Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1951)

p fora hair-do wear the new, modern CUL^DL HAIR NETS “GERMANIZED” • RUN-RESISTANT (a Gay la exclusive!) Grooms Hair-dos — Saves Waves Invisible — Tru-Color Hair Shades more women use 6ai|(a HOLDBOB® bobby pins than all other brands combined. set curie easier hoi d hair-dos belter © 1951 GAYLORO PRODUCTS, INCORPORATED, CHICAGO, lit. what should I €lo'? Dear Miss Colbert: I am nineteen and have been working at a job I like for three years. I am making progress in my work, and have earned four pay raises so far. I need to dress a little better than I do and I need to begin to save a little money. I have met a fine man who works for the same company, and eventually we want to marry and establish a home of our own. We could begin to see our future in a bright light if I didn’t have family problems. I support my parents and my twentyfour-year-old brother. He has never worked a day since he came home from the Army. He has no disability, he didn’t even go overseas. He is 6'2", weighs 195 pounds, and is in perfect physical condition. However, he won’t work. He will start out, pick up application blanks, make a big show of going to work. Nothing happens. He sits at home and reads. Or he sleeps. Then, at night, he goes out with his boy friends. I have to give him money. When I protest to my mother, she tells me to pack up and get out if I don’t like the way things are going. She waits on my brother hand and foot, and adores him. He can do no wrong, but she picks at me from the time I get home until I go to my room and close the door, or go out on a date. She says 1 don’t appreciate the years of care she has given me, and that she is head of the family, and I have to let her manage the family money. I love my parents, but sometimes I get dreadfully discouraged. Svetla T. Certainly we should respect our parents, but — by the same token — our parents owe us simple justice. Unless you have not told me the full story, it is obvious that you are being victimized by a lazy brother and a mother who is shoiving shocking favoritism toward her son. You are of age ; your letter indicates that you are a self-reliant, self-supporting, intelligent adult. You have a right to establish your own home, a right which might be denied you if you were to remain as a slave in your parents, household. Claudette Colbert Dear Miss Colbert: I am twenty-four years old, and have a four-year-old son. I came from a very poor family and was put out on my own at thirteen; had a rough road to earn my living, get some education and keep a clean life. I had to fight some of the men I worked for to keep my pride and decency. I married a serviceman when I was sixteen and spent three years working and saving every penny of my allotment. My husband wanted to get ahead, so I took in washing for two years to buy my clothes, some of the furniture and the baby’s things. We now have a new home, furnished comfortably, and he has a new car. My husband is a salesman, very seldom home. He says he loves me, but he likes interesting, stimulating people and has to get out at night to get a new viewpoint. He has never been untrue to me because he is religious, but he is ashamed of me and keeps me from his friends. I told him the other night I would leave the baby with him, he could get a house ; keeper, and I would go away if that would make him happy. He didn’t say anything, just went out as usual, leaving me alone as I am day after day, until I think I will go crazy. Tell me what there is in the world for a woman like me. Moora M. There is a great deal in the world for a woman like you, but there is a knack to getting what you want. It is a rare man who really understands or appreciates the sacrifices made for him by any woman except his mother. It is human nature to undervalue anything we get without per \ sonal effort. The free thing is held cheaply. Simply look around you to persuade youri self that the most pampered of wives are often those women who are least deserving. Your husband, I suspect, doesn't want a slave ; he wants a stimulating, attractive i “ girl friend ” and that is exactly what you should train yourself to be. Stop working so hard about the house and devote that energy to yourself. Have your hair done a new way; get yourself some new clothes, a dram of some really good perfume. Have an afternoon nap when you put the baby to sleep and take time out to read some of the current magazines. Sometimes I think there should be a sentence in the wedding ceremony, a promise to keep oneself lovable, worthy of pride, and mentally stimulating. Incidentally, while you are making yourself over, don’t forget for an instant that you are doing it for yourself, not primarily for your husband. A person cannot be of interest to another individual until he is interesting to himself. Claudette Colbert Dear Miss Colbert: I am thirteen years old and I have a mother who doesn’t understand me at all. She calls me cheap and says I go around with the wrong group of kids. This is because I don’t try to make up with a gang who are richer than we are. I had a date with one of those boys and he tried to get fresh. I decided then that ( Continued on page 8) 6