News comes from London that the wife of a British army major quit her job as assistant commandant of a hospital when her superior, a man, objected to her lipstick. She’s looking for another war job — where camouflaging a face isn’t considered an unpatriotic activtiy.

To men, her gesture of defiance may seem silly, irrational, and ridiculous.

To women it makes sense.

Why should a young, good-looking woman (or any woman, for that matter), be penalized for her patriotism?

Just because a woman has volunteered to do a dangerous and important job in wartime is no reason she has to look grim and unattractive and as much like a man as possible.

It doesn’t take much time for a woman to put on lipstick — no more than it takes a man to look in a mirror, smooth his hair, and admire himself. And if there are any men in the army who have given up that privilege, war does change men’s habits drastically. I havn’t noticed, either, that men stop shaving when they enter the army.

And once a woman’s lipstick is on – how much better off she is. No man can be expected to appreciate the satisfaction that comes from knowing that lipstick is freshly applied. Lipstick gives a woman poise and courage to face the world. Made up, a woman is ready for any emergency. Gray-faced, she is already half-way licked by life.

* * *

NEED ‘PEPPING UP’ WORSE THAN EVER

The major’s wife knows her rights, and the rights of all women – even in wartime.

Ask them to do hard, tiring, dangerous jobs and they agree readily. Ask them to skimp on food, clothes and luxuries – and they do it without complaint.

But tell them to give up lipstick and there is trouble. Their lipstick is their badge of femininity, and they need it worse than ever in times of trouble.

From The Bismark Tribune. Bismark, North Dakota. February 20, 1941.

Dear Dorothy Dix: I know you’ve encountered similar situations countless times but please try to help me.

Some time ago I met a friend with whom I had lost touch. He is a widower and, after we had resumed our friendship, he said he’d like to marry me but wouldn’t be ready for another year as he had some responsibilities to take care of.

We settled down to steady dating, including several weekends together. I felt completely in love with him and was sure he felt, the same abaut me. Soon I noticed a change in him. He became critical of me even to the extent of saying I was too easy.

He went to another city on business; stayed several weeks, and came back – married to another woman. I realize how foolish I was but cannot regain my peace of mind. Can you give me any word to help me get back my faith in human nature?
— Marylin

Dear Marylin: Put your faith in God and church instead of in ‘man’ and columnists. Take your troubles to your clergyman who will show you the way back to things you can believe in.

Nothing is as empty as the promises of a man who wants love without responsibilities. That’s the most expensive kind of love for you but it’s quite worthless to him.

You’ve learned your lesson, now stop thinking in terms of “human love” and try “divine love.” It pays off.

Dear Fran: Speak to him, of course. Act pleased to see him, show that you’re very glad to meet him again, and hope you’ll see him around.

Ignoring him, or anybody else, is a very childish thing to do. You’re growing up, remember?

Dear Carole: “Going steady” still carries overtones of a serious and permanent relationship. Actually this is no longer true but parents worry about it.

When girls go steady, for one week, a month or even two, “going steady” is quite harmless. However, it is still better, for young people to gather in groups rather in pairs.

Group dating is much better for emotional and social growth and is to be preferred, over steady dating – no matter how fleeting the latter, may be.

It’s better to know many boys, than to concentrate on one. Be different! Stick up for playing the field.

Send your problem to Dorothy Dix. Be sure to enclose a stamped, self – addressed envelope, and address her in care of The Daily Review.

From The Daily Review. Hayward, California. April 27, 1959.

DEAR DOROTHY DIX: My problem concerns a boy I like, but have never dated, and a girl friend whom I suspect of being slightly less than true-blue. Her boy friend belongs to a club where Ricky (the boy I like) is also a member. She claims she has heard via the grapevine that Ricky is interested in me. However, I know she isn’t trustworthy, so don’t know how much or her gossip to believe. Now to the problem. I’d like to invite Ricky to a class dance but am a little afraid to risk it. Suppose my girl friend is lying and Ricky turns me down?
BABS

DEAR BABS: So suppose he does? Will you be any worse off than you are now? Proceed with the invitation as you would have if your loose-tongued girl friend had never uttered a word. When you know, as you say, that the girl isn’t to be trusted, why put any credence at all in what she says? Why, in fact, keep a girl of her calibre on your friendship list?

