Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1943)

mies to accomplish this. Simply be tactful and firm. Ask them calmly to stay out of the office because you have work . to do. If you are nice about it, and if your tone and attitude are absolutely impersonal, I feel sure these men will — in the long run — believe you and respect you for your attitude. Sincerely yours, Bette Davis. Dear Miss Davis: I'm just at the point where I don't know what to do. When I was 19 (I am now 21) I was married. You see, my mother is Russian and she believes that if you aren't married by 20, you're disgracing the family. She really had me believing that no one would ever want me, so when I met this boy, I married him just to satisfy her although I knew I didn't love him. We just didn't get along from the very first. When I knew I was going to have a baby, I thought it would make everything right, but it didn't. Miss Davis, my baby was born with water on the brain and it only lived a month. When the baby died, my husband left me, saying I was no good as a woman. Then my mother started again, also saying I was no good and that I should have died instead of my father. You see, I was six when he and I were in a car together and we had an accident. He died and now she's forever telling me it should have been me. My mother isn't very well and I have tried to take care of her, but I don't think I can stand it much longer. What would you do? Try to turn a deaf ear to her nagging, or go to some other town and get a job and start life fresh without my family? Tania M. Dear Mrs. M: As you say yourself, your mother obviously isn't very well and I am sure this must partly excuse her actions. Certainly you iveren't in the least responsible for the death of your father and you shouldn't be harried ami made miserable because of it. I\either are you responsible for the death of your child, nor does this unusual condition reflect any discredit upon your ivomanhood. Both were utterly beyond your potver to change. Your husband and your mother have been entirely tcrong in goading you into your present state of misery. I never advocate leaving a mother, but in your case it would seem that your only chance for salvation lies in starting out on your own. Sincerely yours, Bette Davis. Dear Miss Davis: I have read somewhere that you are head of the U.S.O., and I wondered if you were the person who made the rule that girls under eighteen can't enter U.S.O. centers? I am seventeen and my boy friend is stationed near the town where I live. Really, there aren't many places around here where decent people can go and have a nice time. The U.S.O. workers are always giving parties for soldiers and inviting a lot of girls, but we girls sixteen and seventeen get turned down at the door. We are embarrassed to death. My boy friend has to take an older girl to these parties and I am left out. Can't something be done about it? It seems like a silly rule — what difference does a year make? Won't you please look into it and try to get that rule repealed? Grace B. Dear Miss B: I am extremely flattered to learn that you think I am head of the U.S.O. I am hardly equipped for this job, which is a colossid one. These rules are made ami enforced by the U.S.O. chairman in each community, I understand, so the only thing for you to do is to take it up with your local U.S.O. Sincerely, Bette Davis. Dear Miss Davis: I am a bride of six months and have a very dear husband. We love each other deeply. He has had a very difficult life as he has worked since he was fourteen. Now, he has a rather important job and we get along very nicely on his salary. After two months of marriage, he brought up the subject of a wife's being independent. He wants me to go to school and to learn to be something. He says that he has seen so many changes concerning work that he feels a woman should be able to share in supporting a home, if need be. I love being a housewife and I know I would be very unhappy if I had to go to work. I like to cook, and clean, and have my home attractive. How can a woman keep up with household duties when she has to go off to the office? I told him a girl marries to have someone to depend on. Do you believe a woman has to learn to be self-supporting? Patricia J. Dear Mrs. J: I happen to agree with your husband. I think that every human being should be self-supporting. Who knows ivhat the future may bring, or of what great value trained women may be in the post-war world. \ JERRY COLONNA • VERA VAGUE The Servicemen's Comedy Team V Two barrels of fun with two bottles of joy — that's what you see in this picture ! Pepsi-Cola gets a great big hand from stars and fans alike — it's the grand drink with the swell taste and five cents opens a big, big bottle. Pepsi-Cola Company. Long Island City, New York. Bottled locally by Franchised Bottlers from coast to coast. 81