Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-03
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

In life. National advertising has served
to acquaint people everywhere with
everything, so that standards only held
by certain classes In the past today OBJ
tain for practically the entire mass Of
the population.
Thousands of Washingtonians en-
joycd the shedding afforded by the
snow both the children and their elders;
but II seemed to some, such as the
speaker quoted, that the fine edge OF
the old-time JOY was gone.
1t Is difficult to put an exact finger
upon the lack. to definitely declare that
''seven-tenths of i per cent OF happi-
ness is missing from the sport of mod
ern youth.
, One is always faced with the charge,
too. that he is growing old. and par
takes OF the spirit of Lucretius' plow-
man, who leaned on his instrument OF
toll, about the year 200 BIC, and la
mented that the times we're not what
they used to be- and that the world
was plainly wearing itself out.
| Well. these arc serious charges, 1t is
true and yet one may feel, and per-
hapS rightly, that little first-hand OBJ
servation will show them unjustified.
We watched a little girl the other
day playing or rather trying to play.
with a doll. Little girls have always
played with dolls. 1t is tradition
| among little girls.
Even very modern little girl knows
that 1t Is quite the correct thing to
play with dolls. So she has an assert
ment of them and an elaborate carriage,
In which she trundles the favorite of
the moment up and down the sidewalk.
But she Is glad at any moment. 1t is
| plainly evident, to drop the caravan and
| turn with animation to some sport
| which involves running or leaping, or
| juvenile emulation Of automotive activi-
| ties Of parents.
| The wheel and the ball--these are
| the two symbols OF the modern child.
Give me something to ride on. some
| thing to throw" Is the song OF the
| American child. Hence the long pro-
cesSion OF scoOters. velocipedes. wagons
bicycles, roller skates. motor cycles. au-
| tomobles OF base ball, foot ball, basket
| ball. tennis, golf
| Even II one accepts this theory II
! may seem difficult to reconcile the fact
that snowbailing is done with balls
why, then. does 1t not appeal to the
| modern child?
| The answer must be that II smacks
| OF the O.0en times, ana anything winch
does that is viewed with at least a
! little suspicion by the ultra-modern
young man or woman. The movies and
other up-to-date diversions have made
| them look askance at the simple old
! games, the natural sports. as 1t were.
| In rather extensive ramblings around
Washington during the week We came
upon but one snow fort 1t was good
one. there was no doubt about It, but
| as far as some minutes observation
went. it was for display merely. The
boys wanted passersby to admire 1t. as
most OF them did then every one
seemed to be satisfied.
Yes. sir. II this thing keeps up. before
another 10 years has passed away sled
ding itself will be in the discard. Snow
balling already is practically an anti
ouated sport. Dolls will be one with
the Dodo. and electric trains
Well. one ought TO be ashamed Of
himself for such thoughts in connec-
ton with the youth Of our dear land!
After all. We suspect. boys will be boys
and girls will be girls. and the sports
OF their forefathers not entirely dis
regarded or discarded.