*********

DEAR DOROTHY DIX: My fiance is a wonderful boy but terribly hot-tempered. He flies into rage at anything or nothing. He gets over it quickly, but soon is at it again. Of course I always forgive him. Is there any point in staying cross with him?
GIGI

DEAR GIGI: You have quitte a future in store forgiving him every time he flies off the handle. A high-tempered person is very difficult to live with. A girl who undertakes marriage with one is either desperately in love or lacking in ordinary common sense. A man who flies into a rage over nothing isn’t even mature enough to qualify as a husband. Cure him or can him!

*********

DEAR DOROTHY DIX: I’m desperately in love with a girl who is halfway through college. I began working after school, am now 25, and know my salary won’t support us. Should I let my friend finish college? She will then have a profession and on two incomes I know we’d make it. Right now we’re just two kids in love.
NOEL

DEAR NOEL: At 25, Noel, you’re no kid. Unless, and until, you can see your way clear to supporting a family out of your own funds, stay out of the marriage market. Have you told the girl about your plans for her future? I doubt if they will be well taken!

*********

DEAR DOROTHY DIX: How can I be sure my boy friend loves me?
DIXIE

DEAR DIXIE: This question is the eternal brain teaser. If I had the answer, I could make a mint. However, nobody has been able to devise a test for love. Maybe that’s why women were given intuition. It’s as good a tester as anything.

*********

DEAR DOROTHY DIX: Seemingly, I have everything in the world to make me happy — a marvelous husband, good children, a lovely home, yet my heart is breaking over my oldest daughter’s behavior. She’s an honor student in school, perfectly behaved outside, but she simply won’t confide in me. During her growing-up years I had looked forward so much to the time when she’d be of dating age, and would come home after every dance all ready for a comfy woman’s talk. She hasn’t developed that way at all. She’s quiet, keeps things to herself and never indulges in chit-chat with me. I have always been a friendly, sociable person and love lo talk things over. I need the companionship of friendly people and have especially wanted the confidence of my only daughter. Can you suggest a way of handling her?
Irene C.

DEAR IRENE: I certainly can, but you won’t like my suggestion, and may even be constitutionally unable to follow it. It’s simply this: let the girl alone! Quit trying to pry into her thoughts and check up on all she does. Respect her privacy!

Recognize the fact that your daughter isn’t necessarily a pattern of yourself. She’s what nature made her — just as you are. You’re the gabby type; she’s not. With naturally silent people speech comes hard. Expression of inner, personal feelings is difficult, even when they want to confide in someone. A girl can’t turn out the contents of her mind as you would empty a purse.

This is your oldest child; you have three others growing up. Learn now that each offspring is an individual and needn’t follow parental tastes or habits. This is something to which every parent must adjust, if the child-parent relationship is to be a good one.

*********

DEAR DOROTHY DIX: Roy and I have been dating for a year and we expect to marry when we finish school, which will be this June. He promised me a diamond for Christmas, but when the 25th of December rolled around gave me a string of pearls instead, with no explanation for his change of heart. He has never spoken of the ring again, neither have I. Do you think he’s trying to back out of the wedding plans?
Christine

DEAR CHRISTINE: If he’s a smart boy, he is certainly backing down on marriage. You’re both too young, and Roy has no plans for his future. Instead of puzzling your poor brain over this, why not come out in the open and ask him why he changed his mind, and what he feels about your future together.

*********

DEAR DOROTHY DIX: We live in the home of my in-laws – not with them, but in their home. My husband is soft-hearted, and spends most of his spare time and money doing things for his mother. I don’t think this is right, since we have a hard time getting along as it is. We pay rent, but my husband gives his mother extra money every week. I can’t make him understand that I should come first.
Hopeless

DEAR HOPELESS: It’s difficult to make a girl understand that she married a kind, soft-hearted man because she loved him that way, then suddenly she wants him to become stony toward his own family. You can’t have things two ways. Perhaps your husband is too generous with time and money toward his family – I can’t pass judgment, not knowing enough details. If you feel he should taper off, approach the matter slowly; don’t expect a sudden or complete change. Explain that there’s just so much money; you need certain things and the rest he can do with what he wants. If there just isn’t any “rest” he’ll have to learn to see that, too.

(Released by The Bell Syndicate, Inc.)

Taken from The News. Frederick, Maryland. February 3, 1958.