Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-19
MRS. PENNYPACKER SPEAKS
At THE W0MAN's CLUB
Makes Most Interesting
Address.
DISCUSSES YOUTH AND AGE
Pleads for Greater Sympathy and
Better Understanding Between the
Generation end Those Whose Ideas
Were Fixed in Other Times.


V. Pcnnypacker. Of Austin. Texas, yes
terday. speaking to tho Woman's Club
on tho subject, (which Closes the Door
Youth or ARe?' The lack of SYM
pathy and understanding between the
two generations is an undisputcd fact
and the point of the discussion was
who is really to blame for tho situa-
ton. Mrs. Pennypacker. who is a
charming and cultivated woman, is
ono OF the most prominent club women
OF this country. and her lecture yestcr-
day was simply alive with vital points
Of interest to a world of women
young or old.
Mrs. Pennypackcr discussed her sub
ject from every point of view. The
composite mother, looking eagerly
forward to a companionship with her
children after years OF sacrifice and
sclf-denial. in many Instances is panied
apart from them. Her daughters
standards and ideals are no; hers.
One should be careful to praise, for
il praise and commentator are only
on tho outside. and only blame and
censure inside. the home will not long
mother Gays: 1T Is tho calling by
first names In word and deed" Life
is obliged to bruise the child into
certain humility; one cannot help but
wish that their entertainments were
not OF so cheap an order. Girls never
tho men would be bored to DEATH"
the men say tho girls would think
they were cheap" and so 1t goes.
Up to the time OF the war fathers
were rather severe on youth They
felt youth loved only pleasure and
denial OF parents weighed very lightly
In tho balance.
Youth answers. Our parents and
grandparents do not understand us.
They don't know US. They have only
to turn back time and live over again
their youth. but we have never been
old" So many people approach youth
only in the spirit OF antagonisrn. Youth
says. Our parents want US to think
their thoughts and do not realize We
are the normal evolution OF our age.
just as they were OF theirs"
Mrs. Pennypacker said that one girl
said to her: But my mother never
talks to me as ono reasonable human
being to another reasonable human
being. She is always the critical
judge"
In Mrs. Deland's hook. "The Rising
Tide" the speaker believes the whole
question OF feminism, It's good and it's
evil, lies before US. The theme of It
all is that no matter how big the duty
outside tho home may seem. It doesn't
excuse the woman for neglecting the
duty inside the home. Conventionality
Is for the protection of youth. not for
its restriction. Life for women to day
is full OF service. inside the home and
out. for the day has passed when a
! woman can think her duty finished in
her home. The moment her child
crosses its threshold TO school her
duty must follow it. and so on through
life
NEED IS FOR MORE
SYMPATHETIC UNDERSTANDING:
Youth and age should have n more
sympathetic judgment and understand
ing of each other. Mrs. Pennypackc or
used the theme and story of Mrs. De-
lands novel which Is very human
doctrine, TO illustrate the points taken
in her lecture. II pictures the doctrine
OF fenlinisln, its dangers and evils and
the lesson is that the road TO preg-
ress the road to success is in the beau
titul middle path. In ninety eight cases
out of hundred il is age that closes
the door of sympathy between the two
generations though unconsciously
youth gives age great provocation.
The remedy for Il Is TO be found in
several ways. That we should awaken
to the consciousness that home max king
| is the most important profession In the
world. and. since il is so. worth all
| the training that We can give. If men
and women only understood each other
, better. If we only understood that
it isn't one thing mans work and
another woman's. but that both to-
gethcr may make the world n better
place TO live in. In the second place,
the need for every woman who is a
mother to study the psychology Of
the child--that marvellous. wonderful
thing-the heart of a child. Grand
mothers make few unnecessary issues
and fix the penalty.
And in, ha Ia,
rectify point that for generations
has been made-aEe has demanded re-
spcct and admiration from youth No
one has a right to respect and admira-
tion unless they deserve il. The rich
ness Of compromising between par
ents and children is such wonderful
thing. Age must open tho door TO
seventeen and nineteen and twenty
one and read over those chapters in
their own life-meet the emergency Of
tho moment.
Mrs. Pcnnypacker closed her most
interesting lecture with a word about
the psychology OF our boys at war and
the burden and responsibility on the
girls OF to-day. All is unrest and I'M
settled thought in the minds of these
boys, brought UP as they have been
before an altar OF peace. 1t is for the
women to follow them to the very edge
OF the trenches with bit of home
For the first time the young woman
of to-day is walking in the valley Of
shadow OF fear.
Mrs Pcnnypackcr appealed to moth
ers to keep your daughter close to
you-then in the most critical hour YOU
can talk to her. 4 great general has
said: The influence OF the young
woman upon the soldier is absolutely
terrifying. 1t isn't what she says, but
what she does, and his ideals rise or
fall with hers"
1t was splendid lecture and ono
that made direct appeal to tho large
audience that filled the club to hear
the distinguished speaker. Miss May
Moore was chairman of the afternoon
and presented Mrs. PennyDacker.