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Show Kathleen Norris Says: j The All-Important Word Bell Syndicate. WNTJ Feature. j Some night ask him how that Collins matter came out, and add, "but you're such a wonderful person, Johnnie, they're lucky to get you." SHOW APPRECIATION So many wives complain, and with reason enough, that their husbands never tell them that they appreciate all the work, worry and sacrifices. Too many married couples tend to take each other for granted. Alen seem to be dull and ungrateful, and some of them are, but the majority just don't make the effort to say the few kind words that can change the whole picture from gloom to brightness. On the other hand, as Miss Norris points out in today's article, many wives never stop to think that their husbands have many burdens to bear. There are financial worries, difficulties in business, quarrels quar-rels and arguments in the office. of-fice. Often he sees some one else being advanced, unfairly as he believes. On top of this he has to take his share of responsibility re-sponsibility for problems of his home. Wives who think their husbands have a gay round of golf and poker with a little work in between, are often quite wrong. Many men are putting a brave front on a painful life. If both partners in marriage would strive to show how much they really appreciate the efforts and struggles necessary nec-essary in a successful married life, they would both be happier, hap-pier, continues Miss Norris. Kind words are inspirations, making hardships and difficulties diffi-culties easier to face. A few words at the right time may alter the whole appearance of things. By KATHLEEN NORRIS "TF MY husband only was I more appreciative," J- women say. "If only now and then he would say something in praise of what I do. It would make things so much easier! " Women have been saying that iver since there have been wives nd husbands in the world. To flrudge along day after day and year after year over household tasks, sometimes tired and discour-iged, discour-iged, sometimes confident and content, con-tent, is hard. And just a few words of honest admiration and appreciation apprecia-tion are such a bracing tonic they itay in a woman's heart all dayl But how many. women return the tompliment? How many wives realize real-ize that men are as tired, as doubtful, doubt-ful, as sensitive as they? How many take time to say to the man of the aouse those few phrases that equip aim with the courage and strength ae needs for the day? I've never had much patience with that mushy, sentimental type jf wife who tells you that she and Her Douglas are as tenderly demoted de-moted today, after 17 years of marital mari-tal ups and downs, as they were on their honeymoon. Such a woman is either a limp, feminine burden upon 1 man who carries the load for ooth, or she is flatly and simply I liar. But just the same, a few affectionate affec-tionate words, from a busy man to tired woman, or from a happy wife to an overburdened bread-win-ler, are magic. Don't let your life jo on without this special brand of witchcraft. Middleage early mid-lleage, mid-lleage, can grow dull and heavy without it. Bisk Losing Him. And if you let your husband go llong for months and then years with never a heartening word, you ire risking the very real danger that some other women will find it or him. If you pour his coffee with four eyes oo the morning paper, answer him abstractedly or indif-terently indif-terently when he risks a question, fou may be digging your own grave it a wife. Some day try following him to the door with just a few cheerful words. Instead of sitting on at the table, grumbling about the price of jam. 5ome night ask him how that Collins Col-lins matter came out, and add. "but you're a wonderful person, Johnnie, rhey're lucky to get you." Some day tell him that you told a less fortunate wife that you and John were closer today than 10 years ago. And some day say one of those things that stay with a man, even If he never could express them himself. him-self. Something like, "I want you to tnow that I appreciate what you do, John. That it isn't all easy for you, with today's competition, and Jack-ion Jack-ion being so ugly, and the new of-Sces of-Sces not being done." Some day say In his presence, to the children, "Do you realize that you have a good daddy?" These are such trifles. They don't pay bills, they don't put the car In order or take up the sitting room carpet. They don't make Mother pounger, or increase Dad's salary. Inspiration and Hope. Or do they? In the last analysis I think they do, and perform a hundred hun-dred more miracles as well. The courage they put into our hearts. Jthe lift they give to household tasks, the doors they open to new plans and new hopes these are not only a thousand times more important than dollars and cents, but they I help a man to make new efforts, and these show right away in any family's budget. When talk at home is either non-existent, or resentful and bitter, many a man begins to look about for a poker game or a pleasanter lady who would like some flowers, and many a woman goes downtown in a towering fury and buys not only the extravagant dress but the hat, too, yes, and the shoes, too, and let Bill Brown lump the bills if he doesn't like them! One husband, years ago, turned at the door as he left a troubled, tired woman behind him. "Honey," he said, "this is a mean sort of time. But we'll get that thing paid, and little Daffy will get over her bronchitis, and we'll be in the country coun-try some day, and I'll never forget the way you pulled your weight now!" She didn't need any more. She was on wings that day and for many days. She reminded him of it years later, when they really did have a country home with children racing about it, and when the budget wasn't a fiery-eyed monster who crept out of the shadows every month, but a respected friend. She went back in her memories to a city flat, two sick children, the staggering stag-gering blow of a heavy and unex-, pected bin, her own fatigue, hard days at the office for her husband, rain falling and the smile from the doorway, and the words that carried car-ried her over the flood like the grip of a strong and loving arm. tiJf ' m Men get tired, discouraged, too. ... |
