PHILOSOPHER AND FRIEND

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 141, 18 June 1927, Page 21

PHILOSOPHER AND FRIEND

"I&ijothy rDix—Her -Book; Everyday s,.Help for Everyday People. London and; New York: Funk and if,"Wagnalls. Company.

Dorothy Dix, a well-known American writer, ■ who gets many hundreds of letters from strangers, asking her advice; on all-kindsi of matters which perple^'jpr hurt them,' has piit together maljyfof her breezy and practical writingsjin book.form, which should prove interesting.and helpful to all sorts and conditions ', of men and women. For Dorothy writes foir both sexes, and thpli'ghshejfalls a little into the modern (arid/ancient), habit of lecturing womenffpr the. good of their souls, rather exc||sively, still her kindness and commo||eiiße are so marked that her. book cannot help- being! valuable and profitable^]. Dorothy Dix writes, her: philosophy of ■ life from the point of view of a woman who has lived and suffered, jjand says: "I am not afraid of poyer'ty, because I have been poor, and I knpw that poverty brings^ you pleasures: afchat money .cannot buy. Nor am I afraid to support myself. I have earned. for many years. I know the joy o*,,work, and I know that to a womani/juat the satisfaction of knowing that-Vshe , is- self-supporting, turns her crust'into, angel's ,food." Doro-' thy has learned not to expect too much of people; to grow a sense, of humour, finding-that in some things women have to laugh or cry, and when a woman can- joke over her; troubles nothing can oyer hurt her much again. So," she epncludes, "I do not regret the hardships I have known, because through them I have touched life at every; point*- 1.-have lived. And it was worth the price >I had to pay." The chapter on "How a Husband Likes to be Treated" is quite,a gem in its way, its humour, kindliness, and good sense is outstanding, and .husbands . and wives could get' a cheery, lesson from it side by., side. For the benefit of women she remarks: "The greatest danger that .menaces domesticity is that so many wives are kill-joys." But the book ,has to be- read :to be appreciated, and it can be sincerely lecommended to one and aIUOLC