Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-09
Y


rooms have been turning very
thoughtfully to many matters OF
moment. The gay and happy throng
Of the very young nuttcr across the
pages Of today and tomorrow like
right-colored butterflies. all un-
thinking and unfettcred with the
wcighty matters that make up life.
Pleasure Is their rifht. fun and II
good time their just due. and age
comes fast enough with It's burdens
and responsibilities. but just az
surely az today Will grow from sun
rise TO MONDAY and sunset. on into
tomorrow. just SO surely the butterfly
must assume the knowledge that life
is not all summer garden filled
with scented blossoms.
Not 80 very long ago n meeting
OF mothers aud older women was held
In wel!-known parish for the pur
posc OF discussing the lengths TO
which modern soclcty had gone. but
the meeting apparently accomplished
nothing. In the book that was the
sensation, in "a measure. Of the past
year. the mother remarks TO her
daughter: MY dear. only houscmaids
are kissed hrst. and engaged after
ward" And the author comments
only TOO truly that IL these same
mothers only knew how casually their
daughters were Kissed AZ midnight.
after having been met and danced
with sine: S. they would hold up
their hands in holy horror. The
sophisticated young man who re-
Galcd the public with the Incident
also comments at length upon the
rislue stories with which the young
est girl cntcrtains her callers, and
the fac, that they call IL broad and
modern" 10 descend 10 the muck and
nirc OF lie for entertainment and
amusement.
Somewhere. somehow, Il seems 10
be- the fault OF the mothers. for they
have IN. care OF the young lie from
rs very nrst hours. They wouldn't
ALLOW their daughtcrs-or their sons.
either. for that matter-to set out
for Washington or any given city.
w!thou. ascertaining the time that
the train left. the price OF the ticket.
the best way TO get there. and so on.
and yet they chcerfuliy a!lo" their
children to embark on the great. adj
vcnturous sea OF lie with no knowl-
edge OF the real values o. NE. be-
yond that u is fine to have money
and pretty clothes and good time.
IL = the old story OF the nursery
rhyme that YOU read by the nursery
nre: dog, dog, bite pig: pig won't
get over the st!ic, and we sha'n't
set home tonight" II WAS every
body's faul, until they all started
together. and then the story was
, done. The mothers blame their
daughters. who, they vow, VIII not
listen TO them or take their advice;
the daughters blame the men, who.
they say. will only rush the baby
yamp" and the hashy type OF girl:
the men admit they Ike to play with
them. won't marry them. but that the
mothers are not willing 10 spoil
their daughters good times ~ maxi
ing them behave. and so you have IL
There is "A so nuch graver matter
at stake than an Old woman return
ing from market with her obstinate
mig. II is a girl with soul, drag
cling her beautiful. precious l!fe
through the m!rc. and for what? For
some brilliant achievement; In life, for
some marvellous and glorious love?
oh. no. only u bauole = toy OF
,oday-jus, good time as she
ranks IT, a,
nv mis,ar and yet that is what
,hev are. It dresses are all right
IN their II &C. that is. certain
shortness, but the extreme TO which
the girls have gone have made one
blush for their sex. Bobbcd hair is
all right IL you want to look that way.
n painted face is no crime. II you
want to cheaper yourself that way.
nj NJ 20 sil-
ly. empty-headed girl who can make
no other appeal But the trap is be-
ing baited, as one soldier said. who
bore honorable scars from his part
In the war in France. the trap is
baited with cheap stun. and only the
cheapest fish Will nibble at the net.
So 1t really doesn't pay in the end.
and that is what they are after. isn't
II? The best time for the years of
their youth?
II is only human for girl to dream
of the Prince Charming that the ro-
nance Of all the world has written
for her Even when you were a lit
tie girl. the frs, song you learned
was when he comcs all dressed In
blue. you may be sure his love is
true"
as a shop Window. You stand out
side with the price. Youth. In your
hard The window Is full of cntic-
i ing things, some are only tinsel and
painted wood, while others are the
real jewels that will last you all your
.icc. You may go In and buy-you
will either drive good bargain, or
You will be cheated. according to
your own knowledge and your own
dsccrnment of what will give you
the most happiness. Just around the
corner is the thief and pickpocket,
Time. You may be robbed of your
purchase price before you have
finished your dawling outside. Life
is very simple. after all
The slender. lovely lady. who pours
her amber tea in yellow cups :be-
licves that life Is too beautiful and
y wonderful a thing to be wasted in
wild pursuit of pleasure, in cheapen-
ing womanhood and dcmeaninE the
standards of life for n man. Harm
less pleasure Is all right in its place. |
a certain legitimate change In the
ideas OF things from one generation