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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1956-12-20, Page 2"Dear Anne Hirst: Practically every column you write must stir memories in other readers of a similar experience. The one about The grandmother who got in wrong with her son's wife (and now_ misses her grandchildren) matches my own. Don't you agree that her uninvited 'helpfulness' so enraged the girl that it was the real cause for bad feeling between herself and , her hus- band? "Is it any wonder the young wife forbade her children to visit their grandmother, or that her husband stopped going there often? They blamed her for all the arguments they had. "I had the same bad time. My husband's mother lived too close to us for comfort. Not a day pass- ed that she didn't drop and criti- cize something I did; cooking, cleaning, the way I dressed, the friends I had. After too many years of such abuse, I just told her off — respectfully but she got the idea — and I had the sur- prise of my life. She was decent enough to see my point, and more, she said so ! She even brought my husband and me close again, and advised a trip for us while she took over the children. I shall never forget it. "Such a little while ago, I hated her. Today I love her as Se -Easy! DOLL WARDROBF EACH ONE MAIN PATTERN PART ?} FOR DOLL 14"-22" 4795 TALL PRINTED PATTERN This Printed Pattern has everything! 14 different gar- ments for dolly — each just ONE main pattern part — cinch to sew! Jacket, beret, skirt, dress, sash, blouse, jumper, slacks, shorts, play -top, cap, pinafore, petticoat, panties! Printed Pattern 4795: For dolls 14, 16 18, 20, 22 inches tall. See pattern for yardage require- ments. Directions printed on each tissue pateern part. Easy-to-use, accurate, assures perfect fit. Send THIRTY-FIVE CENTS (stamps cannot be accepted, use postal note for safety) for this pattern. Print plainly SIZE, NAME, ADDRESS, STYLE NUMBER. Send oredr to Anne Adams, 123 Eighteenth St., New Toron- to though she belonged to me ... It couldn't have happened if I had put up with 'her meddling— or if she hadn't been the great- hearted person sheHAPPY NOW" UNSUNG MOTHERS * Millions of mothers are won- * derful in-laws. They tccept * their son's. wife as a new * daughter; they love her for her * devotion to hien and for her * private virtues, and respect her * as an intelligent human being * whose life is being dedicated * to her husband's comfort and * content. The selfless role " of * such mothers-in-law remains * unsung; it never reaches the * newspapers. The only Ones we * hear about are those who in- * terfere with the lives of their * children. * One reason they interfere is * a determination to see that * their beloved son is properly * looked after — and what chit * of a girl, they argue, knows * how? So in they barge with * an armfulof suggestions. that * reduce the bride to tears, if * not rage, and light a spark of * resentment that can flame for * years. Even this reason, though, * does not give the older woman * the right to criticize the girl's * appearance, her friends, her * habits; such personal intrusions * should not be permitted — * though sometimes it takes * months of a girl's tactful pro- * tests to make the woman * realize she is making a nui- * sance of herself. * You were brave, and wise, * to speak up for your rights, and * I can guess you did not until * the situation became so crucial * that it disturbed your husband, * too. It is your good luck your * mother-in-law recognized how * wrong she had been, and had * the grace to say so. * It was good of you to des- * cribe your experience. I cer- * tainly hope it will guide other * brides and mothers in this * vital marriage problem. *: * a, BE FRANK "Dear Anne Hirst: I am 19, and for a year I've gone with a young man whom I have come to love deeply. We have an 'understand- ing' which may mean everything —or nothing—Last weak I heard he'd been seen with a girl I know, and I simply cannot believe it. He hasn't taken anyone else out since we met ... "I know he is not wealthy, and since once he said he'd like to marry me 'some day,' I have been saving a good deal of my salary so I can help him out .. . But I hate to doubt him! What do you think? WORRIED SICK" t: Why not ask him point- 's blank? Say you doubt the eta- * mour is true, but if it is, you * will say good-bye and wish him * all happiness. Add that you * know a couple can grow tired " of seeing each other often and * regularly, so you want hint to * feel free to date anyone he * chooses. * Somefolks cannot . bear to * see a couple happy, and they * will go to almost any extreme * to destroy the friendship. Per- * haps