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N I H I L O B S T A T 
Rev. N i c o l a u s Gross 

C e n s o r L i b r o r u m 

I M P R I M A T U R 
t S t a n i s l a u s V . B o n a , D . D . 

E p i s c o p u s S i n u s V i r i d i s 

8-56-8M 1,138M 
F R A N C I S C A N P R I N T E R Y 

P u l a s k i , W i s c o n s i n 
1956 

DeacMlffed 



C O N T E N T S 

The Magic of Popularity 5 

Your Million Dollars 8 

But I'm Catholic 13 

In My Own Backyard 18 

What About Sororities? ^ - - - I E 21 

Blind Dates _ _ _ | f _ _ _ _ 27 

Going Steady Liv , 32 

Hobbies —Ji-i.'L— p 38 

Let's Have a Party a ___. -I 45 
Self-Confidence _ 53 





THE MAGIC OF POPULARITY 
' J ' h e age-old question of what makes a teen p o p u l a r 

is a p p e a r i n g m o r e a n d m o r e f r e q u e n t l y in t h e mail-
bag. T h e p o p u l a r t e e n s seem to shine like brilliant stars 
against a black velvet sky. Popularity is like a jewel, 
glowing so b r i g h d y that it automatically attracts admirers. 
But o f t e n , f o r t h o s e whose magic t o u c h it has evaded, 
t h e r e is a tinge of wistful longing. W h y is it t h a t some 
teens are sprinkled with stardust a n d others are d i m b y 
comparison? 

Actually, popularity d o e s n ' t d e p e n d u p o n material 
things whose evidence we c a n tangibly detect. I t ' s some-
thing deeper t h a n t h a t . I t consists of qualities t h a t ap-
peal t o others. But most of all, it consists of a g e n u i n e 
interest in o t h e r people. If y o u can love y o u r f r i e n d s f o r 
themselves, overlooking their faults a n d emphasizing their 
virtues, your first battle h a s b e e n won. Will Rogers used 

— 5- ioTi 

t&y 



6 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

t o say t h a t h e never m e t a m a n h e could n o t like. P e o p l e 
loved h i m f o r t h a t very w o n d e r f u l philosophy. 

If t h e p h o n e d o e s n ' t ring as o f t e n as y o u m i g h t like, 
a n d friends seem j u s t b e y o n d y o u r reach, try taking 
a closer look at t h e teens y o u admire. Imitation can b e 
y o u r greatest asset if y o u use it wisely. T h i s d o e s n ' t 
m e a n imitating t h e whole person. I t m e a n s imitating t h e 
quality you most admire. P e r h a p s Bill is always ready 
with a cordial h a n d s h a k e . G o o d ! W i t h little e f f o r t , y o u 
can d o t h e same. Phil has a marvelous knack f o r remem-
bering names. T h i s knack d o e s n ' t always develop natu-
rally. Y o u too can acquire the art. If Phyllis a n d M a r i e 
can keep you howling with laughter at their m e r r y conver-
sation, b e a n attentive listener. By using a little imagina-
tion a n d a lot of exaggeration, you can develop a sense 
of h u m o r in y o u r daily conversation. 

N o t m a n y m o n t h s back I received a n u r g e n t plea 
f r o m a girl in h e r mid-teens requesting a list of p o p u l a r 
slang phrases so that she would b e " i n t h e k n o w " when 
she talked with t h e o t h e r teens at school. A s it was, she 
knew n o n e a n d felt l e f t out of h e r f r i e n d s ' b r i g h t chatter. 
T h e i r line of talk was "real g o n e , " a n d h e r s was n o t . 
Well, personally, I w o u l d n ' t care t o b e "real g o n e . " B u t 
she did — a n d it was i m p o r t a n t t o h e r . So, m y suggestion 
was that she n o t e d o w n t h e particularly striking phrases 
commonly used b y h e r f r i e n d s a n d try t h e m o u t f o r size. 
I t wouldn't b e difficult t o j o t t h e m down in private when-
ever she h e a r d t h e m . 

T h e most p o p u l a r Jacks a n d Jills in t h e crowd m a y 
h a v e individual personalities, b u t t h e r e are several assets 



T H E M A G I C O F P O P U L A R I T Y 7 

which they share in c o m m o n . Y o u ' l l f i n d in t h e m a social 
awareness. T h e y are n o t concerned solely with them-
selves a n d their personal problems. T h e y are interested 
in helping others. T h e y possess a basic honesty a n d 
a sense of fair play. I t was written, " T o thine own self 
b e t r u e , a n d it follows as t h e day t h e n i g h t that t h o u canst 
n o t b e false t o any o t h e r m a n . " T h e truly p o p u l a r teen 
lives b y t h a t code, r e m e m b e r i n g t h a t being t r u e to self 
is being t r u e t o t h e individual t h a t G o d wants o n e t o be. 

T h e p o p u l a r teen also possesses a m e n t a l alertness. 
Keeping o n his toes, h e reads t h e daily newspapers, new 
books, Catholic literature, a n d articles of c u r r e n t interest. 
H i s conversation never r u n s dry, n o r is h e at a loss to know 
what t o say. T h e r e simply isn't t i m e t o discuss all t h e 
topics which truly h o l d his interest. H e e n j o y s varied 
activities, especially hobbies. M a y b e his h o b b y is tropical 
fish or stamp collecting or woodwork, b u t this added 
interest adds a new facet t o his personality. A n d finally, 
t h e really p o p u l a r guy or gal h a s a k e e n sense of h u m o r . 
H e or she can laugh at t h e day's mishaps a n d look forward 
to tomorrow. 

T h a t ' s t h e p o p u l a r t e e n . B u t h o w did h e get t o b e 
that way? Actually, it can b e summarized b y t h e h a n d s 
o n a clock. 



YOUR MILLION DOLLARS 
I f someone suddenly h a n d e d y o u a million dollars, what 

would you d o with it? Well, actually, you own a treas-
u r e whose value is f a r in excess of a million dollars-
I n fact, it would b e almost impossible to estimate its t r u e 
value. D e p e n d i n g u p o n y o u r own evaluation, it could r u n 
into t h e millions . . . or it can b e worthless! I t is y o u r 
T I M E . 

Longfellow devoted m a n y b e a u t i f u l passages in his 
writings t o t h e topic of time. I like best his definition: 
" W h a t is T i m e ? T h e shadow o n a dial, — t h e striking 
of t h e clock, — the r u n n i n g of t h e sand, — day a n d night, 
— s u m m e r a n d winter, — m o n t h s , years, centuries; — 
these are b u t arbitrary a n d outward signs, t h e measure 
of time, n o t time itself. T i m e is t h e Life of the S o u l . " 

E m e r s o n c o m p a r e d t h e days t o a loom o n which t h e 
warp a n d woof of past a n d f u t u r e are recorded. Shakes-
peare devoted at least thirty-one passages t o the subject 

— 8 — 



Y O U R M I L L I O N D O L L A R S 9 

of time. Sir T h o m a s Browne t h o u g h t of time in this 
way: " T h i n k n o t t h y time short in this world, since t h e 
world itself is n o t long. T h e created world is b u t a small 
parenthesis in e t e r n i t y . . . " M o t h e r Frances Cabrini, 
whose evaluation of u m e m a d e h e r a saint, said o n m a n y 
occasions t h a t t h e r e could never b e e n o u g h time to d o all 
t h e things that s h e wanted t o d o . 

O n e of t h e most f r e q u e n t statements m a d e t o m e is, 
" O h , I ' v e always wanted to write, t o o ! I t ' s a shame t h a t 
I j u s t never h a v e h a d t h e spare t i m e ! " A n d I f i n d myself 
wondering what spare time is, f o r t o m y way of thinking 
t h e r e is n o such t h i n g as spare time. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , each 
day is composed of n o m o r e t h a n twenty-four h o u r s — 
w h e t h e r it is y o u r day or m i n e or t h e n e x t person's. 
Fairly e n o u g h , each of us is given t h e identical b a n k ac-
c o u n t of time each day. 

Recendy a f o r e m o s t psychologist, in discussing teen 
delinquency, m a d e t h e statement, " O n e of t h e greatest 
contributing factors t o t h e national delinquency p r o b l e m 
is t h e fact t h a t o u r t e e n s h a v e t o o m u c h leisure time 
o n their h a n d s . " If this is true, teens, it indicates at least 
two i m p o r t a n t points. T h e first p o i n t is t h a t t h e p a r e n t s 
of o u r teens are n o t giving a d e q u a t e guidance. Y o u re-
m e m b e r as a child h o w you would ask M o m , " W h a t will 
I d o ? I d o n ' t h a v e a n y t h i n g t o d o ! " T h e wise m o t h e r 
n o t only guides t h e time of h e r child, b u t she helps 
in p l a n n i n g t h e time of h e r teen as well. T h e second im-
p o r t a n t indication f r o m t h e psychologist's analysis is that 
o u r teens today are n o t placing a t r u e evaluation o n their 
time. 



10 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

T a k e a look at t h e teen w h o devotes h o u r s p o r i n g 
over movie magazines, detective novels, comic books, or 
t h e o n e who spends each evening idly playing solitaire. 
W h a t about t h e l o n g h o u r s s p e n t o n t h e t e l e p h o n e b y 
m a n y teens repeating unnecessarily t h e day's h a p p e n i n g s 
t o each a n d every f r i e n d ? W h a t a b o u t t h e t o o n u m e r o u s 
coke sessions, t h e gossip get-togethers, t h e " d r a g g i n g 
M a i n S t r e e t " excursions of aimlessly driving a r o u n d town? 

H o w i m p o r t a n t are those time b a n k accounts? H o w 
high are t h e teens' evaluations of the o n e life which G o d 
gave t h e m t o s p e n d ? 

Y o u a n d I h a v e a f o r t u n e in o u r h a n d s , teens, a very 
real f o r t u n e . A s J e r r o l d once said, " T o t h e t r u e teacher, 
time's h o u r glass should still r u n gold d u s t . " H o w d o we 
g o a b o u t t u r n i n g o u r time i n t o gold dust? Well, actually 
we reiterate the very reason f o r o u r being o n e a r t h , t h e 
reason that G o d gave us a life to live: t o know H i m , 
to love H i m , a n d t o serve H i m . 

T h e p o p u l a r t e e n knows that in o r d e r to love G o d , 
we must b e o n speaking terms with H i m . T i m e spent 
in prayer a n d meditation is t r u e gold dust in o u r pockets. 
N o t only are we counselling with H e a v e n , b u t we are re-
ceiving t h e f o r t i f y i n g G r a c e t o live o u r daily lives to their 
fullest. W h e n we are praying f o r others, we are helping 
t h e m f i g h t their battles. W h e t h e r it's a p o o r missionary 
in India or a sick n e i g h b o r down t h e street, we are actively 
giving t h e m o u r h e l p . 

T h e p o p u l a r teen knows that, in order to know a n d 
love G o d , we educate ourselves to the best of o u r ability. 



Y O U R M I L L I O N D O L L A R S 11 

T h i s educational process d o e s n ' t e n d with t h e last peal of 
t h e school bell. I t m e a n s d o i n g plenty of work o n o u r 
own too. I t m e a n s a p p r o a c h i n g t h e world in which we 
live with a n inquisitive m i n d . T h e m o r e that we ourselves 
can learn, t h e m o r e we will b e able to i m p a r t t o others. 
T h a t ' s especially t r u e of o u r spiritual education. T i m e 
spent in spiritual reading adds greatly to y o u r b a n k ac-
count. 

T o serve H i m . . . W h a t a n unlimited o p p o r t u n i t y ! 
T h e r e are countless ways in which we can serve our fam-
ily a n d friends. Giving M o m a h e l p i n g h a n d , relieving 
D a d of unnecessary responsibility, writing c h e e r f u l letters 
t o t h e older folks in t h e family, t e n d i n g t h e y o u n g ones 
with a willing h a n d , encouraging others in t h e family t o the 
regular practice of t h e T r u e Faith. W e can a d d t o our 
b a n k account without so m u c h as ever leaving o u r h o m e ! 

But serving G o d is not, as we know, c o n f i n e d to the 
family circle. O u r c h u r c h a n d parish o f f e r splendid op-
portunities: h e l p i n g F a t h e r a n d t h e Sisters, cleaning t h e 
church, organizing a n d stimulating active y o u t h groups. 
Beyond t h e parish is t h e city, a n d b e y o n d t h e city is t h e 
nation a n d t h e world. 

