Screenland (May-Oct 1942)

Marry Now .... or Wait? Continued from page 25 and ideal left her when he went away. And she'll blame herself for not having had the courage to grab her happiness. She'll always wish that she had said, 'I won't wait ! I'll take my happines while it's at hand.' As for the man — if the worst does happen, first he can at least say to himself, 'I've known completeness in my life, anyway. I had her.' " Ann, who was sitting nearby, broke into the conversation with her reply. One that obviously showed she had given the problem more than a little thought, especially since she had been entertaining and talking to a good many soldiers at various camps. "I think you're right most of the way, Carole," she said. "But I think there are certain conditions. If a girl is definitely sure that he's the one and only and that she can support herself during his absence, marrying immediately is very advisable. But she must be positive that it isn't just the glamor of marrying a man fighting for his country that's making up her mind. She has to take stock of herself first, don't you think?" "Yes, but doesn't that apply in any marriage— uniform or no uniform?" Carole asked. "Women have always had to take a squint at the situation before they made the jump." All this talk somehow reminded me ot a soldier I met in Hollywood. He was a nice, clean-cut kid, full of ambition. He had had Folks will pay attention to warnings such os "Loose Talk Can Cost Lives" if displayed by and on Marjorie Woodworth. a lot of girls back home, for he was quite on the good-looking side. But he hadn't married before he went into the Army. His name, by the way, is Ed Witte. "I guess I didn't think much of marriage before I left for the service," Ed remarked. "I didn't really have the time. Anyway, I never used "to go with the same girl twice in a row. I was out for a good time, and I didn't want to get serious. But now when I think about it — as I do often — I know what I'm going to do when all this is over. I'm going to marry the first girl I meet when I get back home ! That is, if there are any left. Most of them are already married or engaged. So don't tell me that they are waiting for fellows. It's not in the cards. A wife at home is a lot better than a girl who may be waiting, but who probably isn't." Strangely enough, Ed's idea was in the same groove with another soldier I gave a ride to one day. His name was Dan Lee. When I asked him what he thought, he said quickly, "I'd advise any guy to get married, because there are enough fellows losing their sweethearts now as it is. At least, marriage gives a man — and his girl — something to look forward to. It's no fun to go out to die, but it's a little easier if you know you at least had a wife. That the swellest thing in life — marriage — wasn't denied you." Then there were two other soldiers I met —Roy Patterson and E. F. Hall. Roy was very insistent when he said, "Gosh, yes ! Get married right away. Unfortunately, I didn't. I wish I had. After all, there's a fair chance — not too big a one, I admit — that the man may not go overseas at all. And even if he does, there's the possibility that he will come back — and in one piece. So why wait? Grab all you can while you're here to enjoy it." "What do you mean there's a chance of our not going overseas or not coming back all banged up?" his friend Hal argued. "The odds are 100 to one that most of us will see service abroad. And the odds are almost as big that we won't come back in exactly the same shape we're in now. I think a fellow should wait. And when I say that it's tough, because I've got a girl and we had planned on getting married. When I went into the Army, we gave up our plans. She tried to move where she could be near me, but I was sent around to so many different places that we never could be together." He became very serious as he added, "Whenever I think how swell it would be to get married, I can't help wondering how my girl or any fellow's girl would feel if her man came back all shot up. Maybe she wouldn't want him then. Or else she'd remain loyal and give up her life to take care of him. No man wants that. And what if a baby arrived while he was away? That wouldn't be fair to her, to make her shoulder the burden alone. No sir, when I get married, I want a home — and security. You can't have either as long as the man is away and wondering when his ticket will come up." I have found in talking to several soldiers that they fear marriage — at least those who do — because they constantly wonder what would happen if they came back wounded. That is their BIG worry. Then, ■ on the other hand, there are those who think that if they have a wife to come home to, they'll come back in better shape than ever. That the knowledge that she is waiting will see them through. Nancy Coleman seems to be pretty good solace to the boys who want marriage. Miss Woodworth, who is starring in Hal Roach's new film, "The McGuerrins from Brooklyn," hopes you believe in signs. And to those who aren't particularly wo tied over these sudden romances that le; to the altar. "It's all up to the individual," Nanc said when I finally caught up with her congratulate her on her fine work in ".Til Gay Sisters." "Personally, if I loved a ma I'd take the chance and marry him. Aft all, any marriage is a gamble, and some I them are as risky as war marriages are. t "A lot of people say that no happine can come out of a marriage when the b< and girl have met only recently. Why 1 that bother you? Maybe -you are a felfc on leave. Maybe you have met a young lac and have fallen for her. Maybe you wa to marry but are afraid you're just beii' impulsive and you think you should w; i until you've known each other better. We my grandmother and grandfather km I each other only two weeks before th were married and they've just celebrat their fiftieth wedding anniversary! "And as for the problem of the wife wl ', has to sit home and wait, I can simply s; there is no problem. She doesn't have sit around and mope. She can go to parti with her friends or even step out with o i special friend. She can do war work. The are plenty of ways to keep herself c cupied. So I can't see what's wrong wi ( marrying right away — if you're really love." Alexis Smith arrived on the scene abc this time. She was with Craig Stevens, t 1 actor to whom she is engaged. And a voir man all set for the draft, too. I was su she'd agree with Nancy. "What do I think about it?" Alexis sa "I think an engagement is okay, but ms riage is out. It would be all right if y 64