Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1889-02-09
TIE MAN ABOUT TOWN.

The subject of social enjoyment
recently arose among some young la
dies and gentlemen, in this place.
Fittings are dull to what they used
to be- The young folks are of a diff
fercnt nature--calmer, older and
more modest"
sYou are jesting," ] plucked up
courage to say. 81 am older than
you, and am unable to discern the
ssdifferent nature" TO which you al
lude."
"That may be, still / may be right,
nevertheless. When / was sweet six
teen, there was scarcely week pass
ed without taffy-pulling, dance or
party. The youngsters would have
imagined life prosaic indeed, had not
these weekly amusements occurred.
They furnished THE theme for con-
versation and secret whisperings at
school. They took away the tedium
of routine school life, and made the
future always bright and interesting.
- ~ ~
"The girls and boys were more So
ciable, too. They were not ashamed
to play "Blind Mans Bluff" 'Ring,
or ain the Well" When it was nee
,esary to exchange kisses, in fulfil
ment of the rules of the game, they
did so with becoming skill, and en-
loved them, too In the summer we
had our fishing parties and picnics,
and in the fall we hunted the brown
eyed chestnuts and gathered the va
riegated leaves, as they covered the
ground In Respondent glory. 0 the
memories of those days How they
come back to the heart. How they
make the present, dull, insipid and
.uneventful.
~ *x* NJ
"Now, before girls arc fourteen,
they begin to ape airs and wear long
faces. Suggest at party screen
Grow the Willow Trees" and they
turn up their nose in disgust. Too
childish Have outgrown such non.
sensei Suggest a kissing game, and
horrors they almost faint at the
idea. They sit looking at each 9TH
er, giggle once in while. The boys
get in one corner of the room and
the girls in the other. There they
stay during the evening, chilling the
joys of their young hearts, growing
sedate and quiet, when life is at its
brightest and best. Those who would
willing be, sboys and girls are awed
into acquiescence, fearing to be
laughed at and rebuked. Now if
there be pleasure in such conduct,
fail to see it. Boys and girls will
have time enough to be grave and
serious, long-faced and prim, when
they have passed into manhood and
womanhood. The joys of youth and
the bright dreams OF school days.
the air-castles of the mind-wiIl van.
ish too soon, anyhow. Topremature-
ly dash them to the earth, is very
cruel
~ ~ ~
auulit Cu6Tc Is some truth In
your remarks. but there is changed
condition OF affairs in Martinsbur
now, to what there was ten years
ago. There is disposition to think
more, to study human nature. TO re-
alize the duties of life and to bring
about culture and refinement,
hitherto unknown
~ ~ ***
"Culture and refinement" fiddle.
sticks The culture and refinement
of the present, partakes much of
mockery. 1t is largely sham. / can
remember the manners Of ten years
ago quite distinctly. There were can
dor, grace and kindness, that might
now be classed among the 'lost arts
There was dislnterestedness and
civility not found in social gather
ings nowadays | agree with you
"a change has occurred-but i'm
provement has not followed it. When
/ look at the quiet faces of the lads
and lassies of to-day, with their care
w0rn Ax,nroacinn onI 4l,s~.f~ 70 -