" I ' d like t o increase m y popularity b y d o i n g some-
t h i n g really worthwhile," a Chicago teen recently wrote 
m e . " B u t t h e r e ' s just n o t m u c h I can d o . . . " I n the 
same mail were f o u r heartbreaking requests f r o m o u r mis-
sionaries overseas f o r any f o r m of assistance. O l d rosa-
ries, prayer cards, discarded clothing, used Catholic litera-
t u r e . . . and, most urgently, prayers. N o t m u c h that h e 



12 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

could d o ? W h y , h e could t u r n every m o m e n t of his day 
i n t o a priceless jewel! 

T i m e is o u r greatest treasure, o u r life's b a n k ac-
count. If y o u d o u b t its t r e m e n d o u s value, try estimating 
in dollars a n d cents t h e time that o u r scientists s p e n t dis-
covering t h e polio vaccine. Estimate t h e worth of t h e 
time that St. Francis d e Sales devoted t o writing his 
I n t r o d u c t i o n T o A D e v o u t L i f e . P u t d o w n in dollars a n d 
cents t h e time that was used in p r e p a r i n g a n d passing 
t h e Bill of Rights. 

I t ' s true, teens, o u r b a n k account of time is worth 
only as m u c h as we evaluate it. E a c h m o m e n t , each h o u r , 
each d a y . . . you are s p e n d i n g this f o r t u n e that G o d gave 
you. T h e p o p u l a r t e e n knows this. I t ' s worth a t h o u g h t , 
isn't it? 



BUT I'M CATHOLIC 

Dear Lynn, 

I guess you would say that my problem is that 
I am Catholic. That seems a strange thing to say, 
maybe; but it's true. While I am proud to be of the 
Catholic Faith, I find that it keeps me from being as 
popular as I would like to be. I have no intention 
of ever being anything other than Catholic, but I 
would like to be popular too. 

I am a girl of eighteen and will graduate from 
high shool this year. Our crowd is an average crowd 
of teen boys and girls. Some of them are Catholic 

— 13 — 



14 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

like myself, but most of them are not. They do not 
understand why I have to fast after midnight on 
Saturdays, why I must come in earlier than the other 
girls, why I won't kiss on first date, or neck at all. 
Some of the kids think it is perfectly all right to tell 
off-color stories, and they think that I am a prude 
when I will not listen. 

That's just about the whole story, Lynn. They 
tease me about being a religious without a habit and 
kid me about going to Church all the time. Some-
times this is hard to take. Maybe I just don't have 
a sense of humor? 

Any suggestions that you have will be appreciated. 
Many thanks for your help, 

Cardie 

C a r o l e , I think y o u h a v e t h e situation f i g u r e d all w r o n g 
f r o m t h e very beginning. Being Catholic isn't keep-

i n g you f r o m b e i n g p o p u l a r . Look a r o u n d you. T h e r e 
are plenty of p o p u l a r Catholic boys a n d girls! P e o p l e 
respect t h e m because t h e y faithfully practice what they 
believe. T h e y h a v e high ideals, a n d they d o n ' t m i n d say-
ing so. T h e y maintain m o ra l standards f r o m which they 
d o n o t deviate. T h e r e is n o compromising with t h e m . 
T h e y love H o l y M o t h e r C h u r c h , a n d they want t h e whole 
world t o k n o w it! 

W h a t ' s b o t h e r i n g you, Carole, is t h a t you are d i f f e r -
e n t f r o m t h e others in y o u r crowd. Y o u say t h a t t h e 
m a j o r i t y of t h e m are n o t Catholic. T h e r e f o r e , it is obvi-
ous t h a t they d o n o t practice or u n d e r s t a n d m a n y of o u r 
beliefs. T h i s makes you feel t h a t you are singular a n d 
p e r h a p s a bit conspicuous. Well, t r u t h f u l l y , Carole, you 



B U T I ' M C A T H O L I C 15 

are! Y o u ' r e d i f f e r e n t — a n d it is a d i f f e r e n c e of which 
y o u can b e p r o u d ! 

H a v e you ever taken t h e trouble t o explain t o these 
o t h e r teens why you m u s t fast a f t e r m i d n i g h t o n Satur-
days? H a v e y o u ever explained t h e medals y o u wear 
a r o u n d your neck? O r your rosary? W h y y o u d o n ' t kiss 
o n first date? W h y you d o n o t care t o listen t o off-color 
stories? 

O r h a v e you j u s t l e f t these o t h e r teens in t h e dark, 
thinking p e r h a p s t h a t you were trying t o show t h a t y o u 
were b e t t e r t h a n they are? 

T h a t ' s a n i m p o r t a n t point, Carole. N o o n e is at-
tracted to a p e r s o n who wields his religion like a club. 
N o n e of us likes t h e p e r s o n w h o "shows o f f " a religion, 
whether it is Catholic or Baptist or M o r m o n . I n a situation 
like this, it appears that t h e p e r s o n is trying t o belittle us, 
a n d t o m a k e u s t h i n k t h a t h e is a saint. Y o u ' v e seen t h e 
Catholic teen who makes a great to-do at a Friday picnic 
when m e a t is served. " O h , my h e a v e n s ! " h e vociferous-
ly objects. " I c o u l d n ' t touch that s t u f f ! I ' m Catholic, 
y o u k n o w ! " T h a t sort of t h i n g d o e s n ' t set well with any-
one. 

T h e same is t r u e of t h e Catholic teen who throws u p 
his h a n d s in h o r r o r when s o m e o n e starts t o tell a n off-color 
j o k e . " O h , I c a n ' t listen t o t h a t sort of t h i n g , " h e fairly 
screams. " I ' d h a v e to go t o confession. I ' m Catholic, 
y o u k n o w ! " 

I think t h a t in such instances the teen has missed t h e 
p o i n t entirely. H e is n o t eating m e a t because h e does n o t 
want to. H e is n o t listening to t h e off-color story because 



16 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

it is against his principles! T h e fact t h a t h e is Catholic 
contributes to his desire in each case, b u t it is n o t t h e ex-
planation f o r his refusals. A t least, it certainly s h o u l d n ' t 
b e ! 

P e r h a p s y o u h a v e b e e n using t h e " I ' m Catholic, y o u 
k n o w ! " explanation, too, Carole? If so, it would account 
f o r y o u r lack of popularity. A n d it is a w o n d e r t h a t some 
teen has n o t sharply r e t u r n e d with, "Well, so what? I ' m 
M e t h o d i s t ! " 

Because y o u a r e d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e rest of t h e crowd 
in your beliefs does n o t m e a n t h a t you c a n ' t b e j u s t as 
p o p u l a r . I n fact, it can increase y o u r popularity, because 
t h r o u g h t h e Faith you can gain a great deal of respect a n d 
admiration. 

T h e first thing t o d o is t o explain these differences 
when they arise. If it is a fast day, a n d t h e crowd stops 
f o r a h a m b u r g e r a f t e r t h e movie, simply say: " T h i s is 
a fast day in o u r C h u r c h ; o n such days we d o n ' t eat 
between meals. I h o p e you'll give m e a raincheck f o r 
m y h a m b u r g e r this t i m e . " If you g o with t h e s a m e crowd 
continually, you'll f i n d that fewer a n d fewer explanations 
are needed, f o r y o u r f r i e n d s will begin to u n d e r s t a n d 
t h e practices of your religion. 

T h e second t h i n g to do, Carole, is to rid yourself 
of any self-consciousness a b o u t your differences. All of u s 
are d i f f e r e n t in some way. T h e o t h e r teens with whom 
y o u associate also h a v e differences. If they are smart, 
they capitalize o n t h e m to m a k e themselves m o r e p o p u l a r . 
A c c e p t in y o u r own m i n d that t h e practice of y o u r Faith 
occasionally will call f o r an explanation. A f t e r all, is that 



B U T I ' M C A T H O L I C 17 

s o b a d ? O t h e r teens are interested in t h e tenets of H o l y 
M o t h e r C h u r c h . W h y b e selfish in n o t stating t h e m ? 
W h y n o t m a k e t h e m so attractive in t h e eyes of y o u r teen 
f r i e n d s t h a t they m i g h t even wish t o a t t e n d M ass with y o u 
s o m e time? 

If you assume t h e attitude of a m o d e r n day m a r t y r 
whenever you h a v e t o come in early f r o m a d a n c e in o r d e r 
t o get t o C o m m u n i o n in t h e m o r n i n g , o t h e r teens will 
be p r o n e t o regard H o l y M o t h e r C h u r c h as a sadistic 
organization. I f , however, you accept this small sacrifice 
a n d m a k e your f r i e n d s realize the i m p o r t a n c e of Com-
m u n i o n , they will begin to wonder at t h e str ength a n d 
beauty of o u r Faith. S e e what I m e a n , Carole? Let 
t h e m know that whatever y o u are d o i n g you d o willingly, 
happily, a n d because you want t o d o it! D o n ' t make 
t h e m feel t h a t a sad sense of duty plagues you. I t ' s n o t 
— o r at least, it s h o u l d n ' t b e ! 

By sharing y o u r relig ion with y o u r teen friends, by 
never using y o u r religion t o m a k e you a p p e a r superior, 
a n d b y accepting the practices of t h e Faith with a willing 
heart, you can increase y o u r popularity, Carole. Folks 
respect those who live b y what t h e y believe. T h e y will 
respect you a n d like you all t h e m o r e f o r it! 



IN MY OWN BACKYARD 
Dear Lynn, 

I'm not sure that anyone can help me with my 
problem, but I hope that you can. I am a boy of fif-
teen and am average in just about every way. In 
school I have lots of friends, both boys and girls. 
The other teens seem to like me pretty well. 

My problem is my mother. She will never let me 
invite any of my friends to my home for a party. 
I have asked her many times, and she always tells 
me the same thing. She says she is afraid they will 
break up everything in the house. Lynn, this isn't 
so. The other fellows and girls are allowed to have 
Platter parties and television parties in their homes. 
And, while we may be noisy sometimes, the teens are 
really considerate of the furniture. I have told my 
mother this, but she does not believe me. 

I'd like to stay popular, Lynn. But I hate to go 
on accepting invitations to other people's homes when 
I cannot have my friends in my home. Is there any-
thing that I can do to convince my mother? 

Many thanks for your help, 

Leonard 
— 18 — 



I N M Y O W N B A C K Y A R D 19 

Y o u a f e so right, Leonard, a b o u t wanting t o reciprocate 
t h e hospitality which t h e o t h e r teens h a v e shown you. 

Personally, I t h i n k every teen — boy or girl — should 
b e permitted to h a v e a n occasional social gathering in his 
h o m e . If t h e teens behave a n d are considerate of the 
p a r e n t s a n d furnishings, this privilege should b e g r a n t e d 
freely. 

B u t M o m d o e s n ' t see it that way, does s h e ? W h a t 
are we going to d o to convince h e r that you h a v e social 
obligations just t h e same as she does? 

T h e first t h i n g to d o is t o get y o u r m o t h e r b e t t e r ac-
quainted with y o u r friends. I n t r o d u c e h e r t o these teens; 
m a k e h e r feel that t h e y are also h e r friends. 

W h e n e v e r t h e r e is a p a r t y given b y a n o t h e r teen, 
b e sure t o b r i n g h o m e all t h e details. Tell y o u r m o t h e r 
what games were played, what r e f r e s h m e n t s were served, 
a n d any o t h e r highlights of t h e get-together. If it is at all 
possible, try t o a r r a n g e f o r y o u r m o t h e r t o visit o n e 
of these parties in t h e h o m e of your f r i e n d . M a n y m o t h e r s 
are suspicious of teen parties because they f e a r t h a t they 
will get out of h a n d or t u r n into necking parties. Let y o u r 
m o t h e r know t h a t y o u r g r o u p of teens likes t o get t o g e t h e r 
f o r good, clean, wholesome f u n . 

I n o r d e r t o get M o m better acquainted with y o u r 
g r o u p , encourage h e r t o participate in teen activities. 
W h e n she is a sponsor f o r a teen g r o u p , she will h a v e 
a better o p p o r t u n i t y t o see the kids first-hand, a n d t o know 
that they are of g o o d moral character. Serving as sponsor 
or chaperone, she will become m o r e interested in taking 
p a r t in teen activities. T h e n e x t time your g r o u p has an 



20 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

o u t i n g or party, ask your m o t h e r to h e l p c h a p e r o n e . 
If you know any of t h e o t h e r mothers, you m i g h t suggest 
t o t h e m t h a t they request y o u r m o t h e r ' s h e l p with t h e 
teens. 

