The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-10-02
Viii.

A few days after Georges return
to the university 1t became evident
that not quite everybody had gazed
with complete b~enevolence upon the
various young collegians at their
holiday SPORTS. The Sunday edition
Of the principal morning paper even
expressed some bitterness under the
heading. "Gilded Youths of the Fin
de-Siecle"-this was considered the
knowing phrase OF the time, espe-
cially for Sunday supplements--and
there is no doubt that from certain
references In this bit Of writing some
people drew the conclusion that Mr..
George ANDERSON Minafer had not
yet got his c~ome-upance, q postpone
ment still irritating. Undeniably
Fanny Minafer was one Of the people
who drew this conclusion, for she cut
the article out and inclosed 1t In a
letter to her nephew. having written
on the border Of tie clipping. II won
ddoT whom it can mean
George read part Of 1t:
We debate sometimes what Ia to be the
future of this nation when we think that
in a few years public affairs may be In
the hands Of the fn-de-siecie gilded
youths we see about US during the Christ
mas holidays. Such foppery. such luxury,
uced by the scented. ~overbearing patri-
clans OF the Paiatine. aver In Rome's
most decadcnt epoch. With his airs of
young Milford. his fast horses, his gold
and silver cigarette cases, his clothes
from a New York tailor. his recklessness
OF money showered upon him by indulgent
mothers or doting grandfathers. he re-
spects nothing and nobody. He is blase.
IL you please. Watch him at q social
function, how condescendingiy he deigns
to select a partner for the popular waltz
or two-step. how carelessly he shoulders
older people out Of his way, with what a
blank stare he returns the salutations of
some old acquaintance whom he may
choose In his royal within to forget!
One wonders what has come over the
new generation. OF such as these the re-
public was not made. When we compare
the young manhood of Abraham Lincoln
with the specimens we are now producing
we SEQ too wen that It BODIES III for the
twentieth century
George yawned and tossed the clip.
ping into his waste basket. wondering
why his aunt thought such dull non
n worth the sending. As for heI
insinuation, penciled upon the border
he supposed she meant to joke-a sup
position which neither surprised hin
nor altered his lifelong opinion OF
her wit.
He read her letter with more In
terest:
the Morgans was q lovely affair. Il wa,
last Monday evening. just ten days aftel
You left. 1t was appropriate that you
mother, herself an old friend, should az
semblc Q representative selection Of Mr.
Morsan's old friends around him at sucl
. time. He was In great spirits n mos
entertaining.
He win soon begin to build his factor,
here for the manufacture OF automobiles
which he says II q term he prefers I,
'horssless c~arriages." Your Uncle GecSg'
told me he would like to Invest In thi
factory. a. George thinks there 10 q fu
ture for automobiles: perhaps not for gen
eral use, but a. an Interesting novelty
yhch people with sufficient means woul,
= to w for their amusement tn,
oake Of variety. However, he said MI
Morgan ~iaughingiy declined his offer. q
~. ~. was fully able to nnance this ven
ture. though not starting In q very larg
~ Your uncle said other people ar
manufacturing automobiles In differen
parts Of the country with success. You
father 10 not very well. though he II 10
actually III, n the doctor tells him h
ought not to be 20 much Il his Office, q
tha LONG yoaro Of applicafion indoorn wifi