BITS ‘N’ PIECES

Various Magazines – 1949-1956

This New Year brings in the 'fifties - the second half of the too noisy, too speedy, troublesome twentieth century. What will they be known as, these 'fifties? The "lucky 'fifties" would be nice to live in.

The first five decades have had more than their share of troubles. The first opened with the Boer War dragging to its close. The 'teens brought the first horrible knowledge of what modern war could be, the 'twenties a hectic, neurotic new freedom and an extravagant boom. These closed with the great "bust" that spread desolation through the early 'thirties.

The 'forties roared in with the crash of bombs, as the greatest war of all - so far - got properly under its destructive way. So the world could do with better luck in the 'fifties.

They may be remembered as lucky if, by the wise statesmanship, the gnawing fear of World War III can be removed. If not, the coming decade is more likely to be recalled as the fatal, or final, 'fifties.

But personal hopes come first. World events are always dwarfed by individual crises or joys. At New Year, each human midget fosters a belief that this year will surely bring success, romance, better health, a more peaceful mind - whatever he needs most.

It is as well that faith in the future is inexhaustible. The twentieth century has mad great demands on it, but enough remains. May this faith be justified by bringing a happy New Year for 1950.

Australian Woman's Weekly, 1949

It's extraordinary to think of a city the size of New York becoming so desperately short of water that its population had to be asked to observe a bathless and shaveless day.

Sydney people will remember the 1942 water shortage, with the four-inch baths, and restrictions on hours of use, though we never reached the spectacular stage of asking our men not to shave. The trouble is that water consumption in cities has increased to a degree never thought of by earlier planners.

Shaving used to be a matter of a mug of hot water and a rinse. Now, with hot water systems, and both taps running merrily, it becomes an item that can use a gallon - a piece of extravagance always liable to shock those brought up on rainwater tanks in the country.

Australian Women's Weekly, 1949

Grounds for Divorce in Australia in 1951

	Desertion for three years.
	Adultery.
	Three years of habitual drunkenness, of failure to support, or of cruelty.
	Imprisonment for three years under commuted capital sentence or sentence of seven years.
	Frequent convictions for crime within five years of sentences in aggregate to three years and failure to support.
	Attempting to murder spouse or assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.
	Repeated assaults and beatings not more than a year before filing suit.
	Restitution of conjugal rights.
	Incurable insanity.
	Willful failure to pay maintenance for three years while separated under court order.
	Either spouse to sue for divorce after judicial separation for three years.
	Wife pregnant to another man at time of marriage, or another woman pregnant to husband at time of marriage.

[Note: Australia no longer uses capital punishment, and all divorces

are granted on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.]

Jimmy Brown's parents were particular about his appearance. They saw no reason why, just because the other children wore blue jeans and lumber jackets, their son should not have neat suits, a necktie, and polished shoes.

Jimmy was a normal boy. He wanted to be one of the gang. He liked to play football and do all the other things that boys of nine or ten enjoy. But they would have none of him. Both boys and girls called him a sissy, "Little Lord Fauntleroy", and other such names.

Fortunately Jimmy's teacher was a very tactful person. In a few weeks she was able to help the Browns see how important it was for Jimmy to be like the other youngsters.

His happiness was almost unbounded when he was allowed to get not only blue jeans and a wool shirt, but a studded cowboy belt.

There may be all sorts of "good" reasons why grown-ups want children to look and act in certain ways. But, usually, these reasons of theirs are not nearly as important as is the need for a child to be one of the gang.

If what parents expect from him sets him too apart from other children, they would be wise to think a second time before insisting on their way.

Australian Woman's Weekly, 1951

At no time this century, apart from the years of the last two full-scale wars, has the world seemed so troubled. After twelve months of campaigning in Korea, the anniversary of the outbreak of hostilities finds the opposing armies in positions similar to the ones held at the outset.

Only a demonstration of force by the United Nations against aggression has been achieved by the tragic casualties there. Negotiations recently suggested could have taken place a year ago without a shot being fired. As well, there is fighting or danger of fighting in almost every quarter of the globe.

The Persian Government's decision to arbitrarily nationalize the oil industry of that country has provided a first-class tinderbox in the Middle East. In Indo-China and Malaya terrorist action continues. The Italian-Yugoslav dispute over Trieste is still unsettled.

Six years after the Germans in Europe and the Japanese in the East surrendered to Allied Forces peace treaties have not been signed.

The dragging-on of all these hostilities and disputes proves, if proof were needed, the futility of resorting to arms. Scientific engineering, and medical brains of all countries have within the century given the world the means to build the greatest civilization of all time. But the will to use those means for better understanding and neighborliness is thwarted on all sides.

To the bewildered eyes of ordinary folk they are being used mainly to forge arms for another global war. And ordinary folk who wish to survive must take up those arms in self-defense.

Australian Woman's Weekly, 1951

The Most Common Criticisms of Boys as Expressed by Girls

	They're either too shy or too rude.
	They won't learn to dance.
	They look messy.
	They won't meet our parents, except when trapped into it - and then they get silly or embarrassed.
	They don't ask us out often enough.
	When they get to parties they gang up with the other boys - at the other end of the room.
	They don't ask for dates until the very last minute.
	They brag about their other dates.
	They gossip too much.

The Most Common Criticisms of Girls as Expressed by Boys

	They keep us waiting and then make a dramatic entrance (it would be much more dramatic to be on time).
	They pick out the most expensive places to go.
	They giggle.
	They break dates when something better comes along.
	They never learn anything but the latest songs - why can't they discuss sports, or something interesting?
	They all try to dress like movie stars.
	They'd rather be seen out with our cars than with us.
	They brag about their other dates.
	They gossip too much.

Australian Woman's Weekly, 1954

On East 42nd street, New York City, there is a combined airline ticket office. You mount to the second floor on an escalator and line up at the airline of your choice.

"I would like a one-way on the early flight to San Francisco."

"We shall see," said the ticket man. He punched a number of buttons on a machine. The machine shook itself thoughtfully. It rumbled a little and flashed an answer.

"That flight has an available seat," said the man.

"No other information?" I said. "Like is the pilot a steady man of moral character? Or the name of the prettiest stewardesses?"

"We have not progressed in automation to that point. The information we ask is fed by a series of button punches into a central office. The query asks the central brain. The central brain looks up the flight and answers."

Even so, you can see that this is a firm mechanical pace forward from the days when the ticket man dialed and dialed and dialed. Muttering, "That line is always busy."

The status of the flight was a man-to-man business in those days. We got reassurance and a pep talk with our tickets.

It is only a question of time, I think, until we dial our own reservations. And the mechanical brain will answer tinnily: "Flight available. Please deposit $180.40 plus tax. Fasten seat belts. Have a nice trip."

The Australian Journal, 1956

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