The Washington times., 1934-06-05

III eWueEe
every night.
Elsie Robinson That costs.
Kids aren't content with barn
dances any more.
Then why did he turn down
this chance?
well, why should I take on
q load of grief and maybe get
nothing out Of it?" said Bill
frankly. Things aren't so good,
BUT I'M GETTING BY, AND
I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.
When the days done, I can for
get it-go off and show myself
a good time.
But suppose I had all that
responsibility? I'd have to be
thinking about it steady; maybe
never get Saturday off, and
no vacation. WhatSa use OF
living like that? I'm no Master
Mind, but I've got sense enough
to know when I'm sitting
pretty"
But did he really think he was
sitting pretty? How about the
future? These modern young
Sters don't kid themselves
much. They realize, clearer
than any generation ever has,
that there isn't any Santa Claus
waiting to hand you a cosy seat
by the fireside at sixty if you
haven't hustled plenty at
twenty.Six.
Besides, why wasn't he flat
tered at the thought Of all that
new responsibility? Any young
Ster, in my day, would have
been dizzy at the prospect.
BILLS father was getting IS
for a six-day week with twelve.
hour day at Bills age-and
never heard Of a vacation.
Yet 1 remember how he boosted
when the boss gave him a whole
new department to manage,
with not an extra cent in pay.
Just the kick Of feeling import
ant Of being trusted
with all that responsibility
. that was enough.
Responsibility. It had been
Hot Stuff in 1884, 1904, 1914.
But something had happened
since then. Here was Bill, de-
nberately ducking it. Why?
'Look at your father" said,
working like that and now he
owns his own business"
"All right" says Bill, letting
me get no further, "look at him!
He owns his own busineSs-and
what's the answer? Three mort
cages. Notes until he's got
writer's cramp. And just two
jumps away from a nervous
breakdown from worry. Whadit
buy dad, grabbing all the re-
Sponsibility in sight? Whadit
get any of his generation? Moth
ing but trouble. They shaved
n saved. So what? Now they're
busted. Or nearly
But they did get a kick out
Of it as they went along"
pestered.
Don't let them kid you, old
girl" said Bill with a patroniZ-
ing grin. That's just the old
sales talk that the boss spills to
lure 'em on. The only thing any
guy with sense gets a kick out
Of is the good old Jack"
Gall right" countered. Even
supposing that's all there is to
a job, what do you-all of you
moderns-expect to pile up for
yourself by Just sitting pretty'?"
"Oh, We'll get by. We've got
the system!" laughed Bill.
Have they? They seem to
have.
Bills always going places.
Needs a car. Passed up q job
that might have gotten him one
in five years. But in the mean.
time-well, he can borrow Dads.
Or Fred'S. And mooch movie
money from Ma.
And Billy's sister? She
"gets by" too. Dolly isn't ex-
actly pretty, or awfully bright.
But she has Charm" And the
knack Of making herself useful
in rich homes. Dolly manages.
Someone is always stalking Dolly
to new dancing slippers, or Civ.
ing her "a perfectly adorable
dress that has hardly been worn
at ALL"
Are they smart to be ducking
responsibility? Will they live
longer, have more fun, be gayer
and more generous humans as a
consequence?
Were we oldSterS saps to do as
We did-and are we paying for
Il as q consequence?
I know MY answer. I THINK
THE KIDS ARE DUMB. I'D A
MILLION TIMES RATHER
HAVE THE KICK OF CARRY
ING A MANS SIZE LOAD,
EVEN THOUGH 1T LEFT ME
BANKRUPT, THAN JUST GET
BY" But
Copyright. 1894. King Features