Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1912 — HALF LOVE ONLY HINDERS AMBITION [ARTICLE]

HALF LOVE ONLY HINDERS AMBITION

"Does love help or hinder an ambitlous man?” Jeanette asked me that question aft* er telling me that Jimmie had come home in a rather depressed state of mind, because Tom Jenkins had confided to him that since his marriage to Daisy he had been unable, to pursue the ambition of his life—to become a successful stock broker. It seems Daisy is jealous of Tom’s business. She complains whenever business takes him awayfrom her for an evening or keeps him downtown late, and rather than have a scene when he reaches home, Tom tells prospective customers that it Is impossible for him to see them after 4 o’clock, or to call upon them in the evening; So dear little Jeanette is worried for fear Jimmie will think his love for him a hindrance to his ambition. “Jeanette, dear,” I said, “you have no cause to worry, even if Jimmie Is grumpy. It depends largely upon the love and the lover whether' love will be a help or hindrance in life. “Just because some grouchy old codger has eaid that ‘love slays ambition’ is no reason to believe it, and close observation shows it to be a pretty poor ambition that ever suffers extinction.” “But Cousin Daisy w’ants Tom to take a position in a bank, where he will have regular hours, and she can always look for him to be home short* ly after 3 in the afternoon. Couldn’t he be ambitious in a bank as well as selling stocks and bonds?” “Surely he may, my dear,” I answered. “Love may transform the goal aspired to. It may even change a man’s aims; but the man who la truly ambitious to make a name for himself, like Jimmie, will assuredly be more ambltlious, not less, because his successes will bring happiness to you, whom he loves, as well as to him--self." “Then why should Tom not be satisfied to do as Daisy wishes?” “The fault, my dear Jeanette, Ilea with Daisy, not with Tom’s love or her love. It Is always so when the so-called ‘love’ hampers rather than helps a man to rise in the world. It is not ‘love,’ dear child, but selfishness pure and simple. Selfishness and Jealouisy can wreck any man’s ambitions if allowed to Interfere with them.” “Do you think Daisy is selfish and of Tom’s ambition? Isn’t it because she loves him so dearly that makes her want him with her every minute he can be there?” > "Jeanette, you love Jimmie, do you not?” "Why, of course, cousin, I—” "That’s what I thought. Well, would you put your own social pleasures before Jimmie’s work?” "No.” “Would you be angry if he were detained a little late at the office, especially if you had planned an early dinner so you could go out in the evening?” “N-no—no. I should be sure Jimmie would get home as early as he possibly could under such circumstances.” “Are you Interested in your husband’s business?" “Of course' I am—you know that. He always talks things over with me when he has any interesting news or problems to decide.” "Very well, then. That is as It should be. You need have no fear, and neither need Jimmie, that your love will ever hinder him in his advancement. It is only the self-cen-tered, foolish, selfish woman who will in any way interfere with her husband’s ambition. Hers is not ‘love,’ but rather selfish greed for all her husband’s time and all of his money, too, forgetting that to make the money necessary “to satisfy her wants he must spend many hours , outside those prescribed by banking houses as ‘business hours.’ "Remember, my dear child, that if Daisy loved Tom more truly his desires and ambitions would become so wholly hers that she would naturally be a help to him. ‘*lt is only the half lovers and the self-lovers that ever hinder a husband’s ambitions. Now run along home and tell Jimmie what I have said to you and see if he doesn’t agree with me.”