The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-05
EVENING CHAT
BY RUTH CAMERON.

If a big brick wall should be built right
across the course of a river, do you think
that river would stop?
What ridiculous question, you say?
Good! I'm glad you see that it's ridic-
ulous 1 wanted you to-
And now I'll tell you what made me
think of that ridiculous question"
Last Halloween a church in our town
held Halloween party. 1t was not held
in the Vestry, but in the home of one of
the Pensioners. 1t was under the aus
pices of one of the church societies and
was, of course, a clean, jolly, wholesome
party A great many young people from
the whole neighborhood attended. Instead
of being on the streets or at less carefully
conducted gatherings, these young people
had the right sort of good time under
the guidance of the church itself.
Now does it seem possible to you that
this affair should have been much .critized
by a certain faction In the church?
1t was. Halloween party" said these
persons, lis not the proper sort of a thing
for a church to give"
Il wonder if 1 should ask these critics
whether river would stop if a brick wall
were built across it if they would call
that a ridiculous question.
They wouldn't have any right to, would
they?
Rivers want to get to the ocean.
Normal young people want to have
good time.
Either one of these statements, be-
! leve is a incontrovertibIe as the other.
And if you are going to deal with either,
the river the young folks you have
got to respect these forces within them.
y
ing to have good time How anyone
within the church, who truly desires the
welfare of the young folks, can help feel
ing that it is a splendid thing for them
/ to have their good time under. the aus
pices of the church, 1 simply cannot see.
I suppose I'm just stupid.
One of the most interesting women I
know was showing me her lovely home
! the other day. She has a large and beauti
full home and there is no part of it that
i is stiff, formal or set apart from her fam
| lily of seven children There is a large
! nving-room and music roonl connected by
| a broad hail. all of which have hardwood
| characteristic touches in her home is in
the music room. Just across the threshold
| in a mosaic of different woods in the
floor are inscribed the opening bars Of
4 Home Sweet Home" Il often move
back all the furniture in these rooms, ="
| she said land throw them open for a
dance. There is nothing that l want so
much as that my children shall have the
| right kind of a good time so 1 try to have
| as many of these little informal affairs
| as possible. 1 invite their friends. some
one of us plays the piano, we all dance
and then have cake and lemonade or some
| other impromptu refreshments You don [
| know how the children love it."
Another woman, one of my letter
friends from the country, writes. 1t
makes me sad to see so many young folks
! in the country districts being deprived
! of games good reading matter and music
| by narrow minded people. am censured
| for entertaining my daughters friends
with dance occasionally invite thirty
| violin music and they do enjoy dancing
| so. and 1 have never seen any harm re
| suit. While 1 do not believe in hail
| dancing, yet 1 have given these friends
much pleasure with home dancing and
they all love to come here.
1t certainly seems to me that these two
| women have the right idea in this mat
ter OF course there are many people
who object to dancing and since there
are two sides TO this question, / should
! hardly dare plead for this amusement
but surely no one could object to gath
erings like these for games and other
kinds of fun.
A river may take harmful course to
the ocean.
Young folks good times may take on a
dangerous character.
I But the way to deal with the river is
to make a safe course for 1t, not to try
to dam it up
Doesn't it seem just as logical that the
safe way to deal with the young folks IS
to find healthy good times for them.
not merely to try to keep them from the
unhealthy ones?