New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-29
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THE PEOPLEO AOLONIiS Public Debate.


vtduals in ITS process OF benehtins tne
many. Take family, for instance "ne.e
ali tho men have gone to Yale for genera
tions-the sons going TO Yale Is matter
OF course and n bond between MIN ana
his father. But. perhaps. the mother nho
had only the old high school eoucs'loh
of her day, yet sends her daughter 10
smart preparatory school Of great ne"
woman's college.
But the main way in which 'cohese
education" sometimes breaks the tnreao
between the older and younger women
OF a household IL that II gives the girl an
Independence which she cannot put OH
on her return TO the home -Four years
OF deciding for herself makes II oimcuit
for her TO remember that her mother
might be pleased to be consulted, even u
her advice was not needed
Az 10 the lack Of sentimental interest In
their husbands little hiits-that may be
a matter OF individual tendency or OF
their family tradition lack OF II, rather
In my own family a great many Intimate
souvenirs have been preserved-some AL
most ludlcrously quaint-as well as the
heirloorns OF actual intrinsic value, and
we all enjoy them. But-and here Is
pojnt that may be Of service 70 you later
! absolutely refused to make the clothes
for my baby with the traditional Towing
thought I'm every stitch! / am not Tut
terry undomestic." for like cooking and
housekeeping and have made good nj IL
But ioathe sewing. and It really
makes me very neryousl 50 ! made two
slips 70 satisfy the old convention and
then promptly ordered the rest OF the
layette at baby's Quitting shop. IN
doubtedly your relatives will do the same!
And you will find when the time comes
that the methods OF caring for both
mother and baby are absolutely different
from the old ways. There has really been
a tremendous advance In this branch Of
medical science. You will be scandalized
at the way some things are done. But
you will admit that the results are ex-
cellent. remember my mother could
not be convinced by the nurse that GER
tain point was being properly tended to,
and unknown to me 'phoned the doctor
TO ask II he would not use the old way
was frightfully annoyed that busy
man had been bothered for nothing.
Poor, dear mother is so conservative
explained 20 him You mustn't say
that" said the very wise young man. "You
must say What very devoted mothery A"
and l admitted my fault, even though
wishing she had been trlfe less de-
voted. oh, do you two dear Back Num-
bers' see the point am making in this
clumsy rambling way?
Don't think OF these differences as per-
sonal ones--think OF them as general con-
ditions-inevitable in our rapid social de-
velopment Of this opening century.
"Other times, other customs" Shrug your
shoulders like Frenchwomen and say,
&C est Ia vie"
And now ] should like TO write to the
for ! hope very much that they do not
know that letter of yours was ever writ
ten or published Believe me, that was
not the wisest means, dear ladies, OF gap
bridging; unless, indeed, this answer is
OF any service! What / would say to
them, however, is this: You prize your
independence, you have your own end
toward which you are marching. cloud
of prejudices and sentiments from out OF
the past blocks your way. You are right
not to let them impede your way toward
any honest goal"
But there are two ways OF getting
through a crowd. One is TO break through
ruthlessly pushing, showing. tossing aside
the people in your way, and leaving a
wake Of annoyance behind you. The other
is so much more satisfactory for both
sides-that graceful def way Of slipping
through with a pleasant word OF excuse,
which will make people glad to give you
your way, since they are assured from
your very manner that the goal you seek
is a good one!
And, last of all may ! ask whether I
am wrong in assuming from your letter
that you all live in one household? Re-
member the old proverb. mo roof is big
enough to shelter two families" Can't
the young people make homes for them
selves, no matter how simple? Both
generations would be the happier.
A RELATIVELY YOUNG PERSON OF
TO-DAY.
Brooklyn, March 2s 1914