New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-26

dealt severe Do" Oy E'olS NiN"'
o..,o,s. In a new monograph, Social Free
- tbis college lecturer, scientist philoso-
and writer or sex and family psychology
- uneouivocally that the rule OF the
-. ;s doomed and that the era OF young
.,o3 Is dawning She further contends that
..,sonalty should take precedence over SEX
"a outlines a new world fellowship intended
% abolish var.
:, drama called THE Self-Tormentor"
Terence makes one of his characters ask
-,;cb IS right: That son should suit his
,.vs TO the ways of his father, or that the
,,,h.r himself should do the suting.
OF doubt" says Mrs Parsons, IF Terence
.r.r would have put this question into the
,ou,h Of Chremes had there not been signs
>, large Of rebellion, however incipient on the
o,rt Of Roman sons"
Oh. believes the same signs are abroad
,rone the sons of to-day, and she glories
:, n. belief. The youth should rule the world
-. saws. That important function, appropri-
,,,d by sraybeards, ought to be the exclusive
,roperty of those in whose veins still courses
n. brave, hot blood of young manhood and
Young womanhod.
81 recall" Mrs Parsons declares, Tin gal
i.rv Of the Luxembourg a sculpture of youth
and age. a blind youth carrying on his back
an aged paralytic. That group. 1t seems to
~. is not merely a symbolism Of the weak
ness Of age and the blindness OF youth. 1t is
=, EXPRESSION Of the untring self-assertiveness
Of the mature, Of the age class dominant and
domneering to-day"
YOUTH is THE UNDER DOG.
In other words. the elders have become
Kind Of albatross hung about the neck OF youth
In the street this would be called having
Tree ride" And Mrs. Parsons proposes that
an end be put TO this. She believes that youth
has been the under dog long enough. Maturity
and noise are not the credentials which hu-
manly appertain TO authority
For ages the rule OF the elders has obtained
IN the world. Laws have been framed, passed
and executed almost entirely by men grown
hOary in service Age is the consideration
esteemed OF prime importance in the choice
Of legislators and judges. These Valuations
alleged to be false and devoid OF all justice,
are held up to scorn in Social Freedom
But she afhrrns, these false valuations so long
yenerated by the world are more than doomed.
The prejudice against younger men over
come" observes Mrs. Parsons, their work
nav be compared on its merits with that OF
their seniors From that comparison to the
view that senescence may disquality is but
step. The next step is retirement for age-a
step already taken in modern states tor the
Judges OF the law, if not for its understand
then, where both compassion and clear think
ing obtain, the old age pension"
Pension of the old, she urges. Give room
and opportunity for the young! By what in
herent right does age hold suzerainty3
She calls the elders supernaturalists, by
which she means that they base their right to
govern upon sort of mystic befogging of
human, at large especially OF youth at large
So long as youth can be held in subsection the
rule Of the elders will not be ieopardized.
LOSS OF AUTHORITY.
The supernatural sanction is ever in the
service OF the elders. They arc the interpret
ers OF superstitionalisn and its guardians; and
every bit OF territory lost TO supernaturalism
means 10 them a loss OF authority and pres
dge'
This suoernstural ascendsncy is attained,
according 70 MIS-. Parsons, through WHY
employment OF education. Scholssucism IS
the guilty party And scholssticism IN most
ti1:les, naturally hyphenates itself with the
2ose OF middle age
The fate OF the elders IS bound up with
The fate Of the gods; and for both the woro'
Sooken or written, is the supreme instrument
Of power. As soon as the arts OF writing and
r.a3iag cease be hierstic secrets they prom
ise opportunities to youth for independence
Although scholastic education continues Tor
loag periods in the grip OF the elders, little
By ht,le their hold IS shaken. Education
s;eular.zed. In course OF time not even OF lay
teachers is an advanced age required
The gods COR the elders as you please
have also for many ages dictated the destiny
o. that nov 50 widely discussed institution
divorce
The stand Of the churches against divorce,
'asi' views Of the indissoluoity OF marriage,
are the outcome OF the distress felt most
deeply By the old, and by them most guarded
against" protests the author OF Social Free
dom"
Divorce is increasing, and the significance is
Ills, according 20 Mrs. Parsons:
The increase OF divorce among us is
Pmp'omstc Of the waning influence not only
" the churches but OF the elders"
IN short the fermenting agitation against
MS gocalled tyranny Of scnescence is mani
testing Itself everywhere The revolt OF youth