THE YOUNGER GENERATION
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—It would be interesting to have, the opinion of your readers as to whether it is better for the future of the world that the ideals of past generations should mean nothing to those that are to come. When the use of bad language amongst young people was commented upon the other day, one of them replied that although they may swear a good deal. it all means nothing and that is why they do it—perhaps this also is why they say and do many other extraordinary things, but if most of the things they say and do mean nothing why are they said and done ?
Very few young people go to church now. They explain this by saying that it they were told anything definite there, they might go occasionally, but it means nothing to be told
they will be. happy when they are dead; they. mean to I,. happy now. There is a good deal of common sense in this and one feels that in spite of what they appear outwardk these young independents are really honest and will not I , put off with the humbug of the -Victorian days.
Another curious thing is their attitude towards the W.
In discussing it not long ago with several young people both sexes who were children twelve years ago, they explained that it is impossible for them to understand why the War should have changed everything, because although they t to believe what it meant to their elders, from their point view it means little or nothing. This was not intended 1, be heartless or ungrateful, it was simply stating what Islt, a fact to them.
All this is strange reasoning and we ask, Are these young
people aiming at something better than their predecessors, or is it the same ideal to be obtained in another way? It is almost impossible for one of the last generation to understand, much less explain, and we can only hope that under all this up-to-date camouflage the youth of England is as sound as it ever was, in spite of the doubts and fears which beset the puzzled onlookers.—! am, Sir, &e., F«irlawne, To abridge. M. L. H. CAZALET.
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