Then there are Adams who are careless for lack of interest in pleasing

Eve. In these cases you will find that Eve has little or no interest in

pleasing Adam; or that she overdoes the matter of trying to please, and

frequently dissolves in tears and precipitates countless reproaches upon

luckless Adam.

 

Then there are Adams who are careless from petty spite - with shame I say

it. And with greater shame I say, you will find their Eves are spiteful,

too; probably more spiteful than the Adams; for Eve, you know, is

generally smart enough and ambitious enough to outdo Adam in any line of

endeavor - especially in the use or misuse of the tongue.

 

In matters of niceness it is Eve who sets the pace. Adam is built for

strength; Eve for beauty and adornment. It is natural for Eve to set

the pace and for Adam to follow, in all matters of detail and niceness.

Whether Adam follows with good grace or ill depends upon Eve and the

serpent. If Eve is wise as the serpent in her, and harmless as the dove

in her, she can lead Adam a willing captive to heaven or hell.

 

Now will you rise again and - squirm - because I attribute to Eve all

power over Adam? Will you say I excuse Adam's transgressions and come

down hard on Eve? I suppose so. But the very fact that you resent the

imputation is proof that in your heart of hearts you know I have hit

very close to the mark. When an arrow flies wide we are merely amused

at the poor marksmanship; but the closer the arrow strikes to the center

the more excited we grow - either with resentment or admiration,

according to our sympathies.

 

In matters of cleanliness, niceness and adornment Eve sets the pace; and

if her pace is a graceful one and not too fast Adam follows. In due

time he acquires the habit of doing the little ablutions and adornings

Eve has taught him.

 

If your Adam is very careless about these matters you may depend upon

it that when he was growing up his mother was either dead or careless or

tactless; and you may safely suspect that Adam in his previous state of

existence was a forlorn old bach. So be gentle with him, for it will

take time to correct the faults of such an Adam.

 

But don't give up, Eve, dear. Be gentle, but be firm and persistent. Use

your ingenuity in finding ways to make Adam want to please you; and if

you can look back over a year or two and see that he has improved in

some respects at least, that there are even one or two little tricks

of niceness which have become almost if not quite habitual, then hold a

little praise meeting and rejoice. Praise him for learning, and praise

yourself for what you have succeeded in teaching him. And if your

success has come without friction, if you have inspired Adam to want