Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1948)

ujuiatioc Qo(JL-<aX Claudette Colbert, star of “The Secret Heart” YOUR PROBLEMS ANSWERED BY CLAUDETTE COLBERT What Should I ‘Do? Dear Miss Colbert: Three months ago I started working as secretary in a business firm. The man who trained me is a twenty-three-yearold veteran who is very popular in the company, physically attractive and mentally keen. He has always treated me with the greatest respect, but during the past few weeks he has occasionally called me honey, sweetheart, dear or some endearing term. On one occasion, he approved of some work I had done and said that he would certainly marry me if he didn’t have such a nice wife already. I am nineteen so I feel that I am mature enough to know what love is. I am in love with this man. I know that he has no intention of divorcing his wife, because I don’t think he knows that I love him. I don’t want to give up my job, because it is a good one. Yet I’m miserable — seeing him every day and not knowing what to do. Anne Spring S. Please don’t be hurt by what I am going to say. The pleasant veteran who is so popular in the company simply has a knack of cajolery. When he calls you pet names, he does it partly to tease you — because I suspect that you are somewhat naive and serious minded — and partly because he is good natured. When he told you that he would marry you if he were free, he was simply paying you an elaborate compliment because he was pleased with your work. I don’t think it will be necessary for you to leave your job. Under no circumstance should you allow this man to think that your interest in him is other than friendly; if he knew othertvise I’m afraid that it might amuse him considerably. What you have is a good, healthy school-girl crush on the veteran. I predict that, in six or eight months, you will smile to yourself when you remember how breathless you were over him. Claudette Colbert Dear Miss Colbert: My problem deals with a girl. I am deeply in love with her, and vice versa. She thinks that we should be married as soon as I get out of the Navy, but I disagree. I am not now in a position, and won’t be for some time, to give her what she deserves. It is true, as she has pointed out, that I have a good job waiting for me as soon as I’m out of uniform. This would support us nicely, but I want to pass this up and go back to school under the G.I. bill. I can get my degree, finishing the work I started before war interrupted my schooling. I can’t make her see my point. She says either we get married now, or we are through. What do you say? Should I finish my education, or should I get married? Hank McD. S 2/c It seems to me that a girl who makes an arbitrary statement to the effect that a man must do as she says — without regard to his viewpoint — or she will quit, should be cdlowed to go her own way without hindrance. If marriage is started with one of the partners giving unequivocal orders, unhappiness is certain to ensue. Personally, my sympathies are with you. Each passing year demands greater education of those who are to _ advance with our jet-propelled age. If this girl were right for you, I think it might occur to her that you could be married; you could go to school and she could get work. Together, you could work out a future. I should like to appeal to mprried readers of this column, young people who are going to ( Continued on page 122 ) M oloftlay fashions (0n @olor cfiari on C0age 9* 68