Show KA KATHLEEN NORRIS Real Advantages Lie in Home ETSEY WILSON of Portland B BETSEY Ore is one of those mothers who struggle and strain sacrifice and suffer to give their children costly advantages and overlook the much greater advantages that lie close at hand with no cost at atalL atalL atalL alL David my husband and I are miserable over a serious disagreement disagreement disagreement disagree disagree- ment about the childrens children's education education education tion writes Betsey He considers me extravagant because my one prayer and hope for them is that they may have more education and more culture than I ever had We have a good income and we also have almost in the Victory bonds his mother left us Let me tell yO you what some of these so-called so extravagances are the letter goes on My three younger children two boys and a girl are in nursery schools that include include in in- clude elude luncheon and naps The older girls are in a less expensive private school they have as extras music a play club and ballroom dancing Both go to a Saturday skating club and of course all this includes incidental expenses of trips and clothing My plan is to borrow the necessary necessary necessary sary five or six thousand a year from our savings restoring it as the children grow older We were both underprivileged in youth David and I he consequently has been a passionate student all his life and I take out my old hunger for advantages in hopes for my children Do you think I am justified justified justi justi- fied fled in this plan Culture for Children I want my children to know cultured cultured cul cal people and have nice friends I want them to be familiar with music and languages sports and social usage and I will sacrifice anything and everything to this end To what better use could David and fr- fr rIA JJ 3 G t want them to know I possibly put our money Well Ill I'll tell you Betsey to what better use you could put that handsome handsome handsome hand hand- some nest Leave it where it itis itis itis is in Uncle Sams Sam's hands it couldn't be safer safero And begin to add to it Before you know it Davids David's income income income in in- come wont won't be so large or so steady The girls and boys will be scattered and whether or not you bought them dancing lessons tennis rackets or a dozen changes of pretty clothes will not matter and will not be remembered That's the time tune when you and David will wiLt want a small house a garden a cocker spaniel a car carand carand car car- and independence independence independence I You dont don't want then to be living with the impatient young wile wife of David junior or to have to murmur to Margery Daddy Daddy Daddy Dad dy must have a hundred dollars for his teeth dear Demands Will WUl Grow You'll never add anything to the vanishing bank account if once you begin to gnaw at it Dont Don't deceive yourself In 10 years the children will vill want far more than they do donow donow donow now not less So during this long vacation begin begin begin be be- gin the Great Upheaval Most lives would be much better for tor an overhauling overhauling overhauling over over- hauling and a great upheaval now and then Put the children into public schools and if it the public schools are not fine ine enough help to make them finer Gather a few friends around them and find a friend of your own who will give them all dancing lessons in hi your house at ot the cost of a few sandwiches sandwiches sandwiches sand sand- and bottles of pop every I week Children dance naturally and they have so much fun learning together together together to to- gether and teaching each other that it is a shame to send them to l lifeless lifeless life life- eless e- e less and completely uninterested teachers at 6 an hour Put them on ona a dress allowance and buy them much less expensive clothes And dont don't forget that school of all schools the family dinner table and that power of all social power good manners Good manners are only gentleness and consideration your children will learn them in no better place than at the home table Perhaps you haven't been bringing bringing bring bring- ing big Dad into the conversation enough How much do the children know of his boyhood the mistakes he made the lessons he learned the things he had to do for his mother the big fish he caught on that camping week that cost him lust just 2131 How much do they know of you and the reason you have for wanting wanting wanting want want- ing them to have more than you had as a girl How interesting can you and Dad make local school and sport politics during the dinner ta table table table ta- ta ble conversation In other words what priceless privileges of companionship and sharing mental stimulus s and happy family amusement are you losing while you run madly after dancing teachers and gym teachers and psychiatrists and fashions You give them everything they need for happy successful lives when you give them the priceless possession of sound character Gentie Gentle Gentle Gen Gen- tle tie manners intelligent interest in what is going on trained help in handling household work and home finances hospitality that they can afford can afford can handle themselves |