Before You Whisper “Yes”

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 304, 26 December 1939, Page 2

Before You Whisper “Yes”

A Revealing Questionnaire

TT is mighty important to know how to rate a man. Whether you are married to him or only thinking about being his wife, there are moments when it is important to hold the gentleman’s number. If that number is too low and you are only engaged or thinking about it, you might find it wise to kiss him a gay goodbye and be on your way. How can you tell about a you ask? Especially if his voice sends shimmering chills up and down your spine and your heart turns flip-flops every time he comes near? The answer’s right here. You can sit down quietly with a questionnaire and grade him. And when you answer the questions based on the observations of Dr. Valeria Parker, eminent New York City woman physician who is director of the Bureau of Marriage Counsel and Sex Education, you most certainly will find out what your man is like. After answering the questionnaire you will also find out that a fault or two is most commendable. No woman could love a man who had nothing that needed correcting. That’s why this particular set of, queries doesn’t expect to find many men reaching the high mark of 1000—the sum perfect total. One of the first women to use the test, Julia Sanderson, co-star with her husband, Frank Crumit, on N.B.C.’s weekly programme, “The Battle of the Sexes,” found that he is a good mate, better than average, with a small number of human failings like many other men. After ten years of marriage he was able to make a score of 840. When taking the questionnaire you must not make excuses as you answer the varied queries. After all, if you get a perfect husband as your answer, the chances are that you cheated a little. Not even Brenda Frazier, the glamour girl of the 1938 debutantes, or the Duchess of Windsor can expect complete absence of flaws. The inventory is divided into 10 groups of five questions each. The groups are character, health, dispos'tion, commonsense, home interests, views about money, compatibility, appearance, sportsmanship and charm. For every affirmative answer the man under consideration rates 20. Thus, if he receives five affirma ives in one class, he gets 100 for that group. When you have finished your survey copy each of the sub-totals into the space set aside for the ten classes. Add them, and you’ll have your man’s “number.” If he measures 950 or more you probably don’t know him well enough to understand his faults, or catch them. You may believe he’s that wonderful, but the chances are your heart is pretty involved and you don’t add well. A score of 850 down to 750 is commendable. Such a man is a good marriage partner. If the score starts sharply downward after 750 your married life will be punctuated with quarrels and minor irritations. This holds good until you come to 500. Chances lessen as you slide down to 400. After that— Well, if you love him enough you’ll probably marry him and have to find out for yourself. Here is the questionneire as Julia Sanderson worked it. Read it, then solve it for yourself and your favourite man. Character. (1) If he made a wrong turn on a country road on a stormy night would he take

(the blame rather than place it on you? YES. (2) When he loses his temper does he apologise? YES. I (3) If he sends money to his mother, or an itinerant uncle, does he do it without fanfare, instead of setting himself up as a generous giver? YES (“completely without fanfare”). (4) Does he pay his bills promptly? YES. (5) Does he court you consistently, instead of playing a romantic, if meaningless, Don Juan to every new girl? YES. Total for Character—loo. Health. (1) Can he pass a health examination in good standing? YES. (2) Is a cold an unusual event in his winter? NO. (3) Does he suggest a room needs more fresh air, instead of asking for more heat? YES. (4) If a car skids on a greasy road would he control it quietly and be as steady-nerved as though it hadn’t happened? YES (“Frank’s r. perfect driver”). (5) If something disagrees with him does he leave it out of his diet? NO. Total for Health—6o. Disposition. (1) When he is criticised by his boss, or one in authority, does he hunt for the justice back of the criticism? YES (“he’s very fair. Thus, years of reading dramatic criticism has tremendously improved his ability as a performer”). (2) When you talk a little too long with the man-who-doesn’t-matter-any-more, does he accept it as though nothing had happened? YES. (3) Does he tell jokes on himself instead of on other p-.ople? YES. (4) Does he send birthday greetings to the impoverished aunts he doesn’t like? YES. (5) If someone criticises you in public, does he either change the subject or champion you? Is he your ally? YES. (“He would champion me at all times”). Total for Disposition—loo. Common Sense. (1) If someone has to work overtime will ’ e volunteer? YES. (2) Does he keep his appointments? YES. (3) Does he always check oil, petrol and tyres before a long car trip? NO. (4) Does he skip get-rich-quick schemes? NO. (5) Would he miss a prize-fight—loving prize-fights—to seen an important client or meet a deadline? YES. Total for Common Sense—6o. Home Interests. (1) Do you agree in your views about children—if you want any and how many? YES. (“We both love children, although we don’t have any”). (2) Would he sooner ask friends in to dinner than take them to a restaurant? YES. (3) Does he accept the poise of his home instead of being uncomfortable if a picture slips an inch? YES. (4) If you burn the potatoes, when he’s dining with you, will he ignore them and praise a vegetable that really is appetising? YES. (5) Does he like to be alone with you. reading or listening to the radio, instead of searching for more people? YES. (“He

likes to be alone with me as often as possible.”) Total for Home Interests—loo. Views About Money. (1) Will he drive his old car instead of going in debt for a new model? NO. (2) Does he manage so he doesn’t have to borrow from his friends? NO. (3) Does he carry life insurance? YES. (4) Does he credit women with the ability to handle allowances? YES. (5) Has he a savings account? YES. Total for Money—6o. Appearance. (1) Does he shave every day? YES. (2) Does he keep his trousers pressed? YES. (3) Is his hair cut regularly? YES. (4) Do you always know you’ll be proud of his sartorial appearance—old though his clothes may be—instead of just hoping you will be? YES. (5) Does he look as though he has put on his clothes, know they fit, and he can forget them? NO. Total for Appearance—Bo. Compatibility. (1) Do you feel the same way about books, music, pictures, tramp steamers, walks in the rain, what happened at Munich? YES. (2) Do you share a similar sense of spirituality and have religious backgrounds that are sympathetic? YES. (3) Is his education as good, or better, than yours? YES. (“Better—lie’s a college graduate, I’m not.”) (4) Does he genuinely like your friends I and your family? YES. (“He’s exceptionally fond of my family.”) (5) And do you like his? YES. (“Very much.”) Total for Compatibility—loo. Sportsmanship. (1) If he races a car at 125 miles an hour, will he grant you the same privilege? NO. (2) If he loses a round of tennis, will he let the matter drop, instead of attempting a new set so he can win? YES. (3) Will he let you make up your mind about the candidates for whom to vote? YES. (4) When you don’t feel well, does he treat it with seriousness instead of blaming it “on your nerves”? YES. (5) If someone defeats him for a job or office will he pay tribute to the other man’s qualifications? YES. Total for Sportsmanship—Bo. Charm. (1) Do you like to hear him laugh? YES. # (2) Are you fond of Ms telephone voice? YES. (3) Is he as courteous to you as though somebody had just introduced you to each other? YES. (4) When the thermometer is at 100 and there aren’t any breezes, is he as smoothtempered as ever? In brief, is he cool in spirit in hot weather? YES. (5) Will he perform an errand without expecting extra thanks? YES. Total for Charm—loo. Grjind Total—B4o—Frank Crumit’s rating as a husband as judged by Julia Sanderson, his wife. Tapestry furniture can be cleaned with salt. Put it on damp. Leave it for an hour or so, and brush out with a soft brush. This will remove dust and freshen up the colours of the tapestry. Metal door-handles will keep their polish if rubbed with raw potato after cleanling. and then polished.