The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-29
THE NEW
GENERATION
TED AND JOAN DISCUSS PER-
SONAIITY
BvJANE PHELPS
CHAPTER so.

CHAPTER so.
you have grown very lovely, Joan"
Ted said as they stopped. breathless,
after a waltz. Joan danced perfectly.
You're not so bad either, Ted-not
considering"
considering what"
considering you are just one of a
thousand like you, all put thru the
same mould"
rs it as bad as that? Am I such a
dub that I have no personality of my
own?"
Now Joan was on familiar ground.
AS she once said to Martha Hardy,
personality and kindred subjects were
her long suit.
You may have a little, but what
you have hasn't been allowed to grow.
One has to constantly express their
personality, regardless of people, of
conVentionalities if they are to reach
any height of expression. You are too
conventional ever to have much per-
sonality.''
I'm rather strong for convention.
think it would be a pretty rotten
world without it,
How you talk! never have been
conventional, never did thing in my
life that 1 can recall, because I was
expected to do it-because it was the
conventional thing"
That's all right for you, Joan. /
don't know why you are so different
from other girls when you do uncon-
ventionai things. but you are! fell
low never would think of getting fresh
with you because of anything you did
and
Il should say not, The idea"
But they would with most girls.
I'm fellow and I know. I guess it
is your mother, Joan. She let you
have your own way, does yet, mother
tells me, but after all you have had
her always, seen how she lived, known
her sentiments about things. Then
there is always the come back OF
course. You come of good stock"
$50 do others who care nothing for
your stupid conventions"
''Yes-some of them. But they
must have lacked something. And
honest, Joan, I believe your mother
made you do pretty nearly always as
she wanted you to without you know
ing it. You are temperamental but
you responded to her influence be-
cause You thought you were doing as
you liked. Am right?,'
''Oh, don't know! But something
has come over Mumsie, Ted. am
terribly worried about her"
as she ill? She looks the picture of
health and young enough to be your
sister"
That's it! She's trying to be young
again.
I'll tell the world she won't have
to try very hard. Look out or she'll
run you q close race
Joan turned away, and to his sur
prise would have no more to say to
Ted. She pleaded a dislike to dance
when he asked her then danced furi-
her mother asked her why she had
done SO she refused to say. altho she
repeated the first part of her con-
versation with Ted willingly.
He said he was strong for con-
vention, Mumsie-thats his silly
fellows never would think of getting
fresh with me because of my uncon-
ventional ideas and actions, but that
that they did with other girls. The
very idea of such a thing Most of
the girls I know arc. as unconventional
as can be. Really much more so
than I am"
Have you seen much of them |
when in the company of young menu
No-not so very much
Then perhaps you are not capable
to Judge, and Ted is right"
But suppose the fellows do get a |
little fresh once in a while, they don't |
mean anything. Not the right sort" |
But are all of them you met in |
such unconventional ways the right |
sort? You told me the other night that |
you and Martha allowed a man YOU |
never had seen before to walk home |
with you because you found him in |
his ideas unusual Isn't that |
giving man an opportunity to get |
fresh as Ted expresses ft?"
Mercy. mother, One would think |
YOU were born in the dark ages Men |
don't get fresh because they haven't |
been presented according to the rules
or some etiquette book
This conversation took place while
Margaret and Joan prepared for bed.
Margaret had encouraged Joan to talk
freely. Then she saw her yawn. and
Go right to sleep. dear . You'u
ose your beauty sleep as it is"
All right, Mumsiei Tell Hannah to
have waffles and syrup for breakfast"
Tomorrow-Margar gives a party
for Joan