O n c e t h e privilege is granted, Leonard, b e sure that 
y o u r f r i e n d s comply with t h e h o u s e rules. ( Y o u m i g h t 
even suggest t o M o m t h a t she p e r m i t o n e p a r t y o n a test 
basis. Especially if y o u have a basement or garage t h a t 
could be converted t o p a rt y use!) If t h e r e are prepara-
tions to b e m a d e in the way of refreshments, you should 
feel t h a t this is y o u r j o b . N o t h i n g elaborate needs to b e 
served. P o p p i n g p o p c o r n d u r i n g t h e evening suffices. 
But whatever y o u plan f o r t h e party, make sure that you 
d o n o t p u s h t h e work o n M o m . 

A s y o u r f r i e n d s arrive, introduce t h e m to y o u r par-
ents. W h i l e M o m a n d D a d d o n o t especially want to b e 
a p a r t of your g r o u p , they d o n ' t like to b e ignored either. 
I t is courtesy o n y o u r p a r t to m a k e sure t h a t they feel they 
would b e welcome. 

A f t e r t h e party, it is your responsibility t o clean u p 
t h e clutter. If M o m wakes u p to a messy house t h e n e x t 
morning, she isn't going to take well t o your teen parties. 
So, b e sure that you set the house back in o r d e r b e f o r e you 
retire. 

If you abide by y o u r parents' wishes whenever you 
h a v e a party in t h e home, you'll f i n d M o m a n d D a d m o r e 
responsive t h e n e x t time y o u ' r e in a party m o o d ! 



WHAT ABOUT SORORITIES? 
[ was reading a p a m p h l e t t h e o t h e r night, written b y 

F a t h e r Lawrence Mossing, that should b e of interest 
t o all teens who would like t o b e m o r e p o p u l a r . I t s title 
is " H i g h School Fraternities a n d Sororities." Sometimes 
such p a m p h l e t s can b e pretty didactic in their a p p r o a c h 
t o a subject. But, believe me, F a t h e r Mossing really 
makes sense! 

— 21 — 



22 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

W e d i d n ' t h a v e social fraternities a n d sororities in 
either of t h e two h i g h schools I a t t e n d e d . W e saw so m a n y 
specialized g r o u p s of activities t h a t n o n e of us ever cared 
f o r t h e f u s s a n d b o t h e r of private societies. W e h a d o u r 
debate g r o u p , one-act play g r o u p , extemporaneous g r o u p , 
h o b b y clubs, sports groups, etc., that t h e r e actually wasn't 
time l e f t over f o r secret social societies. W e felt that we 
were too grown u p f o r such " k i d s t u f f . " T h e secret 
societies were f o r pre-school children w h o h a d n o t h i n g 
better to d o with their time. 

I n college, it was d i f f e r e n t . A n d I d o wish F a t h e r 
Mossing h a d included all school social fraternities a n d 
sororities, f o r I can distinguish little d i f f e r e n c e in their 
effects on a high school senior o r a college f r e s h m a n . 

W h e n I enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh as 
a f r e s h m a n , I b u m p e d noses with sororities f o r t h e first 
time. F r o m t h e m i n u t e we enrolled, we f r e s h m a n girls 
were "sorority conscious." Some, f r o m financially p o o r 
families, lived in dread f o r f e a r that t h e y would b e over-
looked. A s most of you know, n o t all boys a n d girls are 
" r u s h e d . " Generally, t h e basis used b y most sororities 
a n d fraternities f o r rushing a p e r s o n is social position, t h e 
influence of t h e family, or financial standing. Few rushees 
are chosen on t h e basis of scholastic attainment, personal-
ity, or character. T r u e , these things are given a light in-
vestigation b y some societies, b u t t h ey are considered 
merely worthwhile appendages. 

" R u s h i n g " consists of pre-arranged e n g a g e m e n t s in 
which t h e sorority or fraternity m e m b e r s become acquaint-



W H A T A B O U T S O R O R I T I E S ? 23 

e d with their prospective newcomers. T h o s e w h o are 
t o b e r u s h e d are nominated b y p r e s e n t or alumni m e m b e r s . 
F r o m this list of names, invitations are sent o u t f o r cof-
fees, teas, a n d sometimes cocktail parties. 

T h e f r e s h m a n coming into h i g h school or college is 
faced with a grave new fear. E v e r y o n e says that to b e 
really influential a n d p o p u l a r , y o u m u s t b e l o n g to o n e of 
t h e larger sororities or fraternities. W h a t if n o one chooses 
t o rush m e ? I'll b e l e f t o u t in t h e cold without a chance! 

T h i s is n o t true. I n d e p e n d e n t s , as n o n - f r a t e r n i t y 
students are called, can b e as p o p u l a r as any fraternity 
m e m b e r . I n t h e first place, they h a v e t h e immediate 
backing a n d f r i e n d s h i p of o t h e r i n d e p e n d e n t s . T h e o n e 
very real disadvantage is in elections t o office or h o n o r s . 
I n this instance t h e fraternities join h a n d s , choose o n e 
candidate, a n d back that candidate. T h e i n d e p e n d e n t 
vote is n o t as easily concentrated. W h a t d i f f e r e n c e can 
a m e r e vote m a k e ? I t can m a k e a whale of a lot of differ-
ence to t h e journalism student w h o would like to b e elected 
editor of t h e school p a p e r . I t makes a d i f f e r e n c e t o t h e 
elected football q u e e n . T h e school student president a n d 
s t u d e n t council are selected b y " p o p u l a r v o t e s . " 

T h e i n d e p e n d e n t in h i g h school a n d college is o n his 
own. H e does n o t h a v e t h e automatic backing of a large 
g r o u p who h a v e gathered together in t h e wee h o u r s a n d 
figuratively elected their own candidate. 

T h e m a j o r i t y of f r e s h m e n in h i g h school a n d college 
are never rushed. T h e s e are t h e broken-hearted ones who 
start their school career with t h e f e a r t h a t they are n o t 
wanted. T h i s is p r e t t y h a r d to take, when y o u r f r i e n d s 



24 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

a n d f o r m e r classmates are rushed a n d you are not. Y o u 
feel t h e loss of these friends, a n d you feel t h a t y o u ' r e n o t 
quite in their class. F o r consolation, you h a v e only the 
o t h e r " u n t o u c h a b l e s . " 

I n addition to this large g r o u p , there is a g r o u p of 
f r e s h m e n who k n o w instantly t h a t n o m a t t e r h o w m u c h 
they desire to b e a sorority or f r a t e r n i t y m e m b e r , it is 
financially impossible f o r t h e m to become members. M e r e -
ly t o p l e d g e such a society in college costs close to $ 1 0 0 , 
or, in some instances, m o r e . I n high school t h e pledge 
fees generally are also maintained at an expensive level 
in o r d e r to keep o u t any possible p o o r members. I n addi-
tion t o t h e pledge fees, t h e r e is a n o t h e r large f e e at t h e 
time you are accepted as a regular m e m b e r . T h e n you 
h a v e pins a n d scarfs, fees t o maintain a club room or t h e 
fraternity house, an insignia ring, a n d quite a n u m b e r of 
assorted fees t h a t g o f o r first o n e cause a n d t h e n a n o t h e r . 

I t ' s evident that few high school a n d college students 
can a f f o r d t o b e l o n g to fraternities a n d sororities. A m o n g 
these who c a n n o t a f f o r d such a luxury are worthwhile 
students w h o should h a v e their place in t h e leadership 
of t h e school! 

I s this t h e democratic way of life in o u r schools? 
If we d o n o t u p h o l d democracy in o u r public a n d private 
schools, where t h e n is it t o b e t a u g h t a n d lived? Democracy 
is n o t s o m e t h i n g t h a t is automatically absorbed like oxygen 
f r o m the air. I t is n o t something t h a t is g r a n t e d to t h e 
g r a d u a t e like a diploma. Democracy m u s t b e lived — 
a n d this is n o less t r u e in o u r educational institutions t h a n 
it is any place else o n e a r t h ! 



W H A T A B O U T S O R O R I T I E S ? 25 

F a t h e r Mossing, in his excellent article, cites o n e of 
o u r nation's newspapers concerning fraternities a n d soror-
ities, " T h e y d o foster undemocratic distinctions based o n 
considerations unrelated to individual worth. T h e y set 
small g r o u p s a p a r t f r o m the student body, a n d those ex-
cluded b a n d together to f o r m yet o t h e r cliques. T h a t 
they should p r o m o t e i n d i f f e r e n c e to authority is inevitable 
since they h a v e established a society in conflict with that 
of t h e school; moreover, in some states their existence is 
in d e f i a n c e of state law." F a t h e r Mossing adds t h a t the 
only clubs a n d societies which should operate in any school 
are those which are o p e n to all who can qualify. M e m b e r -
ship should be a matter of merit a n d achievement. 

Initiations into b o t h h i g h school a n d college social 
fraternities h a v e m a d e a wild red splash across t h e f r o n t 
pages of o u r nation's newspapers. I n most instances they 
are remarkable evidence of m a n ' s inhumanity to m a n . 
A favorite in t h e S o u t h f o r m a n y years was t o p o u r molas-
ses a n d f e a t h e r s over the candidate. A g r o u p of girls in 
o n e city, picked u p by police f o r wearing scanty hula 
costumes on t h e main street, explained that they were 
merely p a r t of an initiation. A g r o u p of fraternity boys 
in a n o t h e r city was arrested o n charges of assault when 
their pledges were treated to p o w e r f u l doses of castor oil 
a n d beaten with clubs. I n some cases, as y o u m u s t h a v e 
read, pledges h a v e been p e r m a n e n t l y i n j u r e d a n d died 
f r o m such barbaric treatment. 

If this is the type of loyalty test that fraternities 
sponsor, what sort of ideals can these g r o u p s possibly 
have? 



26 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

T h e teen w h o wishes to b e p o p u l a r , instead of blindly 
joining such g r o u p s , will take a f i r m stand against t h e m . 
T h e abolition of secret societies, especially in o u r high 
schools, is t h e responsibility of each of us. W e can en-
courage our schools to o p p o s e such narrow societies b y re-
quiring t h a t each s t u d e n t a n d his p a r e n t s sign a pledge 
that h e will n o t engage in such activities. P a r e n t s of teens 
can strongly o b j e c t to m e m b e r s h i p in such clubs. But I 
think most i m p o r t a n t of all, we — b o t h teens a n d adults 
working t o g e t h e r — can f i n d a f i n e r substitute f o r frater-
nities a n d sororities. G r o u p s based u p o n c o m m o n interest 
a n d c o m m o n goals are f a r m o r e attractive t h a n an assorted 
g a t h e r i n g whose only bases in c o m m o n are rings, pins, a n d 
a secret code. T h e r e is n o h o n o r or achievement gained 
f r o m wearing such insignia. I t m e a n s only that some 
f r i e n d o p e n e d t h e d o o r of m e m b e r s h i p f o r admittance. 
O r , in the cases of some fraternities, it means that o n e 
weathered a beating with a m i n i m u m howl. 

W h a t has such a fraternity m e m b e r or sorority m e m -
b e r gained? Prestige? Actually, t h e prestige is largely 
self-imagined by t h e g r o u p involved. T h o s e outside of 
t h e g r o u p are now firmly across t h e barrier. Knowledge? 
Few such societies foster a n y a t t e m p t at intellectual growth. 
C o m p a n i o n s h i p a n d a d d e d friends? J u s t t h e opposite. 
Y o u h a v e now deliberately limited y o u r n u m b e r of friends. 
A n d t h e o n e s y o u h a v e were n o t chosen because y o u 
really liked t h e m . 

T h e truly p o p u l a r teen n e v e r makes t h e mistake of 
limiting f r i e n d s b y j o i n i n g fraternities or sororities. 



BLIND DATES 
Dear Lynn, 

1 am a girl of seventeen, and I would tike your 
advice. My problem is that I am not very popular. 
Because of this, I can't seem to get a date for myself. 
When I am around boys, I do not feel at ease. After 
the fellows get to know me better, they seem to like 
me fine. But the main thing is getting the boys 
to date me in the first place. 

