No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF A(J1{1('1:LTUKE. 325 



And it's not only girls who need "mothers as chums." I recall 

 with pleasure an afternoon spent with a mother wiio spoke of being 

 'chums'' with her boy just growing into manhood. She was inter- 

 ested in his worlv and in his x^lt'asures as well, and was looking for- 

 ward to a little visit of a day or two which he managed to sand- 

 wich between trips as a girl looks forward to the visits of her 

 sweetheart. So young did she keep herself with this companion- 

 ship, that despite poor health, she was often taken for his sister 

 when they were out together. 



1 recall with far less pleasure another mother who came to me 

 to ask the most ordinary questions concerning her son's where- 

 abouts on certain dates, because, knowing my friendliness with him 

 she thought I'd know, and she did not have her son's confidence as 

 to where he was going or with whom. I was able fortunately that 

 time to tell her and satisfy her mother-heart, for he had been where 

 she wanted lie should be — in safe company. That mother kept a 

 spotless house for her son to live in, she would get up splendid meals 

 for company to entertain him and his friends; she would stand for 

 hours ironing her best table-cloth after entertaining until, weak, 

 frail woman that she was, every nerve was atingle and muscles 

 strained with the exertion. Yet she did not take time to become 

 acquainted with lier son. What wonder that he went wrong and 

 liis mother's heart was wrung with anguish when all too late? But 

 was Hie fault all the son's? And sad it is that these cases are all 

 too many. 



I iiiight say a word regarding the value of the mother as a 

 "chum" to her husband, but doubtless I would be stopped, for I 

 understand one can deal only (m this platform with the things one 

 reallv knows, and personally I've no experience along that line, 

 but I've quantities of theory. 



The relation of parent and child is a theme frequenty dilated upon 

 by writers in these days, l-^lla Wheeler Wilcox recently, in speak- 

 ing of the education of j^arents cites the case of Alexandra, mother 

 of Herod's wife, who fcajing a fate similar to her daughter's, rose 

 and bitterly reproached her for a crime she knew she had not com- 

 mitted; so Herod's wife went to her death knowing her own mother 

 was a traitor .to her. She mentions this to shoAv the evolution of 

 motherhood since that day, and says: "Surely nowhere * * * 

 could such a mother be found today, I have known mothers who 

 were jealous of their daughters, I have seen many who were unkind 

 in small ways and lacked sympathy. Thousands of mothers fail to 

 win the confidence of ihtJi- diiughters." But she does not tell 

 us why. Is it because Ihe mother has not made a study of her 

 daughter's nature and cannot understand its changes and ])roclivi- 

 lies? Is it because she has not been a "chum?" 



Another writer charges a lack of love and duty on the part of 

 the child, saying, '"Many mothers have given youth, beauty, health 

 and strengtii, and when lines of care mark their faces with wrinkles, 

 and her hair is sireaked with gray, how many are rewarded by the 

 devotion and care of those for whom they have dcme so much? Not 

 so nmny as there should be." Tliis is a sad picture and true, yet 

 I must say it does not ai»])eal to me quite so much as some other 

 j)hases. I trust 1 am not lacking in duty or devotion to parents, or 

 in the family love which must bind families together in unity; and 



