SOCIAL CONVENTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 29, 3 August 1939, Page 19

SOCIAL CONVENTION

WISE MODERN COURAGE

When bMelbourne's university women held their annual ball recently they did not expect their escorts to buy tickets. They provided tickets for the men. I think that both the time and place were fitting for a lead to be given in this direction, and the women are to be commended for their bold step towards shattering a convention that is becoming an embarrassment to young men and to their parents, states a writer in the "Sydney Morning Herald." In fear of losing the lady-of-his-choice-of-the-moment many a young man is forced to spend more money than he can afford in taking her to the particular charity ball in which she has an interest. She, of course, cannot go unattended. So Peter must be called upon. Peter, of course, cannot expect her to pay for herself. Betty feels a bit uncomfortable ahout asking him to pay up, but then it is only those frightfully emancipated women who dare .to offer to pay for tickets themselves, and Peter would doubtless be hurt. Peter's mother usually has to come to the rescue in the end, arid so nobody is very happy over the business at all. University women are considered to ! have more brains than most of us; so |we might, perhaps, hope for a lead J from them in other social matters that jneed a little adjusting. | THE YOUNG IDEA. I heard this question of who pays for what discussed among some mothers recently. Their children had emerged from the chrysalis stage and were trying their wings. They were being rather scathing about one of their absent "friends" who had an only child —a daughter. She had two expensive tickets for a \ charity dance. The daughter was keen to go. She had no particular friend of the other sex who would be taken for granted as her obvious escort. Her mother rang another mother, a friend of hers, and possessor of a son. "Would G care to take R to the ball?" G —- and R went, enjoyed themselves thoroughly, and now the tongues were wagging. "Simply throwing her at him, my dear." I know that this mother hasn't the faintest thought of throwing her daughter at anyone. The other mother thoroughly appreciated the position. The two young people knew that the whole affair was arranged by the parents. And this time everyone was happy. Mothers with daughters only are in an awkward position as regards returning hospitality, and are probably more embarrassed by this going-about problem than the mothers of sons. " j

A little sliding shelf in an old-time pantry that may be drawn out to serve as a rest for a crockery tray, which has to be unloaded in a confined space, is a happy expedient.