The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-05
THE NEW
GENERATION
JOAN BECOMES A LEADER AT

By JANE PHELPS

| SCHOOL.
CHAPTER 7.
AS Margaret widened her circle of
acquaintance for Joan's sake, she dis
covered with pleasurable surprise that
she enjoyed their society. They were
more reasonable, far. than her parents
had been, altho not as advanced as
she was in their ideas of allowing their
children absolute freedom-a delib-
erately given liberty of thought and
action.
| The knowledge that other parents
were inclined to do as she believed
right-altho to a far less extent-in-
trigued Margaret, and sometimes she
discussed her ideas with these new
friends, most of them parents of chill
dreq about Joan's age.
! Naturally they thought Margaret
extreme in her views, and as naturally
said so.
II think perhaps theoretically you
are right, Mrs. Hayden" Mrs. Thomp-
son, mother of Hortense, said. But
iyou are taking terrible responsibility
when you put your ideas into practice,
as you do. Fortunately, Joan is a
sweet modest girl" Margaret thought
of the smoking episode and won
dered what Mrs. Thompson would say
/ if she knew of it. 80 is Hortense,
yet I would not dare risk her future
happiness by giving her free rein
be individual?"
1T cannot say that I care for her to
be too individual. 1t seems to me I'M
ladylike."-
| Conversations such as these some
times caused Margaret Hayden to won
der if she had gone too far in allow
ing Joan self-c--2ression- Then her
mouth would settle in a determined
line, and she would say to herself:
mo, 1 believe it is the only way.
1 am product of the other method"
Thoughts of her shut-in childhood,
her colorless girlhood, her unsatis-
factory womanhood, confirmed her in
her decision that she had been wise
in her raising of Joan.
At Miss Corey's school, an ultra4
fashionable school for girls, Joan soon
| became a leader among her compan-
ions. They admired her daring. while
not courageous enough to initiate her.
They listened to her tell of what she
had done, what she proposed to do,
with awe-especally after she had
once told them, in reply to what one
OF the girls had said, that 1t was not
her mothers business.
This is the way it happened. Gloria
Freeman, little, slim girl with a flare
| of bobbed hair nearly as golden as
Joans and framing small face, said:
My mother won't let me have any
parties and have the boys invited. She
/
Can you have boys at your parties,
Joan?'' =
"of course can! can do any
thing want to-
Your mother lets your" Amaze
ment and jealousy in the sweet young
voice.
"of course, 1t isn't any of her
business. I choose my own friends"
"But-boys!"
Yes. boys. Why not?"
From >bhen on Gloria Freeman
adored Joan. The two thirteen-year
old girls became inseparable.
I'm going to ask your mother to
Joan said as the two girls. arms about
slim waists, bobbed heads lose to-
gether. walked home after school.
I'm afraid she won't. She says
the place for school girls is at home
when school is out. She let's me do
a lot Of things vacations. but she is
awfully strict during the term"
! IT shan't ask her then! No one
| ever says mo- to me, and 1 shouldn't
be nice if they did, not even to your
mother"
| Flushed and tense, Joan walked
home and>confided to her mother:
| Did you ever hear of such a thing,
Mumsie? Why, Gloria is three months
older than I am and she can't go
anywhere or do anything. 1 should
kill myself, I know should. If you
were like that-or run away and
never come, back. or do something
| awful. What horrid mothers most
| girls havei"
| mo dear. they aren't 'horrid'-they
| just don't think as do about bring
| ing up children. We all have a right
! to our beliefs, you know. I to mine,
you to yours. and other people to
theirs"
"Of course, Mumsie. never
thought of that. I guess they aren't
as horrid as think. They Just do
as they want to about things same
as I do"
That's it, Joan. Everyone has a
fright to their opinions"
After this talk Margaret noticed
that Joan was not quito SO impatient
of others. She had Been so certain
of her young self that, without real
izing it, she had denied others the
same privilege she enjoyed-self-
expression.
Tomorrow-Joan objects to her
| mother looking Young