even more of a gentleman than the
courting swain; the girl with a ring on the third finger of her left
hand should strive to be even more charming and feminine than the
heart-free lass.

Besides the problems of personality adjustment that propinquity
presents, there are such questions as these to look into: Is one
standard of moral conduct after marriage to apply to both? How free is
each partner to be? What opportunity is the girl to have to be herself,
have her own interests and friends and money? How soon is the first
child wanted? Further--and just as important--the problems of the
financial outlook can be worked on during the engagement period.

The wise couple discuss thoroughly their financial setup, draw up a
budget, and use their present resources to acquire equipment for the new
home. They decide questions which are to form the basis of the marriage
and largely influence its success: Is the wife to have her own share of
the family income, her own checking account? Must she ask her husband
for money for each household expense, or will she have an allowance on
which to run the home? In addition, is she to have money for her own
personal uses, with no more accounting required than is expected of the
husband's expenditures for tobacco and other personal whims?

While such matters are being talked over and decided with mutual
consideration, training for marriage itself is under way. The engaged
couple may well learn to put into practice two simple yet very helpful
suggestions for married people: never both lose your temper at the same
time; make the other laugh once daily. They may also acquire an art
which contributes definitely to happiness in marriage: playing together.

I think this is sound advice for brides-to-be: If he is a golfer, try to
learn enough about the game at least to respond to his enthusiasm. If he
fishes, encourage him and try to learn why such a simple sport thrills
him. If baseball is his game, do not disdain his choice for an
afternoon's relaxation; if he wants you to join him, go and learn enough
to enjoy the game with him; if he wants to go with men friends,
encourage him, and do not fear this means his love is cooling! (Romance
thrives on occasional separations, even occasional vacations from
marriage.) Be interested in his doings, but do not be a nuisance.

* * * * *

Grooms-to-be: If she likes bridge, improve your game and avoid
embarrassing her by d