Several of my girl friends recently have offered 
to get me a blind date. The boys whom they date 
know other fellows who have the same trouble that 
I have in getting acquainted. Would this be all right, 
do you think? I have heard that it is dangerous and 
not in good taste. On the other hand, it does not 
appear to be morally wrong, to my way of thinking. 
What is your opinion? 

Hoping that you will be able to help, 
And many thanks, 

Anne 
— 27 — 



28 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

J guess all of us know, teens, j u s t what a blind d a t e is. 
But in case some of t h e y o u n g e r teens m i g h t b e wonder-

i n g : a blind date is a date with a b o y whom y o u h a v e n o t 
m e t . I t is generally a r r a n g e d t h r o u g h f r i e n d s or relatives. 

W h a t about these blind dates? A r e they right o r 
are they wrong? 

T h e r e is n o t h i n g morally wrong with blind dates 
p e r se, A n n e . H o w e v e r , t h e y can b e d a n g e r o u s business 
if caution is n o t used. But if y o u take advantage of t h e 
g o o d sense t h a t G o d gave you, they can b e a lot of f u n a n d 
widen your circle of friends. 

W h e r e i n is t h e d i f f e r e n c e between t h e foolish blind 
d a t e a n d t h e wise o n e ? T o begin with, never allow some-
o n e whom you d o n o t know well t o m a k e a date f o r you. 
T h e p e r s o n w h o is a r r a n g i n g y o u r d a t e should b e trust-
worthy a n d should h a v e the same high ideals t h a t you 
have. H e or she sh o u l d b e a f r i e n d , n o t merely a n ac-
quaintance. If you accept a blind date that was a r r a n g e d 
b y someone y o u scarcely know, you c a n n o t b e sure that 
this p e r s o n was thinking of y o u r best interests. I t is entire-
ly possible t h a t h e is m a k i n g a desperate last m i n u t e 
" p i t c h " t o e v e n o u t a crowd. 

Secondly, A n n e , never accept a solo blind date. 
If you are going t o share a n evening with a p e r s o n you 
h a v e n o t met, you want t o b e sure t h a t you are in t h e 
c o m p a n y of friends. I n case any e m e r g e n c y should arise 
( a n d it could h a p p e n o n any date, n o t j u s t a blind d a t e ! ) , 
you will h a v e f r i e n d s t o w h o m y o u can t u r n . If you 
accept a blind date, b e sure y o u are with at least o n e o t h e r 
couple, b o t h of w h o m are well k n o w n to you. 



B L I N D D A T E S 29 

A third restriction, A n n e , is that in accepting a blind 
d a t e b e sure that t h e o t h e r girl (or girls) knows h e r date. 
I t is very unwise f o r two girls to g o out with two boys 
w h o m they d o n o t know. I n o t h e r words, n o d o u b l e 
blind dates! I t ' s best t h a t b o t h y o u a n d t h e o t h e r girl 
b e well acquainted with h e r c o m p a n i o n . 

B e f o r e you ever accept t h e date, know precisely where 
you are going a n d what you will b e doing. T h i s is, a f t e r 
all, information which will h e l p you decide whether you 
want t o accept t h e date. If t h e evening is indefinite, a n d 
t h e others j u s t want t o " b u m a r o u n d , " d o n o t consider 
acceptance. I f , however, it is f o r a d a n c e or basketball 
game, a n d y o u will b e in familiar territory, y o u ' r e s a f e in 
assuming that this will b e a pleasant evening. 

F o r years, blind dates were considered n o t in g o o d 
taste. H o w e v e r , these days all of us know t h a t it is impos-
sible t o get t o know all of t h e nice folks we'd like to know. 
F o r m a l introductions a r e n ' t necessary. If we h a v e g o o d 
f r i e n d s who know of someone t h e y t h i n k we m i g h t e n j o y 
meeting, t h e r e is n o t h i n g morally wrong in accepting that 
extended f r i e n d s h i p . But, in y o u r own interests, it is im-
p o r t a n t t o follow t h e restrictions. Mis-handled, a blind 
date can b e catastrophic. If you allow a stranger or casual 
acquaintance t o m a k e a date f o r you a n d t h e boy alone, 
t h e n you are asking f o r trouble. Girls with good morals 
d o n o t date so easily. T h e r e f o r e , t h e r e arises in t h e b o y ' s 
m i n d t h e assumption t h a t y o u r morals are n o t of t h e 
highest. F r o m t h a t assumption comes trouble! 

I t ' s best, f o r obvious reasons, never t o m a k e a blind 
date f o r that " e x t r a special" occasion. If you a n d t h e boy 



30 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

d o n o t get along or d o n o t take well t o each other, t h e n 
t h e occasion is ruined f o r y o u b o t h . 

W h e r e it is at all possible, it's a g o o d idea f o r t h e 
m u t u a l f r i e n d to a r r a n g e an introduction a h e a d of time. 
P e r h a p s they m i g h t stop by t h e h o u s e f o r a minute. O r 
you m i g h t meet f o r a m o m e n t a f t e r S u n d a y Mass. E v e n 
t h o u g h t h e meeting is brief, it helps break t h e ice, a n d 
you d o n o t feel completely strange when t h e boy calls 
f o r you. 

H o w should you act o n a blind d a t e ? Well, actually, 
j u s t as you would act o n any o t h e r date! H o w e v e r , t h e r e 
is t h e a d d e d f u n of getting acquainted. O n c e t h e intro-
ductions are over, t h e r e are t h e i n n u m e r a b l e questions 
a b o u t each o t h e r t o b e asked. If y o u are t h e shy type a n d 
hesitant, encourage t h e o t h e r p e r s o n t o talk about himself. 
W h a t does h e like? W h e r e has h e lived b e f o r e ? D o e s 
h e work? H o w a b o u t his family? D o e s h e participate 
in any sports? Y o u can g o o n a n d o n with the most in-
teresting topic t h e o t h e r fellow knows: himself. W e all 
like to talk a b o u t ourselves a n d appreciate t h e fact t h a t 
s o m e o n e is interested e n o u g h t o ask u s questions a b o u t 
o u r lives a n d interests. 

S h o u l d any t r o u b l e b e e n c o u n t e r e d o n a blind date, 
it is simple e n o u g h when y o u are with a crowd or with an-
o t h e r couple t o ask t h e m t o take you h o m e . I t ' s n o t 
necessary t o m a k e a big scene. J u s t say simply, as you 
would o n any o t h e r unpleasant date, " I ' d like to g o h o m e . 
W o u l d you take m e n o w ? " If f u r t h e r explanation is 
needed, y o u can state firmly, " F r e d h a d t h e w r o n g idea 
a b o u t me. I ' m very sorry to upset t h e e v e n i n g . " 



B L I N D D A T E S 31 

S u c h incidents d o h a p p e n , A n n e , e v e n when y o u 
are well acquainted with your date. Be p r e p a r e d a h e a d 
of time t o h a n d l e t h e situation with dignity. 

Blind dates can b e a lot of f u n , teens, if — as I 
mentioned — y o u use t h e g o o d sense t h a t G o d gave y o u . 
B u t never accept a blind d a t e j u s t because you d o n ' t h a v e 
a n y t h i n g b e t t e r t o do. Rather, accept it as an invitation 
t o a new f r i e n d t h a t is o f f e r e d you b y an old f r i e n d w h o m 
y o u esteem. 



GOING STEADY 

Dear Lynn, 

In your pamphlet "LETTERS TO LYNN: About 
Dating," yon talked about going steady. You forgot 
to mention the many girls who get married at 16 or 
17 and have a wonderful marriage and how young 
our grandparents got married. Personally, I think 
my grandparents have an almost perfect marriage. 
Of course, everything has its ups and downs, but it 
works for the best. 

And then this talk against marrying a non-Cath-

— 32 — 



G O I N G S T E A D Y 33 

olic. The only thing wrong is the lack of understand-
ing of the other person's religion. 

I definitely approve of steady dating, if it means 
marriage; because it is easier to break off if yon 
have made a mistake in choice than an engagement. 
And a marriage is impossible to break. If more per-
sons went steady before they were engaged, instead 
of rushing headlong into the wedding, there would be 
less divorce cases. If the persons involved had high 
moral standards, they would not break the Sixth Com-
mandment. If not, then it's the parents' fault. What 
the parents don't realize is that the children mimick 
them from the time they are infants. 

I am not going steady because I want to get more 
schooling. I have not met the one whom I think is 
right. But if I do and if we share the same interests 
and are able to get along, then I'll go steady before 
I get engaged because I don't want to make a mis-
take. After all, this Hollywood romance stuff is a lot 
of bunk! You have to be able to get along with 
a person if you are going to live with him for the rest 
of your life. 

How did yon tell that your husband was the right 
one? You certainly didn't flip when yon met him. 
I also don't believe in love at first sight. If anything 
is going to last, it takes time. 

Yours truly, 
Dolores 

PS. I am IS and a junior in a Catholic all girls 
high school. 

D e a r Dolores, 
M a n y t h a n k s f o r y o u r f i n e letter. I t was g r a n d h e a r i n g 

f r o m you. 



34 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

O n the topic of going steady, I can see t h a t you have 
given t h e subject a great deal of t h o u g h t . H o w e v e r , 
Dolores, h a v e you ever actually g o n e steady? O n t h e 
surface, going steady looks like such a convenient arrange-
m e n t , an ideal situation. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , those who have 
devoted their time a n d dates solely to o n e p e r s o n — only 
to discover that h e or s h e is t h e wrong person — will tell 
you d i f f e r e n t l y . 

G o i n g steady as y o u described in y o u r letter, a p r e l u d e 
to a n engagement, certainly can d o n o h a r m . B u t to most 
teens, going steady is n o t regarded in t h a t light. Rather, 
it is a pact that is m a d e a n y time f r o m thirteen o n . I t is 
an a g r e e m e n t t o date only t h e o n e p e r s o n to t h e exclusion 
of all others. I t is a promise t o show n o a f f e c t i o n to any 
o t h e r boy or girl. Generally, this includes attention too. 

I n short, going steady, w h e t h e r it is in t h e early teen 
years o r t h e later ones, involves a lot of possessiveness. 
D o you agree u p t o this p o i n t ? 

W h e r e t h e teens actually h a v e marriage in m i n d — 
a n d t h a t marriage is possible within a reasonable time — 
such possessiveness is p a r t of t h e l o n g r a n g e p l a n . I t ' s 
a trial period in which the two teens are seeking t o discover 
whether they want t o m a k e the promise m o r e binding 
b y a f o r m a l e n g a g e m e n t . T h e contract of g o i n g steady in 
this case, so l o n g as it is n o t a p r o l o n g e d period, is sensible. 

But consider most of t h e teens who are presently 
going steady, Dolores. T h e y are n o t older teens with 
marriage in m i n d . T h e y are in their mid-teens with only 
a year or two of dating experience b e h i n d t h e m at most. 
A n d those years of dating were d u r i n g their most imma-



G O I N G S T E A D Y 35 

t u r e teen years! ( R e m e m b e r your first dates?) I s it 
right f o r these teens to tie themselves down t o o n e boy 
or girl? I s it sensible to say, without having given your-
self t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o evaluate, that this is t h e o n e boy 
or girl in t h e world f o r y o u ? I d o n ' t think so. N o t only 
d o y o u lack t h e experience a n d j u d g m e n t ( a f t e r all, we 
D O learn a great deal as each year goes b y ) , b u t y o u are 
seriously restricting your chance to gain this knowledge 
d u r i n g years when a mistake can b e rectified. I t is a f a r 
m o r e serious blow t o m i s j u d g e t h e person of your choice 
in y o u r twenties t h a n it is d u r i n g mid-teens. 

I t ' s t r u e that t h e r e are m a n y w h o married early who 
h a v e h a d a successful a n d h a p p y marriage. F o r each such 
case, t h e r e are p r o b a b l y n i n e others in t h e divorce court. 
T h e individuals involved are t h e criterion. But consider 
t h e teens you know personally . . . H o w m a n y of t h e m 
would happily resign themselves t o t h e responsibilities of 
a h o m e a n d family, t h e likely struggle against poverty, a n d 
giving u p the f u n of parties a n d dances a n d school sports? 
Boys in mid-teens can scarcely e a r n e n o u g h t o provide 
even t h e small luxuries to which b o t h have become ac-
customed in their family homes. 

