South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-19
WINIFRED BLACK

I was reading the other day how
a certain scion OF royalty was mob
bed in one of our cities, ~ that the
police had to protect him from the
fury Of curiosity and admiration
which seemed to infect like a mad
ness the whole population.
And not long ago, at yelling IN
the east, where the bridegroom was
Of noble birth, the scene in the
church was characterized by the off,
ciating Clergyman as disgraceful.
All sorts OF silken women and
starched men intruded themselves
into the sacred edifice, until the dis
tracted ushers gave up in dispa1r.
The mob was not so cruel nor so
devoured by curiosity as was the
crowd surrounding the prince OF
royal blood-but it is certain that
after years of democracy, republi-
canism or whatever you may call o..
in the United States exists a curious,
an unexplainable craze for the very
names OF royalty and nobility.
In all Of our fetes, notice the great
stress laid upon selection and crown
ing OF a queen. Sometimes among
children a little king is chosen to
share honors. But every flower
fete, rose pageant, many fairs. festi-
walls and public professions have al
most inevitably 2. queen.
1t is true she is a gentle queen,
always chosen for her beauty and
charming manners-but it is said
that very often the one experience
Of royalty for a day or a week spoils
the bright girl chosen for the royal
role.
We do love the gauds and favors
Of DAYS long past. II would not be
very hard to get up in America quite
Juror in favor OF a royal family,
with all that the word suggests
among some silly folks. would It?
1t might be a good thing. for the
sake Of the beautiful girls who are
often so relentlessly chosen to be
crowned. covered with Jewels and
made much of in public, TO go a
little slowly in arranging the pro-
grams for our mum berless festivals.
Is II really a healthful thing for
mind and body IN the case OF young
girls, selected for their beauty, taken
out Of their ordinary life. TO be feted
and fiattered for a few days-Tnostly
by strangers-and then, after the
feast OF anything but reason, re-
turned to a home which must seem
a httle dull after all that has hap
pened?
II +olroe - 4e,o- q -,4&ro-7 oba-aotar
to endure such an experience as we
are all the time giving to young peo-
pie who are by no means settled.
Oven children are placed in this
position. sometimes. and often with
anything but good results. although
children can bear a great deal Of
the fanciful side Of life II their par
ents take care 10 keep them strong
and we'll With young girls under
their twenties It Is different.
I remember one-we7l call her
Grace-who 10 years ago took the
part OF queen in a public festival in
a great city. She was regaTly dress
ed covered with Jewels. she lived
among flowers and was fed on fat
terry and ell sorts OF delightful non
sense, for a week.
This beautiful girl was OF a fam
ily OF ordinary means. They were
the sort OF people whose home life.
although Wholesome, is without
charm and unfed by Imagination.
When she went back TO this home,
Grace. a girl OF Is, trst out OF finish
ing school, was pretty thoroughly
spoiled. One or two strangers whom
she had met during the festivities OF
her royalty were the only people
who reminded her OF the glorious
week.
Worth Thinking About.
These two. a girl almost as pretty