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in JJefence Oernamaica(By KEITH MARCH.)€€“Vanity of Vanities,** saith Mr. John Doe, “all is vanity”—and, of a truth, how in vain he is.I admired his manner of exposition, the grandeur of his delusion —with what an epic sweep he strides. Thus a biassed Ciceromight have denounced an un-moral Anthony, or an aged and virtuous Cato censured the morals of the most corrupt Roman era.Truly, his imagination is terrific!THIS PLEASURE-MAD ISLAND99IrSViews of ReadersAs we anticipated, thearticles by John Doe andRichard Roe in last week’s5:Tis all but too obvious, that Mr, John Doe has now reached that certain season, when by reason of constriction of the arteries, stiffness of the joints, flabbiness of the flesh curvature of the spine, lack of hair, gout, dyspepsia, and general feebleness and ineffectualness, it has become impossible for him to participate in any of the “ruinous” pleasures he now denounces even like a myopic John Knox bearing aloft a flaming but non-edged sword, or like a resurrected Cervantes without the inspiration of a Don Quixo-!ImXMagazine Section, debating the question whether or not the people of this island spend too much time and money in the pursuit of pleasures, aroused keen interest among our readers. Unfortunately we have not space this week for the many interesting letters and articles which readers sent us ex-Apressing their views on the subject, but we print a representative selection, vigorous article, “In Defence of Modem Jamaica” by Mr. Keith March appears on this page, and one or two others will be found on page 26. We very much doubt whether John Doe, on reading Mr. Keith March’s spirited attack on his pessimistic views, will ever again have the hardihood to raise his muchdiminished head!so blind as to dub us ALL listlessand haggard pleasure-seeking dissipated dissolutes - I willingly admit that there ARE a few such —but to generalize so rashly, in such a wholesale manner (as hedid) is the height of indiscretion.Leisured Class% HllimtlMMIIIItllflMMIIIMtlllMIMIIIIIIIIItlltltlllllllMllllltttMIKIItllllllllltlfllllHMMIHMIHHUIHHMititllltltiMlfiHiMKini/Has he never read from the columns of the “Gleaner”, of thete.Thus, youth long spent, he is not content (as all worthy ‘ancients’ are) to sit quietly before the proverbial fireside warming his chilled blood, and entertaining his childrens’ children with mythical tales of his ancient prowess, boasting of his various virtues and varying vices, as all old men should. No!—with bile in his liver and spite in his heart at the trick the unavoidable years have played him, he must vent his venom, his frustration, on beautiful, dashing, glorious, ‘foolish’, Youth.When I use the word “Youth,” I speak also of those, who, although the solemn-faced years have already joined them on this journey, still carry along with them, “the spirit of Youth.”Wise omniscient Shakespeare said, “Let me play the fool: “Withmirth and laughter let old wrinkles come, and let-my liver Rather eat with wine, than my heart cool with mortifying groans. Why should a rrjan, whose blood is warm within, sit like his grandshire Cut in alabaster? Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice by beingpeevish? ”, and when that timecomes (as it must) take it philosophically—proudly—for it has its glories too;—memories, calmness of mind, experience, knowledge, position, honour, dignity. Is winter any less beautiful than spring or summer? -—only sterner. Don’t become envious, and thereby spiteful.Richard Roe has already satisfactorily refuted the ridiculous allegations of John Doe. I will go further and try to glorify the modernJamaican.Lovers Of SportI ask:—Does John Doe read his Daily Gleaner? daily? or ever? He writes as though all Jamaica has nothing to do but dance and drink and dissipate. He must mix with a very bad crowd! I would advise him to ’drop’ them, for—“a man is known by the company he:eeps.ftWorld and his Wife bathing at the beaches of Doctor’s Cave, Dunn’s River, Duncan's Bourn-mouth, Springfield? Has he never seen the crowds (young and old) at Barned’s and Kildare’s and on the sands along the Rockfort Road, clad in the scantiest costumes sothat they might derive the utmost benefit from the rays of the sun and the salt of the sea? Doesn’t he even glance at the Sports’ page? See pictures thereon of the same ladies he deems dissipated, not caring one damn that they are ruining their complexions in the scorching sun while they play hardy games of golf and tennis, for all they’re worth? Let him visit the many Sportfc Clubs and see the activities there:—Ladies and men in ‘shorts’ at tennis; cricketers practising at the nets; footballers getting in form for thenext season. Does he know of the ‘craze’ the modern young man has for weight lifting and physical culture, carried almost to an extreme? Has he been in any of the many newly-erected gymnasiums? Has he been to any of the boxing camps and watched his dissipated young men, boxing (for their health’s sake) with muscled professionals? Has he noticed the increase of sporting columns in the Gleaner? Is such a state of things compatible with artificiality, drunkeness, and dissipation? Does he know that a lad at one of our High Schools holds the world’s record for schoolboys swimming the 50 metres (the distance may be incorrect)? Has he forgotten how we overwhelmed the English cricket team? does he recall the fact that we sent an Athletic Team to compete in the Olympic Games last year? and that a Jamaican girl for her graceful diving and a Jamaican youth for his proficiency at discus throwing, gained points in that contest of contests, and that the failure of the rest of the team