather it as we have everything else." how refreshing, how reassuring it is! How one's own courage rises to meet it! Many years ago a family of Bix orphans had a family conference. They had been living along in carefree care-free American fashion. Now, almost overnight, they were faced with mature responsibilities and burdens. The hope, the vitality and, yes, the fun ef that talk comes back to me across almost half a century. They could cut this, save that earn the other. It was the oldest brother's Incorrigible Incor-rigible optimism that inspired them all "Sure we can do it we're Americans." was his argument then as It Is his In success today. |