T h e chance f o r happiness when a teen marries a non-
Catholic is equally diminished. E v e n where understand-
i n g exists between t h e two parties, t h e r e is a complete 
isolation in t h e spiritual life. I n t h e p h a s e of marriage 
where the couple should b e t h e closest, they are going their 
separate ways. I n whose steps are the children t o follow? 
I n a h a p p y marriage, t h e r e is a " o n e n e s s . " ( R e m e m b e r 
t h e p a r t of the N u p t i a l Mass which speaks of " o n e f l e s h " ? ) 



36 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

T h e r e can b e n o complete oneness when t h e parties d o n o t 
see eye to eye o n their spiritual beliefs. T r u e , t h e mar-
riage can b e a h a p p y o n e a n d even a successful one. But 
t h e r e is always t h a t p a r t of t h e individual which c a n n o t be-
long to t h e other person. T h e y are joined inseparably 
in o t h e r ways . . . b u t never in t h e most f u n d a m e n t a l way 
that marriage was intended to join two people. Instead 
of waiting together outside of t h e Confessional, o n e p e r s o n 
stands alone. I n s t e a d of walking t o g e t h e r u p t h e aisle 
toward O u r L o r d in H o l y C o m m u n i o n , o n e p e r s o n walks 
alone. E v e n in t h e m o s t simple aspects, t h e Faith — 
meatless Fridays a n d Fast Days, H o l y D a y s of Obligation, 
t h e sacramentals, saying t h e e v e n i n g rosary — is never 
shared. I t may b e tolerated, a n d it may b e respected; 
b u t it is never s h a r e d ! 

I n t h e above, Dolores, we are taking f o r g r a n t e d that 
t h e r e is a g o o d u n d e r s t a n d i n g between t h e two people. 
W h e r e that g o o d u n d e r s t a n d i n g is lacking (as it is in many, 
m a n y cases!), trouble is inevitable. T h e Catholic par ty 
either is f o r e v e r d e f e n d i n g t h e Faith u p o n some score or 
else is minimizing t h e Catholic way of life in order 
n o t to irritate the non-Catholic. 

T h a t doesn't m e a n t h a t non-Catholics a r e n ' t every 
bit as fine a n d lovable as Catholics. But it does m e a n that 
they h a v e n o t b e e n raised to t h e Catholic Faith a n d the 
Catholic way of life. T h e y h a v e n o t attended Catholic 
schools or b e e n t a u g h t Catholic doctrines at h o m e . T h e i r 
religion has n o t b e e n t h e same as that t a u g h t b y H o l y 
M o t h e r C h u r c h . I n m a n y instances, t h e basic beliefs op-
pose o u r beliefs. I n still m o r e cases, they h a v e grown u p 



G O I N G S T E A D Y 37 

a n d m a t u r e d with m i s t a k e n ideas of t h e C a t h o l i c F a i t h . 
W i t h a b a c k g r o u n d s o c o m p l e t e l y n o n - C a t h o l i c , h o w t h e n 
c a n we e x p e c t a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g of o u r beliefs a n d o u r way 
of l i f e ? 

Y o u ask h o w I k n e w m y h u s b a n d was t h e r i g h t o n e ? 
N o , I d i d n ' t " f l i p " w h e n I m e t h i m , a n d it w a s n ' t love 

at first sight. S e v e r a l m o n t h s w e n t b y b e f o r e I k n e w . 
D u r i n g t h o s e m o n t h s I b e c a m e m o r e a n d m o r e aware of 
h i s k i n d n e s s a n d his gentleness. By his actions, I k n e w 
t h a t h e p l a c e d m y h a p p i n e s s a b o v e his own. T h e r e n e v e r 
was a d o u b t in m y m i n d t h a t h e loved m e m o r e t h a n any-
t h i n g else in t h e world. W h e n I was with h i m , t h e r e was 
n o n e e d t o g o t o d a n c e s o r movies o r parties. T h e r e was 
n o n e e d t o h a v e o t h e r p e o p l e a r o u n d . I t was e n o u g h 
t o sit a n d quietly discuss t h e e v e n t s of t h e day, o u r h o p e s 
f o r t h e f u t u r e , o u r m u t u a l interests. 

I h o p e m y suggestions h a v e s h e d a little light o n t h e 
topics, D o l o r e s . 

I ' m g l a d t o h e a r t h a t y o u a r e n o t g o i n g steady. 
I h o p e y o u w o n ' t u n t i l y o u are r e a d y f o r m a r r i a g e . T h e 
t e e n w h o wants to b e really p o p u l a r d o e s n o t tie herself 
d o w n in this way. I n s t e a d , s h e seeks m a n y , m a n y f r i e n d s 
— b o y s a n d girls. H e r circle of f r i e n d s h i p a m o n g b o y s 
is n e v e r n a r r o w a n d limited. I t is as i m p o r t a n t t o m a k e 
f r i e n d s a m o n g t h e boys as it is a m o n g girls. 

With every best wish, 

L y n n 



HOBBIES 

Dear Lynn, 

What's the matter with me? Other teens always 
seem to have something bright and interesting to say. 
I never do. I'm just dull. 

I'd like so very much to be like other teen-agers 
who are the life of the party and who interest people. 
I'd like to be more popular with the boys and girls. 
What do I do? 

Respectfully, 

Bob 

H a v e you ever wondered, teens, why some folks are m o r e 
interesting t h a n others? W h y d o t h e minutes fairly fly 

when we are a r o u n d o n e p e r s o n a n d painfully d r a g when 
we are with a n o t h e r ? Well, o n e of t h e surest indications 
of a p o p u l a r personality is whether t h a t individual has 
an interesting h o b b y . 

T h e r e are so m a n y hobbies these days within t h e 

— 38 — 



H O B B I E S 39 

scope of our b u d g e t a n d interests that it's difficult t o select 
any particular one. B u t whichever y o u choose, this a d d e d 
facet t o y o u r personality provides a m p l e new topics f o r 
conversation. Y o u ' r e n o t f o r e v e r f i n d i n g yourself at a 
loss f o r words or limiting y o u r talk t o f r o t h y bits of gossip. 

D e v e l o p i n g a h o b b y in the teens ( a n d e v e n b e f o r e ! ) 
is a g o o d beginning. Y o u ' v e seen plenty of grown-ups 
w h o were s o b o r i n g that you scarcely could stay in t h e 
same r o o m with t h e m : t h e f a t h e r w h o is all " o f f i c e t a l k " 
a n d n o t h i n g m o r e ; t h e m o t h e r whose sole topic of con-
versation is which o n e of t h e children h a s the sniffles to-
d a y ; t h e teacher w h o thinks that Babe R u t h is a candy b a r 
a n d a quarterback is something you get in change. " I ' d 
h a t e t o b e t h a t s t u f f y ! " y o u think. B u t it's n o t impossible 
t h a t you could be, y o u know! If y o u follow in t h e p a t t e r n 
of their footsteps a n d c h a n n e l all y o u r enthusiasm a n d 
thinking o n o n e topic, ignoring a whole world of oppor-
tunities, y o u are walking in their shadow! If y o u t u r n 
y o u r t h o u g h t s inward, s h u t t i n g y o u r eyes to t h e marvelous 
possibilities provided us b y t h e Mystical Body of Christ, 
t h e n you t o o can b o r e t h e n e x t fellow. 

" W h a t sort of hobbies would you s u g g e s t ? " a y o u n g 
teen asked recently. " I h a v e n ' t m u c h talent — even less 
m o n e y — a n d n o t m u c h p r e f e r e n c e . W h a t are y o u r 
hobbies? A r e they t h e same t h a t t h e y were in y o u r 
t e e n s ? " 

T h e nicest p a r t a b o u t hobbies is t h a t t h e y are always 
exchangeable. W h e n you explore o n e field a n d feel t h a t 
y o u have m a d e a g o o d stab at mastering the art, t h e n you 
are ready to explore a n o t h e r ! D u r i n g my teens, m y big-



40 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

gest h o b b y was my typewriter. I t was an old rattletrap 
a f f a i r in g o o d working condition. I t cost, I think, a b o u t 
$ 17.00 a n d was given t o m e f o r Christmas when I was t e n . 
M o m h a d a b o o k o n how to type, so I sat down a n d tried 
to teach myself. I t m i g h t h a v e worked h a d I n o t b e e n too 
impatient. I t was f a r t o o slow a process to type with ten 
fingers. I decided that two were plenty! Besides, I told 
myself, t h e r e are m o r e constructive things t o b e d o n e t h a n 
laboriously picking o u t typing exercises. T h e r e was a news-
p a p e r f o r t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d t h a t I wanted to write, scads 
of h o m e w o r k that could b e accomplished m o r e neatly o n 
t h e typewriter, a n d inevitably fiction stories that trickled 
t h r o u g h my imagination. 

S p o r t s of all type were appealing. M y favorites were 
tennis a n d swimming. M a k i n g jewelry was a h o b b y t o which 
I was partial f o r m a n y years. M o m would b u y loose 
beads, a n d I would fashion bracelets a n d necklaces f o r all 
t h e feminine m e m b e r s of t h e family. Occasionally, some-
o n e even b o u g h t an exceptionally attractive b r o o c h or 
bracelet. Sketching was a n o t h e r pastime which filled m a n y 
h a p p y hours. Years later, in t h e hospital recuperating 
f r o m an a p p e n d e c t o m y , I f o u n d t h a t I h a d developed 
e n o u g h accuracy to sketch a reasonable facsimile of t h e 
nurses. 

T h e hobbies d u r i n g t h e past ten years h a v e b e e n 
varied. First, it was gardening. D u r i n g those years, I 
practically lived in a seed catalogue. T h e r e are s o m a n y 
interesting varieties of flowers a n d plants! 

G a r d e n i n g was replaced with t h e less strenuous h o b b y 
of tropical fish. Sure, I h a d goldfish o n the mantel years 



H O B B I E S 41 

b e f o r e . But suddenly, a pair of guppies became t h e most 
absorbing topic in o u r house. G u p p i e s r e p r o d u c e them-
selves every twenty-eight days. T h e y are varied in color 
a n d range f r o m everyday g u p p i e s t o t h e exquisite b l u e 
fantails. Tropical fish are p r o b a b l y t h e simplest h o b b y 
o n earth, a n d especially r e c o m m e n d e d f o r shut-ins. T h e 
few precautions necessary f o r their care are readily learned. 
T h e water m u s t b e aged 4 8 hours, a n d it's h e l p f u l t o a d d 
a conditioner that is sold commercially. T h e t e m p e r a t u r e 
of t h e water should r a n g e between 70-85 degrees. Y o u 
d o n o t c h a n g e t h e water, as you d o with goldfish. T h e 
tropicals should never b e covered. T h e y w o n ' t overeat, 
b u t t h e extra f o o d fouls t h e water. I n addition t o guppies, 
as t h e aquarium o r fish bowl grows, you discover a n end-
less n u m b e r of tropical fish varieties a n d , like myself, you 
m a y start y o u r own nursery f o r those which reproduce. 

H e r e are a few of the o t h e r hobbies which I h a v e 
f o u n d interesting: 

A R T C R A F T : T h i s is fairly recent. T h e kit con-
tains a complete line of t h e supplies which y o u will n e e d . 
T h e paints, brushes, a n d pictures are ready f o r use. T h e 
picture is already sketched, a n d each o b j e c t is n u m b e r e d 
to correspond with t h e color t o b e used. Especially f o r 
the amateur w h o is n o t yet ready t o sketch or p a i n t a n d 
w h o needs to work with f o r m a n d colors, this h o b b y is ex-
ceptionally instructive. T h e pictures m a k e nice decorations 
f o r t h e h o m e a n d f o r gifts. 

R E C O R D C O L L E C T I N G : I n recent years, I ' v e 
been a W e s t e r n f a n . W i t h t h e rest of t h e nation I grieved 



42 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

at H a n k Williams' untimely d e a t h . H o m e r a n d J e t h r o 
are two of m y favorite a u t o g r a p h s . So, o n a quiet eve 
a r o u n d o u r h o m e , y o u ' r e very likely t o h e a r t h e W e s t e r n 
records s p i n n i n g o n o u r p h o n o g r a p h . N o t b e i n g in t h e 
u p p e r income class bracket, our selection is limited. B u t 
with each new addition, t h e r e is f a r m o r e thrill t h a n if we 
could walk in a store a n d b u y everything in sight! O u r 
favorites? Bobby Williamson's " M y Gal Comes F r o m 
H e a v e n , " T e n n e s s e e Ernie's " S i x t e e n T o n s , " T e x Ritter's 
" H i g h N o o n , " a n d R e d Foley's " P e a c e i n t h e V a l l e y . " 

D O L L M A K I N G : I n m y opinion this is o n e of t h e 
m o s t worthwhile hobbies that any girl could have. W i t h 
every stitch, y o u are b r i n g i n g t h e kind of happiness t h a t 
G o d m e a n t us t o create f o r each o t h e r . T h e r e are plenty 
of types of dolls t o b e made, a n d y o u can b u y regular doll 
p a t t e r n s in t h e p a t t e r n d e p a r t m e n t s . (Also p a t t e r n s f o r 
all kinds of doll clothes!) I n addition to t h e rag dolls, 
t h e r e is t h e lovely S o u t h e r n belle with t h e e n o r m o u s skirt. 
S h e is a Lingerie Lou doll whose costume is m a d e of milk 
filters. ( T h e y are d u r a b l e r o u n d c o t t o n discs which can 
b e b o u g h t at Sears or in a H a r d w a r e . I t ' s best t o b u y t h e 
b e t t e r grade.) 