was due only to inexperience? Has he been to any of the boxing stadiums and seen them filled to bursting? Has he ever been to a cricket or a football ‘match’, and felt the keen interest running through and thrilling all present? Has he never heard the countless critics at these matches, declaiming, commenting, and advising, as though, for all the world they were each one a veri-the ever increasing numbers who join the Boy Scouts, the Sea Scouts, the Rovers, the Y. M. C. A., the Girl Guide, movements? What of the imputation of swimming coaches, tennis coaches, golf coaches, cricket coaches, football coaches? —Does not all this denote the desire for clean healthy bodies, and clear quick thinking brains?And what of the ladies of the rich and so-called leisured class? You will find them working among the poor, aiding at welfare societies, Institutions for the blind and the diseased and the destitute—organizing fairs and bazaars on their behalf—selling, op the streets, gewgaws, poppies, ribbons, flags, to raise money on their behalf—visiting them personally-beautifying their drab unhappy lives with little kindnesses—. Surely, these ladies earn an occasional dance, or a couple of cocktails! and surely, one who had indulged in dissipation to such an extent as Mr. Doe says, would have neither the time, strength nor inclination for such tasks.Versatile GirlsHas he been into any business offices, and seen these “artificial” girls (these “pleasure seekers,” as he says) at work? Ingenuous of mind (one must be, in these competitive days) giving satisfaction totheir ‘bosses’ (or they’d be dismissed); rivalling and outrivalling men—versatile girls who must be alluring at night, athletic in the afternoon, and business-like in the daytime. What of the women who ‘run* their owri business? beauty parlours, dressmaking establishments, restaurants, salesmanship etc? and with similar competence they turn their minds to literature and culture. Has he never heard the modern girl discussing books and plays arid places and art, with as much ease and freedom, as their grandmothers gossiped? But being level-headed, they do not carry this to a boring extreme; they mix it with light and spontaneous gaiety. Would he have them always ‘serious’, long-faced, and ‘heavy’? home to office to home to book to bed and vice versa?— would he con-vert them all into monomaniacs ilike himself?So high is the standard that modern life demands, that a man must be—philosopher, athlete, business man, playboy, lover and stage comedian—all in one frail body.One chord, in his denunciatory score, rings nearly true. There IS a tendency to living above one’s means, very prevalent today. But this chord is marred by the player’s heavy touch. Play—but play, “pianissimo”, and we will listen. Such a habit (too high spending) can only lead to bankruptcy or the jail. We must correct this; it is caused mainly, I think, by envy and by the apeing of those who are “better off” than ourselves. We must learn to be content with what we each of us have actually—must learn to find the diamond in the hard rock—the gold in the washings of the muddy river—But, alas!I moralize...• ••••These “frivolous” people become serious and intent whenever the occasion demands. Has Doe read of the meetings of the rather numerous debating societies, with whose rantings (alas!) we are sometimes depressed? of this and that literary society? of the Toe H? of the Jamaica Poetry League? and the arts clubs? of the vast membership of the Institute and the Athenaeum? Has he never heard of the successes of artists like Mrs. N. W. Manley (sculptress) Koran (painter) Bernard Webster (decorator) Gick (photographer) DeLisser (commentator and mostother things) and of numerous minor poets, poetesses, and the like? —all of them young, or possessing the vital spirit at youth, that irresistible urge.If he had knowledge of all thesetable champion? How account for things, he could never have beenBut, oh Johti Doe! live and letlive! Youth has alway* beenruled by instinct rather than by reason, by the heart rather thanthe head, by impulse rather than by consideration—Youth has leaped and looked afterwards, and has ‘cleared’ the gap, made the jump —Youth has dared the impossible, and done the improbable—Youth has played with fire, and learned in time to command it—Youth has indulged in folly and learned wisdom thereby—Youth has “dared to rush where angels fear to thread” and maybe they have pricked their * hands and torn their feet a bit, but what cares Youth for such a small shedding of blood, and with few exceptions, they have always emerged from this brilliant, this glorious but transient chrysalis, materially unharmed, rich in experience, broad of mind, tolerant, understanding, wise, and more than all that,—HAPPY. The indiscretions of youth become the wisdom of old age. Youth has always been thusl Thus Youth will always be!!—and, anyhow, of what comfort is an old age without the memories of a gloriously “foolish” youth?erecharm-. Sherwood Forresters turns out tof and Mrs. Blumberg, Mrs. F. C.fW A i Vlf R ft mm A M ^ /f T rkUvi 1#..iece, Capt. and Mrs. Tupper, r. and Mrs. Harold Alexander d Joyce, Miss Thelma Lindo, 10 is shortly going to England on triD: Miss Hope Sturdy and MissincorrectMRS. PANSY ALEXANDER’S marriage to Lt. Commander Clive Arbuthnot took place in London MrMrs. Durie and Mr. A. O. Scog-gin.BOURNEMOUTH.MRS. OLIVE WELLS-DUR• % MFEVER of the Tourist Sea-ver and for awhile we roustcontent ourselves.whole.
Newspaper Details
Kingston Daily Gleaner
Kingston, Kingston, JM
Sat, Apr 20, 1935
Page 25
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
JM 02 Oct 2022
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