Conventionalism.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 July 1910, Page 4

Conventionalism.

AS VIEWED FROM OHAKUNE

011 the subject of "Conventionalism," a writer in the Ohakune Tfjmes observes that Modlaiin life, with all its scientific labour saving apparatus, appears to be more strenuous and there is less time to spare than was the ca.se with our forebear?. They had hauxl work 011 the farm in every department, our mothers kept their own dairies, and what sweet, eolol, spotless places those same dairies were in many places throughout the country, they kept their well stocked pantries of preserves of their own making in which they took ruch pride, but withal they still spared time to devote themselves to some extent to the good of their neighbour and the good of the communitv.

Why then this change. There must ho a reason, whether sufficient or inadequate-. Because wa are becoming slaves to convention and fashion. Our forefathers lacked the advantage of the "Society Notes." the "Ladies' Col umn," and the "Women's Corner" in the daily papers, and as Mrs Brown and all the world consequently was not informed what M'ns Btohinson wore at the last "function" ml did not care, she let the fashion take care of itself, "Decidedly crude and old-fashion-ed these ideas were," the readers of the "Ladies' Page" will say, hut there was more hearty enjoyment and less heart burnings in the early days when all were, as one family, than at the most ultra-fashlionablo routs and gatherings in the present blase period. In the cities society (save the mark) must ape the style of Government House, the bank clerk must attend the Governor's levee even if he lias to borrow a. dress suit to go in, the superior Government officer eyes with a haughty stare his subordinate who receives a few pounds lless in his yearly salary, ami the ultimate result is tlie worship of the n-olden calf, the exaltation of the parvenu who can ostentatiously exhibit his wealth.

possession of .the dollars if yon have them not -is the creed uwlay, mnd though ,thto longsuffering tradesman may still have '^ or 'V ,<; J""' ie rnco « must still l>e attended and the drnsses on the lawn be worth recording in the Socoty Columns," nnd other social functions must lie taken oart in whether the costumes, the dowers, and otli'-r accessories are immediately nnid for or not. Verilv 'tic a nvnd world, my masters. WiW, a contrast to the -onntrv house ball, to the d'a.nce at the closf? of the shearing, or tho 'other en.iovabl« [rathorings of a like nature in the <yirlier times U which young fellows would v - d,g t'wen.tv or thirty miles to take nart .Y° t,lov < h ™ •+* crrt to e a*emblies of the present ' nv? T nrit) mul j , or one, don t blame them.