one of your girl friends * is jealous? * * Why should the words "in-law" be an anathema to a bride ?.Why can't she start out being grate- ful that the older woman brought up her husband to be such a grand • person? If this situation faces you, tell Anne Hirst about it and find how she can guide both women to a better under- standing. Address her at Box 1, 123 Eighteenth St., New Tor- onto, Ont. WAR ECHOES IN "'4OLAND — Perhaps a hint of more drastic things to come os seen in this photo of a London garageman explaining to a would -lie gasoline buyer that he has only enough gas to take caro of his regular customers.. HE'LL CLIP 'EM — Barber Nicholas Corsino hangs a sign in front of his Rockland shop, announcing a 1d -dollar price to anyone wanting an Elvis Presley -style haircut. Barbers' code says a customers must be given any sort of haircut he wants. So Corsino jacked up the price from the .regular $1,50. So far he's had no takers. He thinks the Presley haircut is the craziest one yet. evizt4o7..ttve P. C t&t l e A Happy Christmas to all the readers of this column. Yes, Christmas again — and if it were not for the calendar, it would be hard to realize that a year has slipped away siniae I passed along that same greeting before. Each Christmas is a milestone along, the road al. life. During the winter we measure time by speaking events as happening "before or after Christmas". And we have a way of comparing one Christmas with another .. . "remember — that was our first Christmas away from the old home" . . and another "we celebrated Christmas in our new home that year, with the grand- parents and our first baby" .. . or again — "remember how hap- py we were three years ago be- cause our little girl who had been so ifl had been spared to us?" And there are sad mem- ories too . there is the inev- itable feeling of loss because some that we had dearly loved are no longer with us. That is the pattern of life and we have to accept it. But, by and large, Christmas is what we make it. We can add to the regrettable commercialism of the season by being too lavish in our spending, forgetting that the ten -dollar gift, hastily chosen, cannot give as much pleasure as a less ex- pensive present upon which lov- ing thought and care has been given to the choosing. Christmas is a time of happi- ness and goodwill, But can we be happy and good-tempered if we be erne involved in a mad. rush of ChristIrras shopping? Can we blame the children for being irritating and boisterous if we ourselves cannot take time to talk with them quietly; to enter intra their little secret plans for Christmas giving. How many children are given a dollar or two at the last minute and told to choose something for the grandparents? "What shall you get? Oh, I don't know — look around the stores — you'll likely find something!" Can we blame the children if they grow up taking little thought in either giving or receiving? Don't we sometimes lose sight of the rea- son eason for exchanging gifts? The Three Wise Men brought gifts to the Christ -child because they wanted to honour him and to show their great joy at the Sa- viour's birth. By that same token it was originally the cus- tom to give gifts to those we love and in that way show our affection, making each one feel haw glad we were to have him with us. If we would hold to that principle we could then never go very far wrong with our giving., "It isn't the gift that counts, but the thought be. hindit." That is a trite saying, I know, but it is also very true. T same attempt at simplicity migl t well apply to our Yule- tide ,tare. Of` ourse it wouldn't be Christmas without the tradi- tional dinner. But need we be quite so lavish with our riph food? There will be plenty of strangers around us this year — perhaps some in our own com- munity. Shouldn't the spirit of Christmas, along with practical expressions of peace and good- will, extend to those who have sought refuge in our own coun- try? Christmas is such a wonderful time. Twinkling coloured lights relieve the drabness of the streets. Gaily trimmed Christ- mas trees are a joy to young and old. Greeting cards bringing with them messages from near and far. Do you read those greetings? Do you stop to think that the verse inside didn't come to you by accident? More than likely your friend or relative sent the card with that particu- lar verse just especially for you. A little sentimental perhaps — but then, Christmas is a time for sentiment. So won't you take time to read your Christmas cards and enjoy the nice little verses? Christmas —although a lovely season — still has its drawbacks. At home and abroad; in the streets and in the stores, there