A FLAPPER'S APPEAL TO PARENTS

BY ELLEN VELLES PAGE

F one judges by appearances, I sup- point: Instead of helping us work out people are great tragedies. That is why pose I am a flapper. I am within our problems with constructive, sympait is up to you who have the supervision the age limit. I wear bobbed hair, thetic thinking and acting, you have of us of less ripe experience to guide us the badge 'of flapperhood. (And, oh, muddled them for us more hopelessly sympathetically, and to help us find, enwhat a comfort it is!) I powder my with destructive public condemnation courage, and develop our special abilinose. I wear fringed skirts and bright- and denunciation. ties and talents. Study us. Make us colored sweaters, and scarfs, and waists Think back to the time when you were realize that you respect us as fellow with Peter Pan collars, and low-heeled struggling through the teens. Rememhuman beings, that you have confidence "iinale hopper" shoes. I adore to dance. ber how spontaneous and deep were the in us, and, above all, that you expect us I spend a large amount of time in auto- joys, how serious and penetrating the to live up to the highest ideals, and to mobiles. I attend hops, and proms, and sorrows. Most of us, under the present the best that is in us. ball-games, and crew races, and other system of modern education, are further It must begin with individuals. Paraffairs at men's colleges. But none the advanced and more thoroughly developed less some of the most thoroughbred mentally, physically, and vocationally ents, study your children. Talk to them superflappers might blush to claim than were our parents at our age. We more intimately. Respect their right to sistership or even remote relationship hold the infinite possibilities of the a point of view. Be so understanding with such as I. I don't use rouge, or myriads of new inventions within our and sympathetic that they will turn to lipstick, or pluck my eyebrows, I don't grasp. We have learned to take for you naturally and trustfuliy with their smoke (I've tried it, and don't like it), granted conveniences, and many lux- glowing joys or with their heartaches or drink, or tell "peppy stories." I don't uries, which not so many years ago were and tragedies. Youth has many of the pet. And, most unpardonable infringe- as yet undreamed of. We are in touch latter because Youth takes itself so ment of all the rules and regulations of with the whole universe. We have a seriously. And so often the wounds go Flapperdom, I haven't a line! But then tremendous problem on our hands. You unconfessed, and, instead of gradually there are many degrees of flapper. must help us. Give us confidencenot healing, become more and more gnawing There is the semi-flapper; the flapper; the distrust. Q-ive us practical aid and ad- through suppression until of necessity superflapper. Each of these three main vicenot criticism. Praise us when relief is sought in some way which is general divisions has its degrees of varia- praise is rnerited. Be patient and un- not always for the best. Mothers, become acquainted with your tion. I might possibly be placed some- derstanding when we make mistakes. children. Be the understanding, loving, where in the middle of the first class. We are the Younger Generation. The I think every one realizes by this time war tore away our spiritual foundations happy comrade of your daughter. Bethat there has been a marked change in and challenged our faith. We are strug- come her ideal. And strive to live up our much-discussed tactics. Jazz has gling to regain our equilibrium. The to the ideal you set for the woman who been modifled, and probably will con- times have made us older and more ex- is to become your son's wife. Be hi.s tinue to be until It has become obsolete. perienced than you were at our age. 11 chum. Be young with him,. Oh, what a Petting is gradually growing out of must be so with each succeeding genera- powerful and wonderful influence you fashion through being overworked. Yas, tion if it is to keep pace with the rapidly are capable of exerting if you only will! Fathers, find out what is within the undoubtedly our hopeless condition is advancing and mighty tide of civilizaminds and hearts and souls of your improving. But it was not for discuss- tion. Help us to put our knowledge to ing these aspects of the case that I the best advantage. Work with us! children. There is a wonderful, an interesting, and a sacred treasure-house began this article. That is the way! Outlets for this sur- there if you will take the time and pains I want to beg all you parents, and plus knowledge and energy must be to explore. The key is yours in return grandparents, and friends, and teachers, opened. Give us a helping hand. for patient understanding, sympathetic and preachersyou who constitute the Youth has many disillusionments. "older generation"to overlook oui- Spiritual forces begin to be felt. The encouragement, and kindly wisdom. shortcomings, at least for the present, emotions are frequently in a state of Make love to your daughter if necessary! and to appreciate our virtues. I wonder upheaval, struggling with one another Make her realize the depth of your love if it ever occun-ed to any of you that it for supremacy. And Youth does not and make her feel that you have confidence in her ability to live up to your required irains to become and remain a understand. There is no one to turn to standards of upright womanhood. Be successful flapper? Indeed it does! It no one but the rest of Youth, which your son's best pal. Make his interests requires an enormous amount of cleverness and energy to keep going at the is as perplexed and troubled with its your interests. Encourage him to formuproper pace. It requires self-knowledge problems as ourselves. Everywhere we late a workable philosophy of life. And and self-analysis. We must know our read and hear the criticism and distrust remember this: A little merited praise capabilities and limitations. We must of older people toward us. It forms an means so much! A little encouragebe constantly on the alert. Attainment insurmountable barrier between us. ment goes such a long way! Oh, parents, parents everywhere, point of flapperhood is a big and serious un- How can we turn to them? In every person there is a desire, an out to us the ideals of truly glorious and dertaking! innate longing, toward some special goal "Brains?" you repeat, skeptically. of achievement. Each of us has his upright living! Believe in us, that we "Then why aren't they used to better place to fill. Each of us has his talent may learn to believe in .ourselves, in humanity, in God! Be the living examadvantage?" That is exactly it! And be it ever so humble. And our hidden ples of your teachings, that you may do you know who is largely responsible longing is usually for that for which na- inspire us with hope and courage, for all this energy's being spent in the wrong directions? You! You parents, ture equipped us. Any one will do best understanding and truth, love and faith. and grandparents, and friends, and and be happiest doing that which he Remember that we are the parents of teachers, and preachersall of you! really likes and for which he is fitted. the future. Help us to be worthy of "The war!" you cry. "It is the effect In this "age of specialists," as it has the sacred trust that will be ours. Make of the war!" And then you blame pro- been called, there is less excuse than your lives such an inspiration to us that hibition. Yes! Yet it is you who set ever for persons being shoved into we in our turn will strive to become an the example there! But this is my niches in which they do not belong and inspiration to our children and to the cannot be made to fit. The lives of such ages! Is it too much to ask?
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