Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1951)

What Should I Do? PERIODIC PAIN It’s downright foolish to suffer in silence every month. Let Midol’s 3-way action bring you complete relief from functional menstrual distress. Just take a Midol tablet with a glass of water . . .that’s all. ^ Midol relieves cramps, eases ^ headacheandchasesthe“blues”. (Continued, from page 4) always will because there is no one like me anywhere. Recently he has changed. He has become more dignified and quiet. He is still my reliable escort and he agrees to all my plans for our wedding, but he doesn’t seem enthusiastic. I happened to mention this situation to one of his best friends. My friend was evasive at first but she finally admitted that Gilbert is in love with another girl. She is a girl of whom his family wouldn’t approve at all, whereas I am like their own daughter. This friend said that Gilbert intended to marry me, because we have been engaged so long, but that his heart wasn’t in it. What shall I do — hold him to our engagement for the sake of my pride or break our engagement and let him marry this girl who couldn’t make him happy? Estella R. If you have a clear concept of what marriage really is, I don't think you will have any intellectual hesitancy about making the right decision. TSaturally, an emotional wrench is inevitable. As things stand now — if you are certain your friend told you the truth — you knotv in your heart this man would be marrying you with serious reservations. How could you expect to be happily married under such a handicap? This man should have the courage of his convictions and be frank with you, giving you a chance to break the engagement. However, it would seem — from the letters I receive — that the world is full of men who would prefer to ruin the lives of three persons out of deference to some outmoded idea of “honor.” I believe that you have two possible courses of action : you can ask this man frankly whether he ivants his freedom or whether he really wants to marry you. If you decide to meet the challenge head-on, be prepared for any answer and be a good scout about it. Or you can ask for a postponement of all wedding plans and go away for a period of time, four to six months. Sometimes a man who is abandoned to his folly, changes his mind swiftly about what he really wants of life. Claudette Colbert Dear Miss Colbert: I am twenty and for two years I have been going with a fellow who is two years older than I am. He was my first date and I’ve gone with him ever since. He wanted to marry me last June, but I postponed it until next June. He is a nice and respectful person and I was terribly in love with him at one time, but that love has faded slightly and I am confused. He doesn’t do any of the nice little things that a man is supposed to do. He never helps me in the car, he never opens a door for me. When we have dinner out, he orders what he wants, then waits for me to decide. He doesn’t stand when my mother or an older woman enters a room. His family seems nice enough, so I don’t know whether his mother didn’t teach him manners or whether he didn’t want to learn. Is there anything that a girl can do about this problem? Bebe F. Frequently the bad manners of young men are the result of (fee masculine determination to be rough and virile. Sometimes they are merely the expression of self-consciousness. You might try an indirect approach to teaching your young man manners ; the next time he speaks of some man in ad miring terms, you might add quickly, “ You're right about his athletic ability and there is another thing about him that I admire. He has nice manners. He's quick to open doors for ladies, to remove his hat in an elevator, to observe courtesies that are expected of men.” If indirection doesn't work, you might tell this man, frankly, that you expect certain courtesies and explain what they are: You'd be surprised to know how many wives have to complete the polishing job left incomplete by a weary mother! I receive many letters like yours. Incidentally, your reference to your escort's inclination to order dinner in haste may be a reflection upon your own dillydallying. There are few things more exasperating to a man and a waiter than the long thought some girls give a menu. You should make up your mind promptly and then refrain from changing it. Claudette Colbert Dear Miss Colbert: Ever since I was out of high school (two years ago) I have lived with these people, doing all their housework and caring for their two children. When I went to work, the agreement was that I would get my room, board and twenty dollars a month. During these years they have hardly ever paid me and I dislike the lady very much. She is very disagreeable until I say I am going to leave, then she cries and says she cannot get along without me and the children love me better than they do her. She is perfectly healthy, but she is the laziest woman I have ever seen. I think I would leave tomorrow except that I have met a very nice boy. We can’t get married for at least another year, maybe two, and I don’t see how I can stand living here during that time. Still, I can’t give up my boy friend either. What should I do? Stephanie V. Your salary is much too low — even if you got it. You should write, at once, to the Labor Law Enforcement Division, Capitol Building, in your state capital. Fortunately you live in a state which protects the rights of its women. Tell the Labor Law Enforcement Division exactly ivhat you have told me and ask them to help you to collect the back salary you have earned. You will be surprised to discover, I believe, that you will have quite a nice sum of money coming to you. With it you tvill be able to buy some attractive clothing and find a new job not too far distant from your boy friend. Claudette Colbert Have you a problem which seem s to have no solution? Would you like the thoughtful advice of CLAUDETTE COLBERT? If you would, write to her in care of Photoplay, 321 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, Cal., and if Miss Colbert feels that your problem is of qeneral interest, she'll consider answering it here. Names and addresses will be held confidential for your protection.