The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-11-26
Youth Today
Restless as
Inheritance
BY MARTHA LEE

If someone could only analyze the
reason for the reStleSsneSs among
younger persons of today, just about
half of the problems would be
solved. Because I do not necessarily
mean that restleSsness is a char
acteriStic belonging to + exclusively .
Far from it. The older generation
has been bitten by the Dug, too, only
you can't teach old dogs new tricks
and all that sort of tiling.
And besides. the older generation
is over the hill. It's members are
people of the past, those whose in
fluence has been exerted and pref
ty we'll spent itself. But these eigh-
teen to thirty are the parents of the
coming genefation. ALI the future
depends indirectly at least, on the
way things go with them.
You hear constant chatter about
the dissolution Of marriage; the dis
appearance of home life; the rest
lessness of the youngsters; the fail
ure Of the present system. Don't
you see that these children of the
past generation, who are to be par
ents of the coming generation, are
the products of "the day between?"
They are children of parents who
in turn were the children Of Vic
torianS. The pendulum swung with
a wide sweep away from restraint,
away from steel corset and buStles
and gouging hairpins and super
stition and burnt wood doodadS and
crocheted tides. From an age of
evasion to an age of at least be-
ginning to look facts in the face.
And the children are the result of
all this. The steadying influence of
good, wholesome home life is or
should be one of the most important
factors in the development of these
youngsters. With the good that
comes of franknesS there should also
be the deep f1neness of understand
ing parents and smooth compatibility
in the home. Children take their
own home life and their parents as
the criterion of their future life.
I have the following letter from a
young wife whose views on marriage
are probably the result of disturb
ing influence at home:
Dear Miss Lee-Please help me in the
dilemma I am now facing. I was married
when I was II and have been married
five years. I am terribly dissatisfied. ]
want to go with other fellows and have
a good time. but can't My husband is
not exactly a model husband. but he is
an improvement on some I have known
and heard about.
His biggest failing is that he nags about
little things He drinks occasionally and
works intermittently. AS far as I can
figure. have a place to eat and sleep
and that's about all. We so seldom have
any money to spend on ourselves that
we hardly ever get to go anywhere. If ]
60 up town, 1t means a quarrel.
I see so many fellows I could 60 with.
but I can't. I would like to work so that
could have what I want and go where
! please. We have separated several times
but nave always gone back together again.
It Is getting so l simply can not stand
him, and you certainly wouldn't think ne
owed me at all the way he talks to me.
can't make up my mind what TO co.
1t is very evident that your train
ing and understanding of life was
sadly neglected, that you would
marry at the age of II, the age
when most girls are taking geometry
and Latin as the most serious prob
lens of their existence.
You must simply consider your
self out of things as far as having
dates and going out with other men
is concerned. You must realize that
you sacrificed those things for mar
rage, and be good enough sport
to make the best of things.