Evening star., 1936-03-25
Temperance
Pays Best
Dividends
Momentary Pleasure
of Self-Indulgence
! Priced High.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

W1HAT'S the use of living II !
/" can't have good time? can't
sit back with my finger in my mouth
II I am going to have any fun with
the crowd. And if you can't 60 with
them you might as well be dead" So
speaks Marie, the prettiest and one
OF the brightest girls in town, in reply
to a gentle hint that late hours, strong
drinks, modern dances are not healthy
for either the mind or body Of young
girls. Between going the limit and
becoming a recluse Marie sees no
choice.
Yet there is a choice. If humanity
had not discovered the safe and sane.
and on the whole delightful, middle
of-the road, it could not have endured
through the centuries to this present
bewildering day. Life has not changed
much fundamentally in spite Of the
noise and excitement about its
changes. Manners and customs shift
about. but the underlying laws stay
as in the beginning. Sex, intoxicating
drinks, blind daring, defying unshak-
able laws are as old as the race OF
man. This generation of boys and
girls has just discovered what count
less generations knew, but wisely kept
on the leash Of self-control and con-
vention. This mistaken rush to do
and dare will subside, but those who
were overcome by it will suffer in
their memories, in all their tenderest
feelings for all time to come.
The girl who uses strong drink must
learn sooner or later that she pays
for it by a lessened power over her
mind and body She, in the old words,
is not herself. Her lower self is in
control, going headlong into trouble.
In the ignorance Of youth some girls
and boys think this heady feeling Is
the good time they are seeking. Later
on they know it for what it is, the
danger signal. the call of ignorance.
crude uncontrolled ignorance, that
ought to be feared.
Everything we do toward making
ourselves happy is matter Of choice,
and we pay for that choice. Self
denial is painful, but the price is paid
at once and soon forgotten in the
peace that follows. Self-indulgence
is pleasant and easy, at the time, but
the price is high and hard and slow
in its effect, lingering and exacting'
It's bitter completeness takes years Of
Joy from its victims out of all propor-
ton to the pleasure Of the soon-for-
gotten moment.
These conditions press hardest on
girls. 1t is very well to talk about
the single standard, but it is not in
force. The girl who drinks and
smokes and pets to excess pays for
1t all her days. While the boy soon
shrugs off any harsh criticism and
outlives his wild oat days, it is rarely
possible for a girl to do so, Once the
word goes about that she is no better
than she should be, nothing much
can be done to help her deny the
scandal. Caesars wife still must be
royalty aloof.
What is the girl to do when her
set choose to ignore old ways and old
conventions? Change the set, say she
will not lend herself to its ways. Say
1t cheerfully, pleasantly, and stick to
it. She will not die lone death in
the desert in consequence. There are
still the majority of fine healthy young
people who balance today's indulgence
against the futures happiness and
success. Temperance is still better
than excess. Life is still good and
Nature still condemns error!
(Copyrisht. 1o36)