F o r Christmas giving, birthdays, special events, f o r 
o r p h a n a g e s , hospitals, f o r C h u r c h bazaars, f o r missions 
overseas . . . t h e r e is n o t h i n g m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e or beloved 
t h a n a h o m e m a d e doll! 

M I S S I O N P A C K A G E S : I t ' s a little str ange t h a t 
we would consider mission packages as a h o b b y — when 
H o l y M o t h e r C h u r c h holds h e r missions so dear to h e r 



H O B B I E S 43 

heart. But in addition t o the special graces which accrue 
t h r o u g h o u r g o o d works, t h e packages can call u p o n y o u r 
imagination, initiative, a n d resourcefulness. All kinds of 
packages are appropriate. 

O u r Benedictine n u n s m a d e a b e a u t i f u l package last 
year of picture p r a y e r cards which they h a d carefully cut 
a n d pasted a n d tied with a dainty ribbon. School children 
easily could assemble A B C books with pictures a n d maga-
zine illustrations. H o w these would h e l p some child 
across M a r y ' s blue ocean t o learn t h e English language! 
Scrap books o n favorite topics are fascinating to assemble. 
T h e s e too h e l p b o t h t h e mission teacher a n d student. 
S o m e examples m i g h t b e : a scrapbook of pictures of trans-
portation (planes, trains, e t c . ) , American sports, pets, the 
American h o m e , American schools, recreation. T h e list 
is endless! 

I n addition to scrapbooks, my own packages general-
ly are composed of lightweight discarded clothing, used 
Catholic literature, lightweight toys, religious articles, a n d 
rosaries. F o r t h e mission priest? A package or two of 
chocolate p u d d i n g , cigarettes, a b a r of soap, or a tin of 
p o p c o r n would b e welcome. S o little to o f f e r t o those 
who give so m u c h ! 

Postage o n package to t h e missions is very low, n o t 
m u c h m o r e t h a n it costs t o send a parcel h e r e in t h e 
U n i t e d States. Be sure t o m a r k y o u r package " F r e e U n -
solicited G i f t — F o r t h e Missions — N o V a l u e . " If you 
place a value, m a k e sure that it is very low t o p r e v e n t high 
duties o n t h e o t h e r side. 



44 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

N a m e s of n e e d y missionaries can always be obtained 
b y writing your favorite Catholic magazine. 

T h e r e are so m a n y absorbing hobbies that it is diffi-
cult t o u n d e r s t a n d h o w a n y o n e could b e without an ex-
citing day. S t a m p collecting opens new windows of inter-
est. W o o d w o r k can b e b o t h p r o f i t a b l e a n d worthwhile. 
A k i n d e r g a r t e n f o r youngsters in t h e block or special tu-
toring services o f f e r a service a n d a h o b b y at t h e same 
time. If y o u r p a r e n t s d o n ' t object, a p e t school also is 
f u n . Lots of folks would like t o h a v e their pets trained 
at a nominal fee, a n d if y o u h a v e this aptitude, y o u r h o b b y 
will b e in d e m a n d ! 

Well, t h a t ' s a start, teens! A n y o n e of t h e hobbies 
m e n t i o n e d is f u n a n d profitable. H o b b i e s you know, 
Bob, are a b o o m e r a n g . T h e y n o t only are interesting, 
b u t t h e y m a k e y o u m o r e interesting too! 



LET'S HAVE A PARTY 

Dear Lynn, 

I need your help and need it badly. I have a 
problem that I jast can't seem to solve. It's this way: 
in oar town yon have to give kissing parties in order 
to be popular. I would love to give a party occasion-
ally; but, honestly, I just can't see smooching with 
a lot of fellows I don't care about. Too, I know the 
Church doesn't approve of such parties (I asked Fa-
ther in the Confessional), and I don't want to commit 
a sin. 

Still, I don't want to be left out in the cold either. 
That's no fun. I'd like to be just as popular as the 
next girl. Right now my popularity is at a stand-still 
because I won't attend such parties and definitely 
don't want to give one. What shall I do? I'm des-
perate. Please help me. 

Yours in Christ, 
Kathy 

— 45 — 



46 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

f a i t h f u l l y , Kathy, t h e r e is n o need t o give such parties 
in order t o b e p o p u l a r . A s y o u a n d I know, popularity 

consists of a whole lot m o r e t h a n playing W i n k or Post 
O f f i c e ! 

But, o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , you would like t o entertain 
y o u r f r i e n d s with parties t h a t are wholesome a n d f u n . 
W i t h just a little imagination y o u can p l a n parties that are 
lots m o r e f u n t h a n kissing games. ( Y o u r parties will m a k e 
t h e kissing games look infantile, which they are!) M a n y 
of o u r teens h a v e r e p o r t e d t h a t kissing g a m e parties h a v e 
g o n e out of style since their crowd discovered what good, 
clean f u n real parties can b e ! 

I n addition t o such regulars as platter parties, bike 
parties, weiner roasts, television parties, charades, a n d 
dances, h e r e are some additional ideas, Kathy, which m i g h t 
b e new t o y o u . 

I . Breakfast — " C o m e A s Y o u A r e " 
Mainly f o r girls, t h o u g h boys could give a par ty like 

it. Early in t h e m o r n i n g , without warning, y o u call all 
of y o u r f r i e n d s whom you wish t o invite f o r breakfast. 
H o w e v e r , you specify t h a t they must come as they are 
dressed. T h a t includes curlers, b o b b y pins, a n d cleansing 
cream. 

A r r a n g e ahead of time several games that can b e 
played f o r small prizes. A n excellent game t h a t is always 
a lot of f u n is a g a m e where each girl m u s t n a m e a song 
that contains t h e n a m e of a f o o d t h a t can b e eaten f o r 
breakfast e.g., " Y o u ' r e t h e C r e a m in my C o f f e e , " " T e a 
f o r T w o , " " T h r e e Little Pigs," " I ' m in Love with Y o u , 
H o n e y , " "Eggs-actly Like Y o u . " 



L E T ' S H A V E A P A R T Y 47 

I I . S t o r y Telling 
T h e hostess starts a story a n d t h e r e a f t e r points t o each 

m e m b e r of t h e g r o u p , p r e f e r a b l y out of t u r n . E a c h guest 
t o whom she points must continue t h e story in o n e sentence 
using t h e n a m e of your school. T h u s " O n c e u p o n a time 
t h e r e was a f u z z y caterpillar w h o enrolled in St. M a r y ' s , " 
says t h e hostess. T h e n e x t p e r s o n m i g h t say, " T h e f u z z y 
caterpillar went o u t f o r football at St. M a r y ' s . " T h e n e x t 
adds, " T h e coach decided that t h e fuzzy caterpillar should 
play tackle at St. M a r y ' s . " A n d t h e n e x t p e r s o n m i g h t con-
tinue, " E v e r y time t h e fuzzy caterpillar f r o m St. M a r y ' s 
tackled an o p p o n e n t , the o p p o n e n t nearly died l a u g h i n g ! " 
A n y o n e w h o hesitates with his sentence or w h o forgets 
t o include t h e n a m e of t h e school is eliminated. T h e 
winner at t h e e n d of t h e story is j u d g e d b y applause. 

I I I . P o s t m a r k Contest 
H a v e all invited m e m b e r s to your p a r t y b r i n g a post-

m a r k . ( O r t h e hostess can supply t h e m all, if desired.) 
T h e hostess also provides o n e p o s t m a r k . T h e y are t u r n e d 
f a c e down o n t h e table. O n e p o s t m a r k is drawn, a n d it is 
t h e key city. Each p e r s o n t h e n draws t o discover which 
can come closest in miles t o t h e key city. I n t h e event 
t h a t two cities (or m o r e ) are tied, b e i n g equally distant 
f r o m t h e key city, t h e postmarks previously drawn are re-
t u r n e d to t h e table, a n d t h e remaining contestants draw 
again. 

I V . P h o t o P a r t y 
Each person brings a baby picture of himself. A t t h e 

height of t h e party, t h e pictures are displayed o n e by one, 



48 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

a n d each m e m b e r of t h e p a rt y m u s t guess (on a slip 
of p a p e r ) t h e identities. T h e o n e with t h e most correct 
answers wins. 

A g o o d warm-up f o r t h e climax of t h e party is a game 
in which the hostess shows baby pictures of f a m o u s per-
sonalities. ( T h e s e can b e g a t h e r e d a h e a d of time f r o m 
magazines.) T h e g r o u p , divided into teams, guesses at each 
picture. T h e winning team receives a small prize. ( P r e f e r -
ably something edible so that it can b e divided.) 

V . Postcard P a r t y 
Each invited guest brings a picture postcard. Either 

in teams or separately, t h e guests m u s t guess t h e location 
of t h e picture o n t h e postcards. 

V I . " C o m e T r a v e l W i t h M e " 
Guests are divided i n t o two teams. T h e first team 

starts " C o m e travel with m e . I a m going t o . . . " a n d 
names a city. T h e second t e a m must take t h e last letter 
of t h a t city a n d n a m e a city starting with t h a t letter. So, 
if t h e first team says " C o m e travel with m e . I a m going 
to S a c r a m e n t o , " the n e x t team m u s t take " O " as t h e 
starting letter f o r t h e city of their destination. T h e y might 
continue " C o m e travel with m e . I a m going t o O n t a r i o . " 
T h i s particular choice has l e f t t h e first team with t h e 
p r o b l e m of a n " O " also. T h e y m i g h t use " C o m e travel 
with me. I a m going t o O k l a h o m a City." N o w t h e second 
team has " Y " which could b e used f o r " Y o u n g s t o w n . " A n y 
time a team is s t u m p e d a n d cannot n a m e a city within t h e 
count of ten, they lose 10 of their 100 points. A t the e n d 
of t h e game, t h e team still having t h e most n u m b e r 



L E T ' S H A V E A P A R T Y 49 

of points wins. (If y o u ' r e smart, you m i g h t throw in 
P h o e n i x against y o u r o p p o n e n t s ! ) 

V I I . S t a m p s f o r t h e Seminaries 
A l l of t h e girls invited t o t h e party, f o r b o t h boys 

a n d girls, b r i n g delicacies which t h e y h a v e m a d e at h o m e . 
Candies, cookies, cupcakes . . . a n y t h i n g which m i g h t ap-
peal to t h e o t h e r teens. T h e s e are priced, according t o t h e 
n u m b e r of stamps it requires t o b u y each delicacy. Foreign 
stamps, old stamps, commemorative stamps h a v e t h e most 
value. E a c h p e r s o n invited to t h e p a r t y brings as his wam-
p u m all of t h e u n u s u a l stamps which h e c a n collect f o r t h e 
seminaries. H e b u y s his r e f r e s h m e n t s with t h e stamps. 

A variation is to charge stamps f o r each dance. 

V I I I . " W h e r e A m I G o i n g ? " 
B e f o r e t h e party, t h e host o r hostess clips pictures 

f r o m magazines that are i n t e n d e d t o r e p r e s e n t t h e n a m e 
of a city. F o r instance, a picture of a d o v e could b e used 
f o r " D o v e r , " St. A n t h o n y f o r " S a n A n t o n i o , " St. F r a n -
cis f o r " S a n Francisco," a traveler f o r " R o m e , " a d e n f o r 
" D e n v e r , " an angel f o r "Los A n g e l e s , " etc. O n d i e back 
of each picture, she writes t h e n a m e of t h e city t h e picture 
represents. A t the party, t h e guests are divided i n t o two 
teams. T h e y draw (sight u n s e e n ) a picture f r o m t h e b o x . 
T h e contest is won b y t h e team which guesses t h e greatest 
n u m b e r of cities h e l d by t h e oposing team. 

