The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-09-11
YOUTH
NOW CYNICAL,
APATHETIC
BY DAVID P. SENTNER
Copyright, 1885. by International
News SerVice)

muddled strain of apathy, fruS-
tration and cyniciSm is noticeable
in the mass Of British young peo-
pie.
1t is partly due to lack Of oppor-
tunities.
Many have reached the age Of
80 without ever having done a
days work. They have been living
on the dole.
There are still more than 2,O00,-
900 unemployed in Britain. There
are millions of others in the mills
and mines who exc out bare eat
ing wage.
In 1886, there were 1896, 900
children between the ages of IA
and II ready for employment. The
scuffle for jobs among the young
is intense.
The son Of the average lower
or middleclaSs English family has
a better chance of securing a post
humouS Victoria Cross on the bat
tlefield within the next ten years
than to become an economic or
professional success.
Despite the sincere efforts OF
Parliament to improve conditions
the lot of the poorer children IN
certain sections of the London
slumS is deplorable.
A census of children at a school
in one poor district of London re-
vealed that IS per cent had never
seen a patch of grass-not even
in a London park. Only 2 per
cent of them had ever seen the
sea. Many children who lived
near the Thames had never seen
the river.
The eight-year-old scholars had
not seen any other animals than
a horse, dog and cat.
Glass Government
The governing power Of Britain
is in class hands, generally speak
ing. The foreign office recruits,
with few exceptions, are taken
from the upper classes. Whithall
looks to the English public schools
(Which are equivalent to Ameri-
can exclusive private schools for
it's training timber.
The boy from a workingman'S
family must be exceptional to
crash the "old schooltie" fence.
Even among the upper English
classes there are not the same
opportunities for adventure or the
chance to acquire the fortunes
made a generation ago.
Britain has become highly in
duStrialized and the pioneer days
of the empire are finished. There
is no new territory to conquer.
The dominionS have restrictions
on immigration.
An experiment in taking care
of young tramps in England has
ended in disbursement.
Vagrant Problem
The vagrancy committee, in
announcing the closing of their
home for young Migrants, issued
the following comment:
"The average youth who has
been any length of time on the
road either does not want a
job or has become incapable of
holding the most suitable and
attractive job"
OF $50 youths under 81 ad-
mitted to the home since it's
opening in 1888, so were dis
missed for misconduct, so took
it on the lam," 40 returned to
the road and few went home.
Sixty others enlisted in the army
or went into jobs.
Referring to this last batch
the committees report said:
Each of these lads made a
good start in his work and
promised well, yet it cannot be
said that more than 80 Of
them are still in the army or
in good employment"
Youth has tired of waiting for
the world to be shaped by their
elders. They have put aside
their ambitions. They are she'd
ding the rules. They are turning
to what pleasures they can take
quickly.
This feeling is evident even
among the girls. They have
stripped off their cotton stock
ings to replace with silk, even If
it means going without meal.
Youth Is Cynical
Youth is particularly cynical to
the last war which did not help
their opportunities, And they are
more cynical of modern diplomacy.
Considerable indignation was
expressed by the elder British
public over the ignoring by the
young of the two minutes silence
on Armistice Day.
Freda Nathan, one Of the
younger generation, declares:
"The two minutes silence
seems a great sham when 1 think
of the AbySSinianS slaughtered
and England talking of greater
expenditure on ornaments.
ut makes me feel the million
dead gave their lives in vain"
G. Richard Lewis, former chair
man of the Association of Assistant |
Schoolmasters, admits that "at
present great life is confined, as
always to the few
But, while agreeing that four.
fifths of British youth do not OBJ
tain any education beyond the
primary boundaries, SchoolmaSter
Lewis attacks the gospel of despair
among youth. He asks:
"Why despair? Why sing the
song Of those defeated and de-
featiSt young mOdernS? We