"FROTH OF LIFE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 56, 8 March 1937, Page 8

"FROTH OF LIFE"

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln the "Evening Post" on Friday your Sydney representative refers to an attack by the "Church Standard" upon the "soulless sycophants living for their own selfish pleasures." Under the caption "Froth of Life," reference is made to the existence in Sydney of disease-stricken slums "whilst society dowagers and theiu families are shipping off to the Coronation festivities." "The bright young ; things of the younger set are escorted by sleekhaired young men who ape some mythical Oxford manner and look their best on the dance floor."

The. foregoing criticism mentioned may seem somewhat severe, but on the other hand is there not a tendency in this Dominion to fritter away energy and time on the"froth of life" and disregard the essential factors that in the main contribute to national wellbeing ; and individual robust health? Unfortunately there is a growing inclination to recognise wealth as a permanent standard of worth. Perhaps this test of social importance prevails more in young communities in which unaffected refinement of taste and manners together with other virtues are more of a hindrance than otherwise. Juvenile cocktail parties and similar functions may to some seem smart and ultra-modern, but nevertheless it' is ■■' gaiety of such a nature that contributes largely 'to the deterioration of culture and simplicity in the individual. Parents are remiss, and therefore largely to blame for permitting juvenile cocktail parties that must have an injurious effect upon the young folk tempted ' in ignorance of consequences. ■ 4 ■ The essence of education Is education of the body. So wrote Disraeli, and few will question the underlying truth of the axiom. Shakespeare, however, contended it is the mind that makes the body rich. But when it is proved that without health there can be no proper development of physical or mental powers, and when it is clear that health is attainable only by exercise out of doors, it becomes obvious the education of the body is of primary importance. Is it not time to realise the dangers that accrue from other than well-ordered lives and what _ a large amount of valuable time is.frittered away upon what can be described as tests of social importance? There is a grave tendency to drift steadily away from old beliefs and standards, -and forget the ideals that gave' us in the past our outstanding physique. In those days there was compulsory military, training and plucked eyebrows, and lipsticks were unknown, except in the jungle. People were more natural and derived enjoyment from simple, healthy_pastime in their leiqure hours. The call today is for national service in all its phases in place of erivy engendered by "healthdevastating indulgence in "the froth of life." Where is the voice of the Church and the Press?—l am, etc., . j

T. A. FRASER.