A variation, especially f u n f o r boys' (8-12) parties, 
is t o g a t h e r pictures which indicate either baseball or foot-
ball teams. T h u s , a cardinal f o r St. Louis, a pair of red 
socks f o r Boston, a pirate f o r Pittsburgh, etc. 



50 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

I X . F o r t h e D a n c e P a r t y at H o m e 
Select a n item t o represent each girl attending t h e 

p a r t y . F o r instance, a wedding b a n d f o r M a r y , a minia-
t u r e devil f o r H e l e n , a r e m n a n t of polka d o t material f o r 
D o r o t h y ( D o t ) , a pocket f o r Lucy ( " L u c y Locket lost h e r 
p o c k e t " ) , sheet music f o r Carol, etc. W h e n all the guests 
h a v e arrived, t h e boys draw or select o n e of t h e curiously 
assorted items a n d must f i n d t h e girl it represents. If t h e 
girl's first n a m e is difficult, or if t h e r e are two girls b y t h e 
same name, a last n a m e can b e used. T h i s is especially 
h e l p f u l where t h e guests are n o t well acquainted. I t ' s 
a g o o d ice-breaker a n d introduces t h e boys to t h e girls. 
T h e items can b e used over a n d over again d u r i n g t h e 
evening at a large p a r t y t o e n c o u r a g e introductions a n d 
exchanging partners. 

A variation is f o r each girl to contribute something 
personal when she arrives at t h e party, a n d t h e boy must 
f i n d t h e owner of the object. 

X . Personal P r o n o u n G a m e 
A r t Linkletter uses this o n e o n his hilarious H o u s e 

Party. T h e host or hostess asks a series of questions, all 
of which must b e answered without t h e use of personal 
p r o n o u n s such as " I , my, m e , m i n e . " A n y guest w h o 
uses a personal p r o n o u n in answering t h e question is elim-
inated f r o m t h e game. 

X I . " W h o A m I ? " 
T h i s o n e is f u n if you h a v e a set of encyclopedias, 

b u t can also b e played with a b o o k o n t h e lives of t h e 
saints or by m e m o r y . D u r i n g t h e evening each person 



L E T ' S H A V E A P A R T Y 51 

looks u p five interesting facts a b o u t s o m e o n e they m i g h t 
like t o be. W h e n each p e r s o n h a s assembled his facts, 
t h e guests divide i n t o two teams. E a c h guest t h e n tells 
t h e facts, o n e by one, a b o u t t h e p e r s o n h e would like t o be. 
T h e opposing team loses 20 points f r o m t h e possible 100 
f o r each fact they fail t o guess. T h e team with t h e win-
n i n g n u m b e r of points receives t h e prize. 

X I I . Record Parties 
Each invited person brings a favorite record. T h e 

records are played, a n d each p e r s o n m a rk s down o n his 
list w h o m h e thinks b r o u g h t t h e record. A t t h e e n d of 
t h e platter session, t h e guesses are checked; a n d t h e o n e 
h a v i n g the most correct answers wins. 

A n o t h e r record g a m e is charades of records. T h e 
party divides i n t o two teams. E a c h team acts o u t t h e title 
to a record. T h e opposite side is given t h r e e minutes 
in which t o guess. If they c a n n o t guess, t h e y pay a p e n -
alty. 

A p o p u l a r platter g a m e with y o u n g e r teens is musical 
chairs. T h e chairs are placed in a circle. O n e less chair 
is used t h a n t h e n u m b e r of participants. A s t h e music is 
played, t h e guests walk a r o u n d t h e outside circle of chairs. 
W h e n t h e music stops, each p e r s o n dives f o r a chair. T h e 
o b j e c t is n o t t o b e l e f t without a chair. T h e chairless 
participant must d r o p out of the game, a n d o n e less chair 
is used each time. 

Prizes f o r a teen p a rt y should b e simple a n d inex-
pensive. A new hit record, a p h o t o album, a small b o x 
of candy, an a u t o g r a p h book, a b o x of n o t e p a p e r . . . 



52 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

T h e r e are any n u m b e r of items t h a t can b e b o u g h t at t h e 
five a n d t e n ! 

T h o s e are a few p a r t y ideas, Kathy, which m i g h t h e l p 
y o u in p a r t y p l a n n i n g . T h e r e is, as y o u can see, n o reason 
t o believe that a p a r t y c a n n o t b e f u n unless kissing games 
are included. T h a t just isn't so! By using y o u r imagina-
tion a n d a t o u c h of originality, y o u can give t h e best 
parties f o u n d anywhere! 



SELF-CONFIDENCE 

Dear Mrs. Alexander, 
I am the youngest boy in oar family of six chil-

dren. I get along with my family fine, but at school 
I have trouble. I try so hard to make ttte other teens 
like me, but I am not very popular for some reason. 

My best friend tells me that I am too shy and un-
talkative. I think maybe I am, but I am always 
afraid that I will look silly to someone else. I am not 
very good looking, and I am a poor dancer. But are 
these things important? 

How can I be more popular? 
God bless you, 

Jimmy 
— 53 — 

Ik 



54 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

F r a n k l y , J i m m y , looks a n d g o o d d a n cing d o Kelp toward 
popularity. But t h e y d o n o t constitute popularity. 

T h e r e ' s a big d i f f e r e n c e ! 

G o o d looks a n d a p t d a n c i n g are like doors t h a t o p e n . 
T h e y attract others t o want t o investigate y o u f u r t h e r . 
B u t once t h a t d o o r is o p e n , it is u p to t h e teen t o carry 
t h e ball. T h e r e m u s t b e something worthwhile inside 
t o h o l d that interest! 

T h e r e are p l e n t y of o t h e r doors besides handsome-
ness a n d dancing. T h e r e are talent, friendliness, interests, 
a n d spirituality t o namie b u t a few. If y o u d o n o t possess 
o n e door, y o u can possess a n o t h e r . S o m e of these, such 
as looks, are God-given; others you can earn with t h e h e l p 
of G o d . 

I t h i n k every teen, J i m m y , should have at least o n e 
talent. T h e r e should b e o n e t h i n g which y o u can d o just 
a bit better t h a n t h e n e x t person. M a y b e it's n o t h i n g 
m o r e intellectual t h a n collecting postcards. But if y o u d o 
t h a t o n e t h i n g well, t h e n y o u will h a v e gained a great deal 
of self-confidence. A s we saw f r o m t h e section o n hob-
bies, t h e opportunities are unlimited. O r p e r h a p s y o u 
would p r e f e r a sport or working o n t h e school newspaper? 
I t d o e s n ' t really m a k e a lot of d i f f e r e n c e what that talent 
is o r in which field it lies — just so it is t h e r e ! 

I n addition t o developing a talent in some field, 
J i m m y , it's going t o b e necessary t o rearrange y o u r think-
ing. All of u s feel t h e same way that y o u do. T h e r e is 
a n a t u r a l shyness a n d timidity in each of us. Like you, 
we f e a r that we will commit some e r r o r a n d a p p e a r foolish 



S E L F - C O N F I D E N C E 55 

in t h e eyes of o u r friends. But unlike you, J i m m y , we are 
n o t afraid to take t h e chance. 

If you can m a k e yourself realize t h a t we all share this 
same feeling, this identical fear, t h e n y o u h a v e m a d e 
great strides. 

W h e n you are out in a crowd, d o n o t try t o c o n f r o n t 
t h e crowd. Rather, select one p e r s o n at a time with w h o m 
you want t o speak. T a k e t h e initiative. Say t h e first 
" H i ! " a n d show, b y y o u r conversation, t h a t you would like 
t o b e friends. P e r h a p s this p e r s o n is ill at ease or a stanger 
to t h e others. T h e n , m a k e it y o u r concern t o p u t t h e per-
son at ease a n d to m a k e t h e introductions. 

If you can concentrate o n bringing happiness t o some-
o n e else, t h e n y o u r battle has b e e n won. Shyness a n d t h e 
lack of self-confidence is, a f t e r all, n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n 
allowing o u r t h o u g h t s t o dwell t o o m u c h o n ourselves. 
If you will concentrate on others, this lack of self-confi-
dencei will evaporate. 

A n o t h e r g o o d idea, J i m m y , is t o volunteer your 
services o n committees whenever you can. W o r k i n g with 
small g r o u p s toward a c o m m o n goal will d o you m u c h 
good. Y o u will f i n d that your relationships with o t h e r 
teens will b e easier and less strained. W i t h y o u r mind 
o n t h e p r o j e c t , you will b e less c o n c e r n e d with yourself. 

T h e r e is n o magic f o r m u l a f o r popularity, J i m m y . 
M o s t of us have t o work plenty h a r d f o r it. But it's worth 
the h a r d work, wouldn't you say? 

I N T H E K N O W 
T h e p o p u l a r teen knows what to d o a n d when to do it. 

T h i s ability we call Know-How. O t h e r s call it poise. 



56 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

I t is a c h a r m t h a t can b e cultivated, either t h r o u g h o u r own 
investigation o r t h r o u g h experience. W i t h o u t it, we're 
self-conscious a n d ill at ease. T h i s insecurity is trans-
mitted t o those a r o u n d us. W e ' r e u n c o m f o r t a b l e — a n d 
it's p r e t t y d o g g o n e d obvious! 

W h i l e Know-How is n o f i r e scholarship t o t h e c h a r m 
circle, it is like a c o m f o r t a b l e chair in a crowded room. 
Y o u know t h a t y o u h a v e s o m e t h i n g t o fall back u p o n 
in m o m e n t s of c o n f u s i o n . Y o u ' r e fairly sure t h a t y o u can 
meet o t h e r teens without committing those embarrassing 
"slips" t h a t m a k e you blush f o r h o u r s a f t e r t h e incident. 
O f course, y o u c a n ' t take o u t insurance against those awk-
ward situations, b u t you can cultivate a greater self-assur-
ance. 

T h e best way I know t o gain poise is t o " b o n e u p " 
o n likely situations that m i g h t b e c o n f u s i n g . If y o u want 
t o b e p o p u l a r , m a k e sure t h a t y o u can meet these situations: 

I . W h e n t h e one-and-only calls o n t h e p h o n e a n d 
wants n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n t o chat, you s h o u l d : 

(a) Limit y o u r conversation t o f i f t e e n minutes. 
(b) F i n d a s o f t cushion a n d settle d o w n f o r t h e 

evening. 
(c) Explain t h a t y o u r b r o t h e r s a n d sisters a r e t o o 

noisy, a n d you c a n ' t h e a r . 
I I . If t h e new b o y f r i e n d has shown a lot of interest 

b u t seldom p h o n e s , y o u s h o u l d : 
(a) Call h i m o n t h e p h o n e a n d let h i m know you 

are thinking about h i m . 
(b) W r i t e h i m a n o t e each night a n d give it to h i m 

in the m o r n i n g . 



S E L F - C O N F I D E N C E 57 

(c) W a i t f o r h i m t o call or d r o p b y t h e house. 

I I I . If J o h n n y , y o u r little b r o t h e r , is h a n g i n g o n 
t h e p h o n e a n d you h a v e an u r g e n t call t o make, you 
s h o u l d : 

(a) M a k e so m u c h noise h e will lose his t e m p e r a n d 
get off t h e p h o n e . 

(b) Explain that your call will take only a f e w 
minutes a n d t h e n h e can h a v e t h e p h o n e again. 

(c) Tell M o m t o chase h i m away f r o m t h e p h o n e . 

I V . If y o u are watching y o u r favorite television 
show a n d f r i e n d s d r o p in, you should: 

(a) Ask t h e m if they would like to see t h e pro-
g r a m ; if they wouldn't, switch it o f f . 

(b) Politely ask t h e m t o come back later. 
(c) Carry o n a conversation a n d watch t h e pro-

g r a m at t h e same time. 

V . If a school c h u m wants t o borrow y o u r clothes, 
t h e best t h i n g t o d o is: 

(a) Tell y o u r f r i e n d that you h a v e lost t h e t h i n g 
she wants t o borrow. 

(b) T a c t f u l l y explain that y o u r clothes would n o t 
b e becoming t o h e r . 

(c) T a c t f u l l y explain that y o u would rather s h e 
d i d n ' t borrow t h e clothes. 

