THE REVERSE OF THE PICTURE

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 78, 3 April 1926, Page 15

THE REVERSE OF THE PICTURE

(To the Editor.) Sir, —So much is heard ■ nowadays about the decline and fall of manners in the ranks of "modern youth" that one feels it would not be amiss to draw attention to> what looks at. least like a very serious breach of etiquette among certain members of the older generation—members too, who have the advantage of a training in social usage, the lack of which they so frequently deplore in "modern youth." What lies behind the comment in the newspaper report of a recent "brilliant function" that there were seventy-five ladies over ? Perhaps the reader, faintly contemptuous of such frivolity, passes by this remark without much notice. But there are those among our younger set at least on whose minds a lasting impression was created by their treatment at the recent "brilliant function" in question. Now, this was a ball given in honour of certain recent visitors, and although- the • organisers were informed that only a limited number of the visitors could attend, they continued to pour out invitations to the fair ser which accepted, imposed the obligation of paying for their own tickets, and also in many cases of. .contributing towards the natural 7 burden of the • supper, as, well as spending practically a whole day cutting up and making those dainties that regaled the guests and their partners" after their strenuous"'. labours in the ballroom, Well* with a- cheerful mien, this.bevy of beauty,-complied with these conditions, and then, eager and expectant of an evening's pleasure, attended the ball that night, looking to the officials of their organisation to do their part in the matter of introducing the visitors and their hostesses. What happened? Those on whom they naturally depended were so engrossed in holding the bouquets and surrounding the chairs of certain, exalted guests of honour that they signally failed in their social duty towards those girls whose funds and labour were, to a great degree responsible for making the affair the "brilliant function" it was alleged to have been, with. the result that there were no partners for the majority of those, girls and no official sufficiently interested or grateful to see that they at least partook of the supper for which they had been largely responsible. When they realised they were no longer needed at the festive scene, and, like Cinderella, minus her prince, prepared to depart, it was rubbing salt into the wound to be informed that they were bearing their share in "building up the Empire."—l am, etc., FLAMING YOUTH.