Regimented Fervors of Up-Lift Weeks in America

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17607, 24 October 1931, Page 13

Regimented Fervors of Up-Lift Weeks in America

;W ITH their passion for organising | it is not surprising ruat the earnest Americans have mapped their yc,af,into ‘"S2J weeK|; each week'-being devoted’ to/’sonijs 'special brand"qf up-lift, each ’week'involving societies and meetings and pamphlets; and speeches ail'd secretaries and correspondence' and' broadcasting: By this is not meant that every town has filled every week in the year, but that 1 tip-lift weeks go on continuously, all , over the 48 States. The larger ■ cities have them in the grand manner. California has just passed through its annual Eat More Oranges week; that was quite pleasant, for, of course, one did not have to. But a Courtesy Week still lives in annoyed memory. Every man over 14 appeared to have as his slogan: “Be Kind to Old Ladies.” There seemed no doubt in 1 any mind that I was a fitting object i for their kindness, states a writer in j the London Times. In a not too i ltattering way they showered mo with j offers ; of scats in trollys; one horror of j a boy offered to carry a parcel for me; I strong, silent American business men lc{„mp buy stamps out of my turn a,t II ho post office. Lately we had a Better English I Woeki 1 Here was a problem. What should I, a resident alien, do in the matter? Should I have reproved the saleswoman who said, “Oh, gee, ye mean slumber-wear,” when I asked for a nightgown; and ought I t.o hav.e been firm with the other girl who replied when I asked for drawing pins, iSay, v dearie, AJi ,jist don’t kuaw a tiling roout what yer talkin’ about’’? I took the line bL least resistance, explained that drawing-pins are just thumb-tacks and v . mumbled as usual, “Wang spool a thread.” More, I did iK)t"chid<j the young man who, I when I asked him if he sold a certain (brand of tea, replied, “We hardly fte’fc sßll Lbjhib’*, but.{.J , i Then there was Clean Speech v\ ock. In trams and other public places J saw rather eerie looks on the faces of ( irritated facers >vjiep <n they, were accompanied by young,,. It must have been a happy week for some of these young, 'vyfip,.T ( >un<.l.tljat the boot 'was very comfortably o«- v the. other I fo.ot. 1 hearu tales of ( . eager young ! upJifters whp Tried touring talkative : ice men a|u) newspaper boys to a sensb | of -their rivbrjil guilt/ ~. ./ 1 Humane Ayeek had startling results, fit came out that not one in Jive of the school children in Los Angeles had ever seen a. cow or a call. Af lohst they said they had not, but as word, perhaps .rather too ~trusting. I Why, it mi gilt/have meant y day in ! the country, motor gars and band cony j plotq: you never knsw, an 'easier way was found than | was flip cow and the calf ylio go p motor gar, and the diligent. authontios never ,Stopped until the visited, every seho.ol in Lqs.Angc s ’ and showed the little beholders w lor i the morning milk came troin.. Then there is Mother’s Day, adored l of every Babbitt; and Arbor Day,

ingtou’s Birthday. Once, having forgotten whether the hotel breakfast him 'been “Sunday, time,’/' for Lincoln) I gsked. the waitress whether lireakfasl next moiniiig (Washington s j)ay) would be gt'O o’clock. J3[he was riew'to tluj' hotel“ Well, Ah’m nut Bit)it wnj fur the other gentleman. . , After weoks and days l come campaigns.. pleijin Your House Campaign, anlfiandiall the W>bish. to .t)fe GopdWillSociety.'j ; 3?ftintYour Bouse,; Vpd riiake a pretty town. iNaturgUg, there is always an antffly campaign .on, arid an ariti-niQth one,.and anantr-rat on.e, and g,n .apti-sriioking' one, .(fin every ejty and tjpwn tKpvp is/h busy saijetyflrst gaippnign (though jjrqu.; might not think ’it); and, as I wander, through thp little towns and ~ villages ~of dalifomia I,hear of, all sort.?,, of odd campaigns;,. anfi : gossip, aiiti-nopo, ntttgchilfl-labor. ; Latply_ I panic across, pin, .hpuesty .campaign- I,.,dpi npt jijauiro .too closely iritp .i.ts meaning. ■ ’.'Thft village evidently Knew i.ts oyrn hitt.crnpss,..,.Nat,urglly, in,, this iV;jglH(»ue*,l-pf:germs kpd, there aro anti,-spitting, and it antiiSpeepng caip-paigns—-W,e tlieui tbo,..pt ho,mo, but soiripkow we, djyijlot hgye.so “ get-together ’ ’ alknit them. ,