The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-07
Youth Rebels
When Elders
Break Rules
By MARTHA LEE

Life would be almost perfect for
youngsters if the older folk could
only appreciate how sensitive they
are. Really, most of them are fiex-
ible and need just a little under
standing and sympathy.
But somehow. after We have
grown up, we forget that We ever
had sensitiveneSs in our makeup.
We forget how deeply things hurt
us; how bitterly we revolted against
our elders when they were thought
less of our feelings. And as re-
suit, even though it may be sub
consciousness on our parts, We in
jure them almost mortally in spirit.
Children and adolescent youth are
always being confronted with the
sight of their elders doing exactly
what they have just told them they,
as youngsters, must do. AS a gen
eral rule there is no explanation
offered along with this, merely a
remonstrance, without the slightest
explanation of why it should be
avoided by them as children and
why it may be done by grownup.
The children are baffled and bellig-
erent. Of course, they can not I'M
derstand that line of reasoning 1t
is foolish to believe that they could.
The result is deceit on the part
of the children, because what do
they see their parents practicing
but deceit? Not only in their re-
lationship to themselves as minors,
but even toward their acquaint-
ances. What does an impression
ably minded child think when he
hears his mother Squeal with glee
when she receives a certain caller,
talk nicely while she is there, and
the minute she is gone rush to the
telephone to tell Mrs. Whif-Niff
what a perfectly dreadful gown Mrs.
Gonzaba wore that afternoon; how
coarse her voice was getting and
that she is almost positive she has
touched her hair up a bit. If it is
D girl child taking things in, she
probably will go to school next day
and try to pull that sort of stuff on
her classmates. If it is a boy child,
he probably will unconsciously form
an opinion that all women, even his
own mother, who is really quite per-
feet, are pretty much a two-faced
lot.
have a letter today from a Is
ear-olo girl, who, in spite OF her
studied sophistication and wisdom,
Is floundering around to find the
answer to this grown-up problem:
NV Dear Miss Lee--I am is years old
nearly and a sophomore in high school.
| have an older brother. but ne doesnt
pay any attention to me, and that's all or
our family My father, who has been sue
cessful in business world is confirmed
back -slapper and wise-cracker. My mother
Is a pretty good sort, but addicted to
bridge and talking over the telephone.
What I want to know is this: How do
the parents get that way, telling us not
% do things and then turning right around
and doing them themselves? If I start to
say something about some one in school
like 'Margie didn't have her lessons" or
Jane had brown dress on today and
''she looks awfully sallow in brown"
mother says Itch, tch. You mustn't talk
about your little friends
And yet I've heard her on the phone |
when what she didn't say about the, lady |
who just left the house vas just too bad. |
And that's only one incident. What do
you make out OF that sort of stuff?
MARIAN
Well, my dear child, I suppose you
will just have to get very tolerant |
and accept those things as part of !
the penalty of growing up. 1t is
too bad, but I don't know a thing |
to do about 1t. Human relation
ships become more and more in
volved as the years go on.
Perhaps your mother must be nice
10 So-and-So because your father
gets a big order from them each |
year. That may be what we like to
cloak under the term business" or
diplomacy" But if she does stoop
10 such measures, she should at
least be self-respecting enough to
Keep it to herself.
I know it's all very battling. |
Grown-ups are so much more in
consistent and illogical than young |
sters, as general rule, just because
their vision has too many horizons.
You'll just have to adopt a
philosophy for yourself about these
strange ways of the grown-ups and
determine in your heart of hearts
that you will never forget these dis
appointments and hurts when you
yourself are agrownup with chill
dren.