STRAY NOTES.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 628, 29 April 1921, Page 4

STRAY NOTES.

(By Don Quixote.) Time brings its changes and looking back through the years one wonders if these changes are all for the betterment of the human race. Take home life of to-day and home life of say thirty years ago. Then picture theatres were unknown and an evening out was such a rare occurrence, it was worthy to be marked with a red stone, consequently each home was the centre of its family life. Instead of the übiquitous grama phone some member of the family played the piano, anoher perhaps sang or possibly read aloud well, so each home was the centre of some refinement, greater or less as the mental calibi'e of its inhabitants. Take Charles Dickens’ delightful account of English home life at Manor farm. Could anything be more charming than his description of Mr Pickwick’s first evening in Mr Wardle’s house? There you get, perhaps somewhat accentuated, the atmosphere of the average home of thirty to fifty years ago. But, as I said, time brings its changes To-day if you drop in casually, you will probably be taken out immediately after tea to the pictures, if there is a show in the vicinity. Any idea of entertaining you in the home is quite out of the question—the wife used to play, but she has given it up since she was married. And conversation is no longer an art, but an inelegance. The modern woman has much to be proud of and is much to bo admired on many counts. She is a "sport,” up to any fun, most of it harmless enough. She demands an immense freedom and gets it. She is healthy and strong and remarkably self-confident, quite capable of earning her own living and very often does. But, she is not as a rule a good “home” maker, she is a little too keen orf the pleasure of the moment. and I don’t think that “home” is thecentre of her life. If only one could mix her up a little with her grandmother, what a wonderful woman she would be. To be able to graft on to her vivid personality some of the sterling virues of the olden times—'“her price would indeed be above rubies.”

The brain strain of the census paper is over and done and we can rest from our mental gymnastics. The Government statistician will shortly be aware of the interesting facts that our wives are females and ,cur babies cannot read or write and what particular breed of bee we fancy. What a blessing it is we know that every cloud has a silver lining. With wool less than nothing a pound and meat almost given away except in the butchers’ shops, it helps to know these clouds will one day show their other and brighter side. Meanwhile a little economy won’t hurt any of us, and it’s up to us all to “buck up” and play the game. “A stiff upper lip and a tightened grip and vou leave your troubles behind you.” So for the present jack up your cars and keep an eagle eye on your store bills, at nay rate as far as luxuries are concerned, and don’t foi'get during the time of high prices you have come to think many luxuries are necessities, which they are not.