is noise and excitement. We can- not escape it entirely, nor would we want to. But too much is too much. We owe it to our- selves to plan a little time for rest and quietness. A half-hour, perhaps only ten minutes, to be completely alone. Yes, even on Christmas Day. During that quiet time little grievances — if we have any --- will disappear; tiredness will vanish; a new ap- preciation of the " good people around us may come as quite a surprise after all, We shall find ourselves refreshed, ready to work again — or talk or play — possessed of a strange inner peace, as if for awhile we had walked with God, and perhaps in some inadequate way thanked hire for the miracle •of the Sa- viour's birth. Yes, there will be many things to be thankful for at Christmas tithe but perhaps the greatest of all will be that gift to ourselves — that short period in which to be absolutely alone. It sounds easy but busy wivee and harassed mothers know it is not. But do try to give yourselves this gift — now, and every day until Christ- mas. By the New Year it may have become quite a helpful habit. Perhaps you will say "Well, that isn't .much of a Christmas column." No doubt you are right, especially as I still can't think of a better greeting than to say — "A Very Happy Christ- mas to you all." Modern Etiquette .. . Q. Is it really proper to chew gum in public places? A. This depends entirely upon just what kind of a chewer you are. If you are the nervous kind of chewer, then it is better if you refrain from public gum- chewing. If, ho,vever, you can keep guns in your mouth with- out its being obvious to others, there is nothing wrong with .it. Q. If a man is entertaining a group of friends in a restaurant or hotel dining room, in what order do they go to the table? A. If the headwaiter leads the way to the table, the host goes first to seat his guests. The women of the party follow, and the men last. Q. When eating olives, is it proper to put the entire olive into the mouth, and after the meat has been eaten, remove the stone from the mouth? A. No. The olive should be held in the fingers and nibbled off the stone. Q. How . is the formal mar- riage announcement worded? A. Usually this way: "Mr. and Mrs. Henry G. Harrison have the honour to announce the mar- riage of their daughter, Judith Ann, to Mi•. Richard Hoyt Hayes on Saturday, the sixteenth of June one thousand nine hundred and fifty-six in the City of Montreal.", Q. When selecting mono- grammed handkerchiefs for a man or woman, which initial should be selected, that of the first or the last name? A. For a man it is always the last. For a woman, the last is customary, but the first is per- missible. GOING . , , GOING The auctioneer was .a last- minute substitute and obviously new to the business. Sales hadn't been going well, and the crowd was losing interest. Clutching the next item that. came to hand the young man an- nounced: "What am 1 offered for this beautiful bust of Robert Burns?" "That isn't Burns," called a voice from the audience, "that's Shakespeare." "Well, the joke's on me," the auctioneer laughed nervously. "That just shows what I know about the Bible." The Panama Canal is 50.7 miles long, less than half the length of the Suez Canal. !ISSUE 51 —x1956 Less Than a Yard Pick this pretty "flower" for your serving apron — fashioned of remnants in shades of vivid color! Sew -simple to make for a smart economical gift, bazaar best-seller! Pattern .623: Embroidery apron; takes only 4 yard of fabric. Send TWENTY-FIVE CENTS. (stamps cannot be accepted, use postal note for safety for this pattern to Laura Wheeler, 123 Eighteenth St., New Toronto, Ont. Print plainly PATTERN NUMBER, your NAME and AD- DRESS. - Our gifts to you — two won- derful patterns for yourself, your pome — printed in our Laura Wheeler Needlecraft Book . . . Plus dozens of other new designs to order — crochet, knitting, embroidery, iron -ons, novelties. Send 25 cents for your copy of this book NOW — with gift patterns printed in itl FOR CHILDREN EVERYWHERE—Pictured above is the OfW U.S. Children's Stamp of 1956, with its theme of "F'riendshi'p—the Key to World Peace." The design shows a group of children of the world looking toward, the key of friendship. The new three -cent, blue issue went on first sale Dec. 15, in Wash- ington, D.C. 4 .....,...ref':. BRIDGE TO FREEDOM BLASTED BY REDS—Hun foundations of a bridge spanning a canal at been blown up by Soviet' troops to stem the The Russians were reported to be pltlaing min garlan border guards stand near the blasted the Austro4Hungarian border, The bridge had flow of refugees seeking freedom i'n •Austria. es along the frontier to halt the exodus. to Aus-