The New York herald., 1921-09-11

generation.
Many Realize the Crisis
And Sound Warning Notes
Mine is not one voice crying out in a
wilderness Edison, Beck and many Others
are protesting over the failure of the sec
ond generation to utilize it's full opportu
mites. 1t isn't the fault of the generation
itself; 1t is defect in the system.
''The son Of the wealthy man to-day is
not expected to go in and assume the reins
OF leadership that have been relinquished
by his father. In the first place, he is not
prepared to do so. He is permitted to sit
back and enjoy the fruits Of his fathers
efforts. He has never been tossed into the
battle of life. He knows only the men of
his own social class. He grasps the priv
ileges of wealth without assuming the re-
sponsbilities.
I'm England scions of the old families
are made to feel pride in their aristoc-
racy. The sons are sent into the army
the clergy or diplomatic circles. They are
expected to distinguish themselves and up
hold their lineage
In America we make no such demands
on our younger generation. We let tn an
run wild until gradually parents have lost
all grip on them They are strangers in
the house."
Mr.. Johnson was asked IL he believed
the future Of America was as much in the
hands OF the young women of to-day as in
the hands Of the young men.
Il certainly do" he said. And, fur.
thermore believe the girls of the wealth.
Ter social families are as unprepared to
carry on their responsibilities as the young
men. The American woman is brought up
tc believe she is different from man, an
objet dc luE.
Take the debutante year In no other
country does II exist to the extent that It
does in America. | have talked with many
young women who complained that year
of attending parties night after night AMI
sleeping until 2 o'clock in the afternoon
gradually brought on nervous break
down. Not only this, but it robbed them o.
an energy which they would have preferred
devoting to more practical ends
Domestic by Accident Only,
Too Busy Socially to Learn
- ehC a'cid6c girl VI LO-udy KNOWS any
thing about domesticity, 1t is mere acct
dent. She Is ignorant of the simplest
practices of cooking, sewing, economy and
servant management. Previous to her
marriage she has been too busy with so
oial activities for these things, and after.
ward she feels that IL is too late for her
to learn.
The average French girl of the same
social standing Is trained to be a house
wife during the years that her American
cousin is coming out BY the time she
marries she is an accomplished needle
worker. she knows something about cook
ing she has managed her mothers house
hold, she has done the ordering and
learned how to buy economically. In other
words, she is ready to assume her duties
at the head Of her future husbands house
hold.
Il am not so familiar with the English
girl, but | presume she Is somewhere be-
tween the French and American types"
In his latest novel, '"fhe Wasted Genera
tion," published tuis month by Little,
Brown & Co, Mr. Johnson contrasts the
two civilizations, French and American
During the war the author spent much OF
his time in France as a correspondent,
and while there discovered some OF the
reasons why the contrast is not always to
the advantage of America
According to his findings, the French
civilization Is built around the family.
while the American is around the indi-
vidual
The whole contrast between our two
civilizations. French and American, is
herein the family" he writes. Think.
ing on this tonight, understand Berno-
line better. The sense OF duty that domi-
mates her life and makes sacrifice so easily
possible is the sense of family solidarity
Love OF the mother. respect for the au-
thority OF the father, companionship with
the children--it is France in miniature
and that greater love OF country is but
tradition of family pride
Il do not think we have this strongly
disciplined sense OF duty nor this unques
tioning acceptance of sacrifice How often
children are but accidents, and sometimes
strangers under the same roof In my own
case. what Is my father to me? DO
know him we'll as | know the boy