Show KATHLEEN NORRIS duty ranks above casual fancy n FTER 10 YEARS of apparent ly happy marriage my husband has just asked me for a divorce writes a woman named laura post of pontiac Pont lac 1 I am stunned at the idea in fact I 1 have been feeling actually sick her letter goes on bill put it to me quite quietly one morning after breakfast ile he had enjoyed his paper his coffee his childrens chatter just as usual but when the children were gone joanna jo anna 8 timothy 6 he stood up put his hands bands on the back of his chair looked steadily away from me and stated his case ile he is in love wi with th another woman n a divorced woman who is the heaviest stockholder in the factory of which dill bill Is manager she is rich and handsome she has a lovely home in the suburbs where my children have occasionally been asked to go and play with her children poisoned by passion in other words she has everything to offer and I 1 feel that I 1 have nothing with which to hold him the children are at trying ages noisy disorderly needing my constant supervision needing help with homework amusement everything they love their father but bill has never paid much attention to them and for the past year it has been almost impossible to interest him in anything at home it is the other woman olive of cr course his passion for her has simply poisoned him in the beginning he wanted me to be nice to her she came here to dinner and invited us out to her place tor for sundays then he began to drop hints as to the advantages i I 1 I 1 rich and haud handsome some her children had over ours which was perfectly obvious ile he a admired d the way she dressed rind and would only say 1 I know dear when I 1 pointed out that she could spend as much as our entire annual income on clothes alone and in tact fact did but she told him she made her 0 own wn dresses and thought she probably spent less than I 1 did and of 0 course he her living with her is a fine middle aged cousin who manages house cook and children but bill gives olive all the credit for the way the place is run two Quest questions ioni now I 1 ask you two questions this letter finishes shall I 1 give him film a divorce I 1 dont want to I 1 feel bitterly resentful and jealous that mat he can so quietly throw aside all we have built up together and all we have meant to each other but I 1 would like your bour advice second Is it fair that a woman like myself not as attractive as olive hard working perfectly happy to give all my life and time to my home and husband should have to face this humi humiliation lation and heartbreak what mint have I 1 done why am I 1 to break up my home go back to mother and try to ratify to my children their fathers abandonment 0 of f us my mother Is everything that 1 Is 19 9 lovely and welcoming there Is room in the old home but it if this happens I 1 will feel that my life as a living beloved needed wo woman M Is over and that my closest friend has struck a cruel blow at my y heart on the other hand I 1 cannot compete with a younger prettier richer woman even though im a good housekeeper and cook love my children and used to b be considered full of fun all broken down I 1 feel like a different woman now she has won my husband away from me will she wa win n my children can the law do anything to stop it no the law cant laura and sometimes I 1 think its a pity it is really unfortunate that a man in your husbands position with club friends a fine responsible job children home and a good wife cannot somehow be held to his ob obvious duty for he be does owe you and the children and the commonwealth the duty of 0 maintaining one more good american home chiv civilization Is built by persons who keep their word and put honor and duty and decency ahead of their casual passions for there Is no real love involved in this affair between two unscrupulous persons and it if you were inclined to retaliation you could do no better than to give him his freedom and watch his subsequent disillusionment and discomfort As tor for you remember that what seems to be a situation in which he is all powerful and you merely helpless and miserable will change |