Screenland (July–Dec 1947)

to walk out on marriage when both are able to earn their own living. A career girl should show her husband she loves him in spite of the fact that she doesn't have to ask him for spending money. I think more Hollywood marriages fail on that score than on any other." "Okay, gal, be more specific about not taking a husband for granted," Larry piped up. "All right, I will," Evelyn said, picking up the challenge. "It's up to a girl to keep up all the appearances after she's married, not only in looking as glamorous as possible but also in taking an active hand in running the home. Even if she's lucky enough to have domestic help, nothing takes the place of that personal touch. She could try to keep up the romantic aspects of marriage and not think because she's got her man trapped she can let him down." "I'll go along with that," Larry approved. "Furthermore, a gal who works should be capable of taking over the responsibilities of a home. Suppose her husband has to be away. If she's not capable of attending to things while he's gone, who's going to?" "Now you've got something, Evvie. On account of gradually the little woman can even do the chores when her husband is home," Larry said. "Not on your life, Parks," Evelyn retorted with spirit. "It's just as much up to the man to do his share. How about when she's away? Besides, I don't believe in pampering or spoiling men." "How about men spoiling their wives? Hmmm?" asked her quiz kid friend. "Indeed they should not, particularly a career wife. She has to be self-reliant, take disappointments in her stride, stand on her own feet — not be the clinging vine who runs to her husband every time her career doesn't go the right way. Neither should her man dictate to her about the management of her career." "Amen," Larry said briefly. "I don't believe in each one letting the other do exactly as he pleases — " "Hey, wait a minute," Larry broke in excitedly. "How are you going to do that?" "Simple! Because if you're really interested in each other you'll want to do the same things. If your guy has hobbies, likes sports, art, music, books, friends, try to develop a taste for them yourself. It's amazing how much you can learn, what wonderful new avenues of experience and thought open up for you. A man like that, who has an open and curious mind, will be interested in the things you like to do, too. But if, say, your husband wants to go to the ball game and you want to go to the movies then I see no reason why one has to give up to the other. Let Mr. Husband go to his ball game and you go to the movies. When there's an agreeable understanding of that sort between two married people, chances are one will voluntarily give up to the other. "But give up or not, there's one thing I'm firm about. Don't have any arguments. How? Just don't have them, period. Discussions, yes. Sit down calmly and talk things over without losing any tempers. It can be done. If you don't have a temper you can't lose it, to corn an old phrase." "Yuk, yuk, yuk," Mr. P. put in his three cents worth. (At the rate of one cent per yuk.) "Now, Larry, I'll give you some advice," Evelyn said, fixing him with a look. "Who, me? I'm a model husband," he said, grinning. "How dull for Betty," Evelyn retorted mockingly. "Who wants a man without a few faults? Seriously, though, if you're the right kind of husband you'll show a career wife as much courtesy and attention as if she were the helpless, clinging vine type. Remember anniversaries, birthdays, help her into the car, admire her clothes — " "Even if she pays for 'em?" Larry complained. "Especially if she pays for 'em!" "What if you don't like the clothes? Do you have to admire them anyway?" Larry asked. "No, that isn't cricket. I dress to please myself but I wouldn't wear any Jean Sablon, movie-bound, and Jo Stafford, voted top feminine vocalist, get together for close harmony. How about putting it on film? thing I knew John objected to and I imagine Betty feels the same way." Larry admitted Evelyn was on the beam there. "Umm, I just thought of something I think is awfully important. When a man has work to do at home his wife should make him as comfortable as possible, see he has everything he needs, then go away and let him concentrate, not think up a thousand things to talk about or for him to do, or dream up a little tidbit of choice gossip to tell him just when he's deep in his chores." "And if the gal has some work to do at home?" inquired Larry. "Same thing exactly. He should find something else to do while she's working and not pace the floor like a caged lion or act like a neglected little boy. It all boils down to — " They both said in chorus, "Treating each other like human beings." "In my book there's no such thing as treating a man a certain way just because he's a man. Or a girl just because she's a member of the so-called frailer sex," Evelyn elaborated. Larry studied her for a moment, then said, "Are you a furniture moverarounder?" "I used to try to rearrange the house, but you see we live in the place John designed and built before we were married. I found after I'd pushed things to and fro, hither and yon, they looked better the way he had them in the first place, so now I have become a picturemover. We have lots of paintings, so off and on for the last six months I've been trying them in different spots to get a new effect. It gives the house a new feeling, and is a much less tiring occupation. When we build the home on our horsebreeding ranch maybe I'll get a chance to shift things around," she laughed. "How about towels and napkins and stuff — do you like monogrammed ones or just plain ones?" Larry continued the third degree. "Monogrammed things, yes, but oh, how I hate things with 'His' and 'Hers' or 'Mr.' and 'Mrs.' on them! What if you got them mixed up and he used the ones with 'Hers' and you got the ones that said 'His'! Wouldn't that be awful?" "It certainly would! Why, it's liable to affect your whole life," Larry said, soberly. "Do you favor the idea of a man and his wife working together?" Larry asked Evelyn. "Sure, why not?" she answered. "If they're happy with each other at home why shouldn't they be professionally? But how is a poor girl going to get a job with a man like mine? His new picture is 'Treasure of the Sierra Madre' with his pals Humphrey Bogart and Henry Fonda and his father, Walter Huston — no women in it. And after that he plans to do 'Moby Dick' — another picture without women." "It ain't fair," Larry sympathized. "But don't you think a man and his wife might get tired of one another, working and living together? Don't you think they might see too much of each other?" "Not if they're happily married," Evelyn said. "If they agree on all the points that I feel constitute a happy marriage they shouldn't tire of each other. If they don't agree, can't adjust their lives, quarrel, or are jealous, of course they can't work together, much less live together. You see, marriage means all these things and if a couple doesn't have them, then it couldn't have been much of a marriage in the first place. And, as I see it, that's about all there is to it." "You have given me some very valuable pointers, Mrs. Huston, and I thank you," Larry said formally. "You're entirely welcome, Mr. Parks, and I hope your home life is a happy one always," Evelyn said, equally formally. "Now, we'll get to the real Evelyn, the Evelyn I know and work with," Larry threatened. In the same exaggerated southern drawl he started the routine, "Ah was bohn in Atlanter Geo'ga and the day Ah was bohn Ah was only one day old — " Just for that we made him pick up the lunch check. 71 SCREENLANI)