The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-14
BLASE YOUTH OF TO-DAY.
ELLA WHEELER ATTACKS A FoIBLE
OF MODERN SOCIETY.
Affected Cynicism--Youths and Maidens
Who Are Weary of the World, Yet
Who Persistently Seek the Society
Which Bores Them.

Cynicism is the order oil the day.
Young people especially seem TO think it
an evidence OF good form" to be dis
trustiul and blase. Budding debutantes
pride themselves on what they call
''thorough knowledge of the world" and
declare that all men are base deceivers aud
women friends are jealous foes to be re-
garled with suspicion. Young boys NOR
aize over the depravity Of humanity, the
falsity OF woman in particular and folly OF
love or friendship.
Almost daily meet in drawing rooms
some beardless youth who tells me life is
horrible bore, and that society ennues
him, and that he has worn out all human
emotion and would give the world for
new sensation, which he never again
hopes TO experience.
Each OF these youths imagines his re-
marks to be quite original and looks to see
his listener start with establishment at
prodigy OF experience or TO melt with
sympathy.
Some very young girls grow sentimental
over the blase aiH and cynical assump-
tons OF these callow youths. Small boys
emulate them, and sensible men and
women who think Of them at all despise
or pity them for their lack OF common
sense.
We can but wonder why this specimen
OF youth so persslcntly seeks the society
that bores him. have met him numer-
onsly at three afternoon teas in one day
and again in the evening, everywhere pos
ing as an emotionless stole and hopeless
ennuye. frequently he makes vague
references TO sinful past or to tragedies
through which he has passed, only 10 issue
scared and hopeless wreck. One is in
clined To ask II his sins consisted OF thells
from his mothers pantry and his tragedy
OF the accidental overturning OF his Glib
ut midnight
All these nondescript creatures distrust
women, dislike humanity and snecr at love
and marriage. They are. OF course, athe-
istical in their tendencies, consider this
life a sad mistake OF nature which death
will end. They pity you for entertaining
ANY belief in q future existence, or sigh
and say, Dear me, how delightful IL must
be TO have any such faith; quite refresli-
ing, really, but oi course wholly without
reason. i"
somewhat mature specimen said 10 mo
recently 81 fancy II must be such
pleasure 10 believe in God aud mankind,
IN love and goodness the way YOU do. No
Foundation, OF course, for such belle. exists,
fave In your poetic Imagination, and |
have great faith that you will yet change
your ideas and believe In nothing nc ALL"
must confess ut that moment II | had
not been able TO see beyond this shadow
OF a man who stood before me giving
uiicrancc 10 such rude and useless paii.
iudes that | might easily have believed in
nothing at ell, 80 excellent an Illustration
was ho ol nothingness.
There is no more painful object in iio
10 ne than the spectacle OF pcssimistic
youth or maid. devoid OF the hopeful
dreams, the bright outlook, the trusting
confidence which naturally belong TO
---yanlhi They develop into disagrccablc
friends and utfcgml portable wives aud hus-
bands and unsuccessit;f-men aud women.
Not many months ago | was questioned
regarding nay ideas OF santa Claus. Did |
not think thc Illusion q cruel one aud the
awakening painful should not this myth
Teal being be- ahollshcd2 | said no. | ro-
call the happiness the belief In Santa Claus
gave mel do not recall any succeeding
misery. let us keep our illusions while
we may, and not awaken until We must.
Zoo many parents nowadays seem dcsir-
Gus Of tearing away the veil OF illusions
or what thoy icar may become illusions
IRON their childrcn's eyes,
To the young girl they say, "Do not OK.
pcct happiness IN love or marriage; there
" little poetry and much humdrum prac-
ticaliiy about you-you may ~ well Know
II soon ~ late SO, at thc first shadow
on the sunlight OF her dreams the girl IA
prepared TO believe that the end Of h.ppi.
ness has arrived, and she makes no cil0rt
20 rescue her ideal from complete destruc.
ton.
Were the mother Of your daughter
would say, "Tho world Il mainly as YOU
make it-pcoplc are. as a rule, what YOU
believe them 10 bc-and YOU receive from
The world what YOU give 10 H. The great
est possible earthly happiness lies In q con.
genial marriage. Clouds may shadow
your pathway NJ times. but the sunlight vi
love can dissipato them u Il shines per-
tistently and warmly enough"
II seems 90 me such utter bad breeding
10 goabout the world scattering the seeds
Of disirust and skcptcism. We get quito
enough Of these ideas IN the novels OF tho
day, without being obliged 20 hear these
failurc breeding theories expressed In
every paflor aud drawing room. | say
Failure" breeding adyiscdy.
have a thcofy-tho result OF ohscryH-
fion-which II quite my own. Almost
without exception have seen chronically
Inclined pcssimisiic people degenerate. ~
only achieve partial success IN life, while
The optimist, even lees richly endowed by
naturc, reaches his goal more rapidly and
nciicvcs "a moro complete success with
the same amount OF diligence only.
believe the tendency OF the world I
strongly optimistic. Even the inanima,,
things Of nature are helpful aud Kind
toward one another. The brccks aud the
bee aid the flowers 10 propagate and
bloom. Tho sun assists moro ycarnnI
Rcrius 10 grow 10 into beauty Than all
The iempcsts blight Them Il subtl,
law Of love and pfbgrcS behind Il a
which fills the universe like a vast golden
tide.
Lot any man, however great aud gifted,
say 10 hinselt ''Ihe world i my natural
enemy, all mems hands arc lifted against
me; ] have no faith In friendship OF love
or human kindness, but | anu ambition,
and will succeed" Let that man toll a,
he may his progress toward success will b,
retarded. because lao swims against IN,
natural current of the universe. lilo who
smiles and says, THE world is what W,
make Il, friendship exists for those wht
deserve Il and love bcgcts love" that mar
noals with tho current and all things NJ
ssi him 70 his goal, however distant !
may be.