Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-04
:. lhe Bees Home Magazine Pogo
False
Standards
by MRS. FRANK LEARNED.


a clever and distinguished woman. who
returned to this country. her native land
after years of residence abroad after
years Of association with the best that is
TO be had in social life among cultivated
and intellectual people, was in dismay at
the revelations of the false standards
which govern many persons in the land
OF her birth.
The exploitation Of material things de-
pressed her. For instance, she was puz-
zled and thoughtful when her friends,
with an air of pride, pointed out the
houses of multi-millionaires, or spoke fire.
quently of the fabulous possessions of this
person or that. Pride OF wealth seemed
a dominating topic of talk and that pride
of wealth not only was shocking in its
bad taste, but injurious in destroying
the fine sense of discrimination and pro-
portion.
with perfect good nature. but with
straightforward criticism, she exclaimed:
American women are inclined to meas
ure men by their power of harvesting
wealth. They seem to be under the
childish confusion of thought which con-
siders wealth as a personal quality. Are
there no persons of importance or worth
mentioning except financial magnates?
Has America no artists, authors, poets,
thinkers2"
Her friends demurred hesitated, then
confessed that people of that sort do cx-
list, but have not a prominent place In
the public mind.
The mania for money, progress. speed
and prosperity is confusing the people 3"
concluded the visitor. THE mistake is
made of regarding money as the end
rather than the means to an end. The
people are sacrificing high ideals of per
lection and should strive for more sim
plicity. They would be happier for II. ="
The impressions OF another American
woman are interesting. Her life, since
her marriage. has been spent chiefly in
Italy and of late years in England. She
bears famous name. In her visits here
from time to time, her establishment and
distress have been expressed at the ma
terialism of life in her native city, the
commercialism which has thrust itself
everywhere and pushed homes aside, so
that people must take up their Dares and
Penates and establish themselves else
where
The tumult, confusion. rush, hurry and
drive in which people live disturbed her.
There was no leisure. She observed that
the expression of the faces of those she
met indicated n lack of repose of mind
and soul. Whether they were passers-by
in the street. or those whom she met IN
society, most faces showed that lives are
filled too full with a multiplication of
activities and are. in consequence, far
from being serene.
And she said, regretfully: II find that
SO little time is given to reading and less
time to thinking. People live in a whlrl
and believe themselves to be well en-
ployed. Some pleasure. excitement, fad
Or charitable enterprise keeps them busy.
)r all OF these Things combined in a
lay must go on INCREASINGLY.
Life is made complicated by the doing
oe things, not because there is an ex-l
peetation of much pleasure or interest in
them, not because they are even liked.
hut because other people are doing
them There does not seem to be be-
lief that books art and music are
sources of quiet enjoyment. Even when
people realize this truth there is no time
o do more than skim over the surface
Of things.
Unless there are chosen resources in
everyone's life and unless leisure is made
for turning TO them. much that is beauti-
full and noble is lost. as well as much
that is Joyful and consoling.