The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-04-09
The Way of
q Climber
Is THO1~ny
BY MARTHA LEE

If there is anything more dis
tressing, more grouch-providing,
more conducive to the growth Of
the inferiority complex than being
in group which feels and acts SUI
perior, do not know what it is.
1t is hard enough for an older per-
son to talk herself out of feeling
down after spending an evening
with such a crowd. A mature mind
has acquired a certain balance, a
sense of surety in itself, q habit Of
comparative philosophy that pulls
it out OF a great many ruts.
But it is almost too much to ask
Of a younger person. To be thrown
constantly with other children who
ridicule and Sneer and laugh and
whisper is too much. It is unfair to
the child and may have serious ef-
fects in his character and self opin-
ion later on.
Children Are Ruthless.
There is not 50 much class dis
ti1ction among older folk as there
is among children, Children can be
so ruthless, so needlessly cruel, to
other children. Of course they Dor
row their standards Of values from
their parents
But as q general rule even the
parents do not make their value Of
money and social position iron
bound. But when they set out to
pass their ideas on to their children,
they may be sure those ideas will be
accepted ''as is" with little elasticity
I have a, letter from a young girl
who has suffered the Ilumiliating ex-
perience of being out of her class, on
another level, not among her own
people or however you want to put
it.
She has been made to feel as well
come as q polecat at a garden party
She has been made to feel as toler-
ated as poor relative. No parent
has a right to make his child go
through such an experience.
Dear Miss Lee-I am II years old.
have no sisters or brothers, and can not
go to my mother. because she is the one
who has been indirectly responsible for my
trouble. il I may call it that.
We have been people of moderate means
until within the last few years, when my
father acquired quite a bit OF money.
have been we'll raised and educated and
my parents are lovely people, but the
money rather has gone to mothers head.
Mother is Climber.
She Immediately wanted me to "get in
with boys and girls whose parents had the
same amount of wealth we now do. My
mother did not realize. as I did. that they
are not my kind Of people. liked the
friends I already had. But mother in
sisted that our money now entitled me to
go with these other people.
She gave me parties and invited this
other group of boys and girls. And they
came. but just laughed up their sleeves at
our attempt to crash" their set. was in
vited in return to their parties but am
not one of them and have suffered humili-
alton and misery at those affairs, by being
a WallfioWer and spending a great share of
my time trying to figure just where diff
fered with these other girls. who seemed
so gay and joyous. but SO distant. SO hard
10 KNOW SO almost uQklQQ 10 stranger.
Nov I have refused to go any more and
mother Is furious. She insists that it Is
my duty to go. I think it Is all foolishness
and will not expose myself to being SO
completely hurt again, What do you think?
CINDERELLA.
I think you are supersensitive, for
one thing, Cinderella. But since you
are, and have no ambitions along
the lines of climbing, think your
mother is very foolish to force you to
climb.
Going Through Initiation.
You are going through a sort of
initiation, right now. You must be
passed upon, the same as when you
join an organization. You are pass
ing through a period of probation, a
sort of interneShip.
If it doesn't seem worth it to you,
why not tell your mother about it?
1t seems to me to be much better for
you to sit back and wait to be taken
up than to try to push your way in
more effective, more lasting, and less
humiliating.
CLUB MEETINGS