The Washington times., 1934-08-11

highest stage *N ~
of civilization Elsie Robinson
without a leisure class. and the
larger the country the more
numerous should it be. The
United States should have at
least two million men, aside
from college circles. who aVow-
edly devote their lives to the
steady development of the in
tellect and the aesthetic sense,
varied, of course, by the lighter
amuSementS and pleasures.
with a young leisure class,
then a mature leisure class, de-
voting themselves to the only
things that give civilization a
meaning, the awful problem OF
boredom would be solved for
women, for they would have
companions. Most Of them
are merely resigned to huS.
bands who have nothing Of in
terest to talk about when they
come home at night"
And I'd like to know what
our calloused Granddads would
say to remarks like that! Ac-
cording to them. there were
only two kinds of people in this
country-Workers nd Buns.
Workers were all those who
paid their own way by their
own efforts-and included every
man with a Smitch of self re-
Spect. Buns were those who
didn't.
Buns might wear rags and
whiSkers and inhabit the jungle
south of the railroad track. Or
they might wear silk hats and
pearl SpatS and reside in River
side Drive palaces. 1t mattered
not-all Regular Guys worked
at something. Those who didn't
were tramps.
To be sure there were, even
then, certain queer creatures
who composed what was known
as the Leisure Class. These
eggs spent their time riding
Kentucky horses, soaking in
German baths and marrying
their daughters off to more or
less decayed French noblemen.
1t was fun to read about them
in the Sunday supplement, but
no one took them seriously. BIZ
ologically they ranked with five
legged calves, albino monkeys.
carrot pie, sword eaters. acorn
portieres, warts and other use
less and peculiar phenomena.
Any normal human being who
had suddenly declared that he
intended to belong to the LeiS-
ure ClaSS-or had even express
ed an admiration for their pro-
gram-would have been hus-
tied off to the hoosegow pronto
by his mortified and humiliated
family.
Within recent years, I regret
to say, this attitude has altered.
There has been a strange re-
action toward work and work
ers. New slogans and ideals.
ONLY SAPS WORK" EASY
MONEY" An increasing con-
viction that work is a racket
that smart guys should beat.
And mushroom mobS Of loaferS
demonstrating what swell
idea that is. Hotel lobbieS
filled with lounge lizards wait
ing for some woman to buy
their cocktails. Gigolos at bar
gain prices.
Handy Lads who do any
thing-provided it doesn't look
like hard labor-in exchange
for a home. Long-haired Lit
terati who-as far as mortal eye
can discern-have never done
anything since birth save lit
terat. AS we'll as the regular
varieties of moocher and gang
ster. And the usual moneyed
morons who just hang around
and fill in the chinks.
So l suppose America has at
last achieved a Leisure Class.
But why a smart woman like
Mrs. Atherton should want two
million more of 'em beats me.
Whereupon she will doubtless
protest
But these are not the peo-
pie 1 have in mind. I referred
to people of taste and intelli-
gence-men and women who
devote their lives to the pursuit
Of beauty and refinement"
But that's just the point.
People being what they are, 1t
is utterly impossible to devote
ones life to the pursuit OF
beauty and refinement, and
continue to be worth hoot as
a human being. Millions have
tried it-and look at them now.
So, in spite Of Mrs. Atherton,
I'm afraid America isn't going
to be very strong for a leisure
class just yet. Except maybe
for knick-knacks. You never
can tell what people will col
lect. While as for these ladies
who are so frightfully bored by
husbands who can't talk about
anything but making money
Well, perhaps when I hear
one of those ish7faced dolls re-
fusing to take some Of thai
money the making Of which