Beware the mother-in-law
Ramblin' Roses and Flyin' Bricks
The late Earl Tucker

December 14, 1955 In Chicago a woman is being sued for $300,000 by her son's wife. In the suit is was claimed that the mother-in-law "designed wickedly, maliciously, intentionally and wantonly to overcome the devotion and love of her husband." It was also claimed that the mother-in-law persuaded her husband to desert and abandon her and they would have been a happy, loving couple had it not been for the "constant interference" in their lives.

Now $300,000 is a pretty good chunk of money and I imagine the case will be watched with considerable interest throughout the entire country. If the mother-in-law has to pay off I wouldn't be at all surprised to see several hundred cases filed right here in our town. Even the threat of a suit would be a good weapon to hold over the head of the mother-in-law if she barged in for an extended visit and started in upsetting the household. You could start threatening her about the second week.

The Worst Kind Actually, there are two kinds of mothers-in-law. One is the wife's mother and the other is the husband's mother. The husband's mother is the worst, because she is the one who cooked such good biscuits, tender roasts and delicious pies. She is the one, who, for 20 years, went around picking up his clothes, seeing that his shirts were laundered just so and having his suits cleaned and pressed when they needed it. She is the villain who caused him to be a spoiled brat.

The wife's mother, in the eyes of the husband, is an old she-demon because she is always hinting around that he should provide better for his loving wife and not make of her an ordinary slave.

To the Rescue

Mothers-in-law are kidded so much that I think it's time somebody came to their rescue. There aren't nearly as many mean mothers-in-law as there are mean sons and daughters-in-law.

Maybe some of 'em are mean and meddlesome and ornery, but it's strange to me that no one ever makes jokes about fathers-in-law. Maybe they're just smarter or more adroit with their meddling, but I reckon grandfathers spoil more grandchildren than all the parents, aunt and uncles put together. They'll laugh and tell their friends about Junior saying something they would have beat the hell out of their own son for saying.

Revealing Survey

I made a survey once to find out for myself what men really through about their mothers in-law. I interviewed ten men, asking each one pointblank for their opinion, and the results were astounding. Six of the ten, a clear majority, said they loved 'em and didn't see how they could get along without them. They mentioned as good qualities such things as free baby sitting, financial help at times and excellent counsel in times of marital discord.

Two said they were very fond of 'em, but could manage somehow to get along without one if the worst came to the worst. One said his had passed on several months prior to my interview and he didn't look like a man who had spent a great amount of time grieving. What the tenth one said couldn't be printed on ordinary newsprint. Eight out of ten speaking out for them, though, is a pretty good indication that they are pretty well thought of, even if we do joke about them.

Good Trade

This case in Chicago I don't know anything about. Maybe the old lady did bust up the marriage, but I'll tell you right now, if the gal can swap him off for $300,000 she were ain't made a bad deal any way you figure it.

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