Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-08-06
NOW AND THEN
By Dauid Beiasco.

One wonders, in these days of scien-
tific amusement marvels, what our
young folk would do were they trans
ported suddenly back into the condi-
tions OF my boyhood, away from
radio. from automobiles. from the
countless comforts of ultra civiliza-
ton, and dependent largely on their
own inventive genius for play APP
paratus.
Truly the youth of today is a citi-
zen of another world when one uses
as a basis of comparison conditions
obtaining but six short decades ago.
| often wonder whether the youth OF
today has the slightest appreciation OIL
the marvels which surround them.
The daily papers tell of Comdr.
Donald Macmillan sending radio re-
ports of his progress into the Arctic
wIlds The good ship Arcturus is just
back from a voyage in which photos-
raphy and exploration of ocean
depths played an important part. Air
planes Whizz overhead at terrifying
speeds, and automobiles buzz along
the highways. There are mechanical
and electrical playthings and con-
yeniences. the amusement parks, the
motion pictures in addition, all for
the delectation of humans with sum =
cient leisure and money TO avail
themselves of them.
BelascO as a Boy.
In my day a boy possessed of a
jackknife; the whIls and springs out
of an old clock Ind, luxury indeed,
box of water-color paints, was Law
ishly supplied with playthings. Did
he want a kite? Then with knife,
string, paper and home made flour
paste, he manufactured one. A base
ball? Bits of rubber string and
leather from shoe tops or old gloves
provided the needed materials. Like
wise he made a bat.
Sundays were devoted to church
and Sunday school. Evenings ordi-
narily meant brief sessions with a
semi religious book in the weak light
OF smoking oil lamp. Bedtime was
3 o'clock at the latest and, If he ever
some social or other neighborhood
event originated entirely for the
pleasure of his elders.
The world has moved. Civilization
has come on apace. Each passing
year has brought something new for
| the amusement, education and edtfi-
cation Of the public. We live today in
an age where the press button
stage has succeeded the genie of the
| lamp. Our boys and girls are learn
! ing a luxury one fears they do not
| thoroughly appreciate, and the
! thought often comes that We would
do them a great justice If these un-
derstandings were impressed on their
minds more thoroughly.
Would Succumb to Ennui.
| Remove the girl or boy of today
from radio, the telephone. furnace
heat. the automobile, the libraries
ment and comfort-give them merely
! a jackknife and natures unchang-
| ing wonders for amusement. and how
would claim them for its own and
/ that they would fare ill until returned
to their accustomed habitat of con-
venience and plenty.
I Is too much luxury. too ready
means of amusement, taking the
truly American spirit of pioneering
| and invention out of the PERSONAL
| ties of our children? Are we soften
! ing them mentally and spiritually
| because we do not make them under
! stand and appreciate what civiliza
! ton is doing for them as compared
with those of but a few generations
agone? One hopes not-but the fact
remains that the youngster of the
| late eighteen hundreds was a pretty
| self reliant American citizen, who
appreciated his few conveniences and
! who was prepared to make others for
himself if he needed them.
Copyright. 19@5D