The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-04-30
Signs of
the Times

NJ the world was quite perccptibly
raised by people of gentle manners.
Many OF these had inherited a suf-
neient amount of money to enable
them 10 indulge cultivated and crit
ical tastos and this made them
agreeable in society ana of import
ance 10 the most important persons
m commercial --shopkeepcrs.
All gcntlofolk had certain prestige
and their custom, even for the every
Jay. unrOmantic necessities OF life,
carried weight, though the articles
,hey bought might not. Tho writer
carried on her story and told OF the
fnkcr who wrote to his cores
londcnt in his own hand, "he had
received their esteemed favour" and
so on. A certain tense distinction
lnterlncd In such an epistle. one
found such notice in an old-fash-
Toned business house, "Gentlemen
will not smoke In this office. others
must not" How Is it today? The
building containing such restraining
orders, either concerning smoking or
any other habit, would be razed to
the ground by fierce souls, In spirit.
10 say the least. Woe to US of nom
eggres ssive dcmeanor, unless We live
like the moles under ground.
This matter of tho old and the
new. There is no room for debating
the subject regarding universal love
for old books, old pictures, Old wines,
old ruins and so-ad finltum. The
world is well grounded in the love
OF history that takes you back TO
oil these things II we study art,
we are coached to love the old mas
2 81 a
Inclined to like that beverage which
makes the mind go forward, tand
haven forbid) there are the old
yntagcs. If we go abroad little
attention is paid the new things,
unless it is styles In gay Paris, bu.
the footsteps of the cosmopolite and
common traveller, 'wcnds their way
TO old castles, chateauX, abbeyS and
ruins Now well we remember at
this moment the statement made by
someone, "ShUw mo that country
without a history and / will show
you n nation without n soul" Under
all this observation, il the apprecla-
ton not only of art itself, but the
country in which 1t is found. But
this is strayinE wide from the mark
Intended and this casualty is merely
to pad some very salient remarks
vi a 1lldlltI Ol ltdl llIppll I anu lildA
Is the gross neglect these days Of
our lack OF affection for old con-
yentions.
Some may not agree as to the
said, prim behavior of the old re-
Eme being the proper order OF
things those polite habits and sue
toms of the French and English
s,hool; of good manners which are
sill adhered to in those countries.
Manners that were brought over
here by Lafayette and his staunch
ldherents, with Lord Fairfax and
bis soldierly escort--manners in pO-
lite society that We're handed down
to each Of us through successive gem
erations. How far have we strayed =?
New England and the south have
been accused of stubbornly trying
not 10 forget. But truth is a truth
and We know for a fact that neither
New England nor the south have
carried on" The word, informal"
is worked overtime. one offers a
query, what kind OF a party did
you have?" and the answer comes,
"Oh, a very informal affair 1t
were far better for society, IL not
ambitious TO adhere strict to the let
Ter Of that regime of the powdered
hair and buckled slipper, to at least
| be conservative and have the ear
mark of ye olden times portray
buder than word or framed family
tee that we are to the manor born
With progress as a sweeping mead
line today, 1t seems not TO be needed
10 add TO beautifully engraved invi-
ations, "No drinking" Invitations
that startle mothers to the extent
That they accompany their youns
1olk Just to see what modern enter
hlnment is. 1t seems politeness on
me part Of guests at any function
demands that guests follow in the
wake OF the hosts inclinations. If
punch is served, they may drink OF
yet 1t alone. Surely no greater in
suit can be extended ones hosts
mat set awry well laid plans.
Are we going to allow history 70
record a decadent generation for us
IA generation who knew politeness
but let it fly to the winds In order
% satisfy appetites that slap polite
society in the face and offer a pict-
ure Tor the younger generation COM
ing on, TO stand aghast at what their
uders do? Little pitchers have big
eyes as well as big ears and 1t might
Ue well to set the right example fo'
hose with whom we would storm
citadel to save. Not so many
years ago, one remembers that O
popular girl took the initiative at q
junction of informal nature-just q
natlnee dance at cadet post. A
IVY or the smart set from town
came out to enjoy the pleasures. II
was soon noticeable that one OF tht
young men, lad not more than
nineteen or twenty, had been imbib'
ing alcoholic drink. One of the girls
beauty and a belle with her lovely
Vurls down her back. walked up tC
me boy and said. Henry, you might
!ust as well go home for not one OF
VS. girls are going to dance with
you Henry went home and IN
ater years, Henry went to th9 old
world as preacher and a mission.
%Y What turned him aside? II
was fond mother and father whose
prayers were for him, and a society
which he mingled. that forbade
saythlng that bordered on things
.tI were lax. We should incorpor.
ae old conventions OF society with
MS love OF old things. They stand
monument to humanity and genu-
me accomplishment Just as much
the musical compositions of Men.
ue'ssOhn, LisZt and Wagner; lust as
,rillo canvas or any thing of value
aI has been handed down by pos.
etfy. These cultivate tho finer
snses to a plane whereon society
Tnould stand undaunted and proud
,mny pull society down with an ap-
ss,sute for the things that have