CORRESPONDENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 June 1928, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE

MODERN DANCES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l think there are few people who do not agree with Air Archer when he says that dancers should be sociable. Those with views like “Georgette s’ are fortunately in the minority. The West Coast is noted for its homely and sociable people, therefore Air Atelier’s remarks do not apply to us. He certainly does not know much about dancing, as he admits, but he is a familiar figure at many of the Christchurch dances, wTtich are always all the brighter for his cheerful presence. I have seen him marching stolidly round in a one-step with every appearance of enjoyment, and I have no doubt his kindly old heart ached for the forlorn litle wall-flowers, who for lack of sociability on the men’s part, were barred from the pleasure of dancing. The only thing to do at a city dance is to take one’s own partner. It isn’t very thrilling dancing with the same fellow all night either. No doubt the men would enjoy dancing with the strange girls, too, but in the town that is a thing that just “isn’t done.’’ No really nice boy would think of asking a strange girl to dance with him for fear of meeting with a “knock-back.” I suppose this is the state of affairs tliat caused the report that has provoked so muefli criticism. “Georgette’s” remarks concerning the men who frequent the West Coast dajice halls are merely ridiculous, as also is her suggestion regarding the effeminate white gloves. I have never had a frock ruined or even soiled at a dance yet —and as for 1 the men, well, give me the (West Coast boys every time, and a good old West Coast dance —preferably in the country. —Yours, etc., „ BE SOCIABLE. Kotuku, June 22.

(To the Editor) Sir, —To an old timer, when there is so much discussion on modern prices of pictures, shows, smoking and drinking among the ladies, jazz and fox trot, instead of the old Highland dance and barn dances, the old fashioned waltz is still supreme as a favourite. Why this is still a favourite is hard to tell, unless it is such a cuddly sweet dance. Even the modern girl and' boy still like the dreamy waltz ort that account. The question is, are these modern ideas going to improve the home life of our families as years go by. As an old timer, lam glad 1 haven’t to depend on choosing a wife among the smoking and drinking flappers of the present time. There are still some very sensible clean-living girls termed “old .fashioned,” ano what sort of a time do they get at the dances, when the modern flapper and sonny is around? Not much. If sonny only knew, she is the one to choose when he wants a wife.

It is n<ft the flappers themselves I am sorry for, it is the wee children that are sure to come in later years. This is where they find they ajre still oldfashioned, like mother. When the family comes along, are they as capable as mother to settle down and rear them? When I think of my mother’s life of sacrifice to rear us all, I would not change her for one of to-day, unless she was really sensible and homely. It is home life that . rules the world and keeps the children healthy and happy, and it is good clean pure womanhood that is going to bring about such a state. Are the girls of to-day thinking of these things? Can any girl whose nerves are ruined with smoking and drinking be fit to be a mother and rear a family? Any mother 'who allows her daughters to do any of these foolish things is shirking her duty as a mother. It is better to be firm, with the young girl than sorry. Wc< have only to scan the newspapers to see accounts of such folly. The picture show is a place sometimes where the young people do not get a clean idea of life. I would like to seo a lot of the kissing, hugging and such like censored more severely. We want better ideas put before the young who have not reached the age to think sanely for themselves. Do ‘these sort of pictures help? As regards prices, at the present time it is just modern, but sonny soon finds out with chocolates and admission into the pictures, his salary is just modern. This is where the funny part comes in. The middle-man is allowed to charge the same old price, higher if he likes, when the wages have come down. All the sawmill hands, particularly, have been reduced to union wages, or near so. Has living dropped in prices? No. What is wrong? People cannot allow their families hardly the pleasures of a picture show and pay their way on the wage- and cost of living at the present time. It is time the ones responsible for the price of our foodstuffs looked into the matter, and not what the farmer makes. By the time he produces it in these modern times, he has not a (great lot left to himself. He is not to blame, as some people think. Yours etc.,

OLD TIMER.