Evening star., 1896-07-04

ldfIty OF corn husktnG cannot obtain in
Boston, New York, WASHINGTON or even
San Francisco. The older society gets, the
more intolerant Of the informality of youth
1t grows, until 1t is q grabbed old maker of
rules that no one quite dares to break.
It is a melancholy forecast; but it seems
highly probable that as time goes on we
will reach the fearful pass to which French
young peoples society has come. It is not
quite SO bad in England, but we consider
even that perfectly deadly. 1t is partially
largely. in fact-formality that begets our
lack of enthusiasm, and as society is ac-
countable for formality. it is plainly socl-
ETY. and not we who are to blame.
Thirdly. should say we were surely the
last to upbrafd because there Is none of
the good friendship between men and girls
that our parents knew; friendship with no
thought of love or Intentions" and also
none of the jolly gatherings at different
homes for Informal evenings. I venture to
say that there Is not one house in five hum
dred where one ever gees more than the
drawing room. with its stiff Louis XIV orXVI
furniture. When young men go to the aver
age house, they are conducted to this room,
and are obliged to seat themselves upon
awkward little chairs. The young lady
OF the house comes down alone. They talk
of the weather, of what is "on" for the
next week and of the last problem novel.
What else could one talk of in Louis
XVI chair? If the man endures 1t twenty
minutes he Is brave; and he does not fire.
quently repeat the experiment. Or If he
than once a season, straightway the girl
begins to think that II he can stand that
much for her he must be in love, and he
knows she must think so.
The Family Sitting Room.
If he is in love-which of course
he 1s not the largest number Of times
1t Is all right; but if he is not
and simply is trying to improve an agree
able acquaintance. people begin to link his
no rr,i4
less in honor bound to put a stop to the
Wagging of tongues by staying away. In
our mothers day John came into the bos-
ON OF Mary's family in the sitting room
He talked politics with her father and held
yarn Tor her mother, and watched her en-
Drolder as she talked-no-She did tattinR
He saw the small brother in all his hide
BUSINESS and considered Mary a saint for
enduring him. AS for brothers truthful If
not polite reflections upon Mary's beha-
Vior before her beaus and behind their
backs. John considered them the emana-
tions OF depraved nature.
what incentive to jolly congregation
is there in spick-and-span drawing room
too, would like to know? And yet in how
many houses do you ever see moreo To
now many houses do you go where a caller
who chances in at the hour of a meal is
cordially asked in to partake of pot luck ?
Besides all this, IL We are contented-
knowing nothing better-wlth our lot, why
not leave us alone? Why waken vague
lcng1ngs for things we know not Of? After
all, perhaps We are just as happy and just
as well OF. that we go more quietly
through life. Possibly we are possessed of
few illusions. but then there are not SO
many TO be shattered, and to rend our
hearts with their broken fragments and
pe stepped on now and then by our weary
Way-worn feet all through the passage of
NE II we like to be let alone after we
nave had our little experience let us alone.
II we prefer home, and our own quiet pur-
SUITS, you are doing US a mistaken kind
ness TO urge US out and to action before
the world all the while. II we would as
llef watch the dancers as dance It can be
no duty OF yours to send us into the whirl.
10 not mistake 1t for laziness and mani
tion Never was the young world less lazy
than IT Is today. only perhaps its activity
IS III another direction from the one YOU
know. We are happy in our way despite
problem novels and morbid books. l do
not even claim that we are more serious
than you were. only that we take our
pleasures differently perhaps There are
sun enough men and women who like TO
De eternally on the go and in evidence to
make up the ranks of what is called So
clety; so my advice to parents is. let the
sons and the daughters more especially.
retire into their shells If they like: very
PROBABLY they will tire of that soon enough
TOO, for they have at least all the caprice
OF youth and will sigh for the things that
are not-wherefn, We understand they diff
Ter from the more mature.