THIS RESTLESS AGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22468, 11 July 1936, Page 6 (Supplement)

THIS RESTLESS AGE

CHASING A WILL 0' THE WISP A PLEA TO YOUTH BY E.M.G. Yesterday I walked through the city streets and there I saw many well remembered faces, tho faces of people whose names I have never known; and among them all marched Youth, with arrogant head held high and searching, restless eyes. So arrogant these young things seemed that I. found myself almost involuntarily giving them right of way, and now I am wondering if whether, since the Great War, we have given them right of way too much, and left that way too clear for them. Have we not listened too much to that repeated urge to "keep up with the modern trend of thought? If, by tho modern trend is meant the youthful trend, what thoughts have they, I wonder, that are more worth while than those of maturity? Why should we be urged to keep up with them, why should they not sometimes stay their steps for a little to keep time with our slower ones? Are we not too humbly grateful when Youth deigns to take notice of us? I find myself subtly flattered at times by the notice of someone young, yet am all the while being faintly impatient at my own humility. But, I hear them cry, you of your age are so sentimental —so emotional! Granted, my dears, but that same sentimcntalism and emotionalism, backed

rby a sense of duty made us give our youth—to in some cases —two great wars, and those who stayed at home found it even harder than those who went away. When it was all over we ISf wero tired, and gladly stood fm aside for Youth to carry on, §j|p/ but sometimes I think that If perhaps they have run on too W far and too fast. Again I hear if hear vou cry —"But, you don t f understand! When we wait with f questioning eyes, then you are ; dumb and angry at your own \ failure to answer a question to \ which there seems no answer! Ah! \ we understand more than you give us credit for, but what we do not > understand is—what is this thing, .] this Will-o'-the-Wisp you so madly I chase ? • Who would grudge Youth its i right to live gloriously if, in that I living, it would remember to cheer ? and help the older ones on their way? It would bo a sad and lonely world without youth to brighten the road, but an understanding smile of sympathy for the slower travellers who pass along would be returned in kind, if 1 could stand on tho hill-top, I would cry aloud and remind voung people of their wondrous gift; I would urge them to prize it while it is theirs, ihe years slip away too soon and age has not much left but its memories, but it is youth that can make those memories happy ones.