V I . I n t h e family, it is all right t o b o r r o w such 
wearing a p p a r e l as: 

(a) Dressess, slacks, suits, blouses, etc. 
(b) U n d e r w e a r . 
(c) Accessories. 



58 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

V I I . F o r Mass, if you d o n o t own a n attractive h a t , 
wear instead: 

(a) A gaily colored scarf. 
(b) A conservative solid color scarf. 
(c) A h a n d k e r c h i e f . 
V I I I . If a f r i e n d asks y o u whether a new suit 

o r dress is becoming a n d y o u think it is little short 
of a nightmare, y o u s h o u l d : 

(a) H o n e s t l y explain t h a t it is gruesome. 
(b) T a c t f u l l y evade t h e question. 
(c) Please y o u r f r i e n d by t h e equivocal statement 

" I t ' s o u t of this w o r l d ! " 
I X . If you are invited to d i n n e r at t h e h o m e of a 

f r i e n d a n d they make n o gesture to say the blessing, 
it would b e quite p r o p e r t o : 

(a) Either say t h e blessing silently or ask if y o u 
may say it aloud. 

(b) S h a m e t h e m with looks of admonition. 
(c) J u s t f o r g e t it this o n e time. 
X . If someone in your p a rt y m a k e s an u n k i n d 

c o m m e n t a b o u t H o l y M o t h e r C h u r c h in y o u r hearing, 
y o u s h o u l d : 

(a) Consider t h e source. 
(b) Politely explain t h a t only ignorant persons 

m a k e such remarks. 
(c) Briefly a n d gently voice your views a n d change 

t h e s u b j e c t . 
X I . If a P ro t e st a n t f r i e n d is accompanying you 

t o Mass, it m i g h t b e wise t o : 
(a) A d m o n i s h your f r i e n d a b o u t talking in c h u r c h . 



S E L F - C O N F I D E N C E 59 

(b) Explain that she m u s t expect something entire-
ly d i f f e r e n t f r o m h e r P ro t e st a n t services. 

(c) Briefly instruct h e r about standing a n d sitting; 
t h e n provide h e r with a Missal. 

X I I . If s o m e o n e asks a question a b o u t t h e Catholic 
religion that y o u c a n n o t answer correctly: 

(a) M a k e u p a n answer so that their interest w o n ' t 
lag. 

(b) Advice t h e m t o consult t h e parish priest. 
(c) Frankly admit t h a t y o u are n o t s u r e b u t tell 

t h e m t h a t you will look it u p a n d r e p o r t t o t h e m 
as soon as you are sure of t h e answer. 

X I I I . If one of y o u r parents is Protestant a n d holds 
beliefs a b o u t t h e C h u r c h that are n o t true, the best proce-
d u r e would b e : 

(a) Provide plenty of Catholic literature f o r your 
h o m e . 

(b) Explain t h a t t h e y are wrong in their attitude. 
(c) Pick a favorite saint a n d pray like f u r y . 

X I V . If someone in y o u r h o m e is falling away 
f r o m t h e C h u r c h , you s h o u l d : 

(a) Immediately tell F a t h e r . 
(b) E n c o u r a g e h i m t o participate in Catholic activ-

ities a n d t o attend m o r e regularly t h e services 
of t h e C h u r c h . 

(c) Disown h i m ; h e ' s n o t worth t h e e f f o r t . 

X V . If you are in a crowd a n d some jokester 
begins telling off-color stories, t h e best t h i n g t o d o would 
b e t o : 



6 0 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

(a) T a c t f u l l y say " I ' m sorry. I ' d rather n o t h e a r 
i t ! " 

(b) M a k e t h e sign of t h e Cross a n d p l u g u p your 
ears. 

(c) Be a g o o d sport a n d listen. 

X V I . If your date starts h e a d i n g f o r P a r k e r ' s Par-
adise a f t e r t h e movie, you should: 

(a) Explain t o h i m that kissing spreads germs a n d 
you are extremely susceptible t o sore throats. 

(b) Explain that h e has the wrong n u m b e r ; neck-
ing parties are n o t y o u r specialty! 

(c) W a r n h i m t h a t it is a m o r t a l sin to kiss b e f o r e 
marriage. 

X V I I . If y o u are in a crowd a n d y o u discover 
too late t h e o t h e r s plan t o stay o u t f a r past your deadline, 
you should: 

(a) Emphatically d e m a n d that y o u b e taken h o m e . 
(b) Call a taxi. 
(c) Call D a d or big b r o t h e r , explain t h e situation, 

asking t h e m t o c o m e a f t e r you. 

X V I I I . If a very close f r i e n d asks y o u t o d o his 
M a t h , y o u s h o u l d : 

(a) G o a h e a d ; a f t e r all, it's f o r a f r i e n d . 
(b) Call h i m a cheat. 
(c) O f f e r to h e l p h i m with his M a t h a n d teach 

h i m what y o u know a b o u t it. 

X I X . If y o u r b r o t h e r s a n d sisters are squabbling, 
t h e best p r o c e d u r e is t o : 

(a) T r y to get t h e m in a g o o d h u m o r so t h a t they 



S E L F - C O N F I D E N C E 61 

will laugh at their d i f f e r e n c e s b y saying some-
t h i n g like, " A w , come on, kiss a n d m a k e u p ! " 

(b) G e t at t h e root of t h e p r o b l e m in o r d e r t o de-
cide which is right. 

(c) I g n o r e it — a f t e r all, it's n o n e of y o u r busi-
ness. 

X X . If you f i n d yourself alone with a strange teen 
a n d at a loss f o r words, it would b e a safe b e t t o : 

(a) Discuss t h e weather. 
(b) Keep silent a n d focus o n t h e floor. 
(c) M a n e u v e r t h e conversation so t h a t t h e teen will 

talk about himself. 

A N S W E R S 

I . (a) O n t h e family telephone, casual conversa-
tions should never last longer t h a n f i f t e e n minutes. I n 
o r d e r f o r any family t o live happily u n d e r t h e same roof, 
it's necessary f o r each m e m b e r t o b e considerate of the 
others. If you expect consideration, you m u s t learn 
t o give it. 

I I . (c) U n l e s s t h e r e is an u r g e n t matter to dis-
cuss, it is never p r o p e r f o r a girl t o call a boy o n t h e 
p h o n e . N o t e writing is childish a n d gives t h e b o y t h e im-
pression that you are chasing h i m . 

I I I . T h e r e ' s t h a t word "consideration" again. A f -
ter all, little b r o t h e r ' s p h o n e conversations are as impor-
t a n t t o h i m as yours are to you. B u t if t h e r e is a h o u s e 
rule of f i f t e e n minutes, you w o n ' t h a v e this trouble! 



62 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

I V . (a) Emily Post agrees. 

V . (c) Borrowing clothes is a g o o d way to lose 
a f r i e n d . T h e same applies t o loaning t h e m . N o matter 
how c a r e f u l o n e may be, there are always accidents a n d 
o f t e n perspiration stains. N o m a t t e r how generous y o u 
are at heart, it's difficult n o t t o resent losing a favorite pair 
of slacks or a blouse at t h e h a n d s of a f r i e n d . I t ' s b e t t e r 
t o m a k e a rule n o t t o borrow or loan clothes! 

V I . (c) Accessories are less easily d a m a g e d a n d 
m o r e easily replaced. 

V I I . (b) Let's n o t overdo it with those scarfs we 
wear t o Mass! T h e most incongruous sight of t h e past 
year was a girl w h o tip-toed i n t o t h e pew with a devout 
expression a n d a scarf illustrating cocktail glasses a n d can-
can dancers! A handkerchief is plausible only if you 
h a v e f o r g o t t e n y o u r h a t or scarf. 

V I I I . (b) N o t h i n g will b e gained by b l u n t f r a n k -
ness when your f r i e n d asks y o u r opinion a b o u t wearing 
apparel. A f t e r all, opinions d i f f e r . Y o u r taste m a y b e 
f a r d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t of t h e n e x t p e r s o n . R a t h e r t h a n 
h u r t feelings or lie about it, evade t h e question with some-
t h i n g like, " B l u e is y o u r color." O r "Plaids are always 
becoming t o b l o n d e s . " S h e ' s stuck with t h e o u t f i t ; d o n ' t 
make h e r self-conscious every time s h e h a s to wear it. 

I X . (a) N e i t h e r c o n d e m n n o r c o n d o n e — d o 
what y o u k n o w is right! 

X . (c) T h e r e is n o use arguing with someone 
w h o h a s a g r u d g e against H o l y M o t h e r C h u r c h . Y o u will 



S E L F - C O N F I D E N C E 63 

only increase t h e bitterness a n d cause a scene. H o w e v e r , 
when I e n c o u n t e r such a situation, I always briefly m a k e 
k n o w n my own views. I want to b e sure t h a t t h e o t h e r 
listeners know that I d o n ' t accept t h e criticism as t r u t h . 

X I . (c) O n e reason m o r e Protestants d o n o t at-
t e n d our Masses is because t h e y are self-conscious a n d un-
certain. Since most Protestants d o n o t kneel in C h u r c h , 
it's wise to forewarn your f r i e n d . W i t h o u t a Missal, t h e 
Protestant attending t h e Mass f o r t h e first time lacks 
p r o p e r appreciation a n d c o m p re h e n si o n of its significance. 

X I I . (c) N o h a r m is d o n e b y admitting y o u r u n -
certainty about a m a t t e r of Faith. But t h e r e is plenty of 
h a r m d o n e if you give out misinformation! 

X I I I . (a) D o n ' t a r g u e or cajole with a Protestant 
p a r e n t . Y o u will only drive t h e m f u r t h e r away f r o m t h e 
C h u r c h . Praying is good, of course, b u t s u p p l e m e n t it 
by concrete action o n y o u r p a r t . M o s t p e o p l e are in-
quisitive e n o u g h to peek i n t o those Catholic magazines, 
p a m p h l e t s a n d books lying so casually a r o u n d t h e h o u s e ! 

X I V . (b) A person w h o is d r i f t i n g away f r o m 
the Faith is in constant turmoil with himself a n d G o d . 
D o n ' t add t o his unhappiness. T r y to guide h i m back 
gently b y interesting h i m in Catholic f r i e n d s a n d Catholic 
activities. If these fail t o provide t h e n e e d e d inspiration 
a n d encouragement, consult F a t h e r . 

X V . (a) Y o u may be a g o o d sport in t h e eyes 
of t h e jokester if you laugh at his off-color stories — b u t 



64 A B O U T P O P U L A R I T Y 

what are y o u in t h e eyes of G o d ? A n d which is m o r e 
i m p o r t a n t ? 

X V I . (b) A n y fellow t h a t ' s worth y o u r time 
won't resent y o u r tactful explanation t h a t you d o n ' t en-
g a g e in necking parties. If h e does resent it, t h e n y o u 
can b e sure t h a t his primary interest in y o u was f a r less 
t h a n worthy! 

X V I I . (c) N o use in m a k i n g a scene — a n d 
d o n ' t call a taxi! E v e n in these days, taxis late at n i g h t 
are a risky proposition. Call D a d or big b r o t h e r . 

X V I I I . (c) D o n ' t sacrifice principles f o r f r i e n d -
ship. 

X I X . (a) H u m o r is t h e best medicine in family 
squabbles. Setting yourself u p as j u d g e w o n ' t increase y o u r 
popularity with y o u r family. W h y alienate either o n e ? 

X X . (c) E v e r y o n e loves t o talk a b o u t himself. 
N o o n e can think you b o r i n g or dull if you are inquiring 
a b o u t h i m ! T o d o so would b e t o admit t h a t h e himself 
is dull! W e all love an audience. Being a n interested 
audience is o n e of t h e p r i m e assets of possessing a g o o d 
personality! 

A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T 
M a n y t h a n k s to T h e Crosier Missionary, T h e Catholic L a m p , a n d 

Catholic H o m e Messenger f o r allowing material to be selected f r o m teen 
columns a p p e a r i n g i n their magazines. 



faints Without Wrinkles 
b y 

F L O R E N C E W E D G E 

S A I N T S W I T H O U T W R I N K L E S is primarily intended 
f o r those who have no wrinkles — teen-agers. It was 
written for them, dedicated to them, and. made possible 
only because a baker's dozen of them did not miss the 
opportunity to reach for a halo of holiness. 

Miss W e d g e is blessed with the happy gift of making 
the heroes and heroines of her stories come alive. H e r 
word sketches of such teen-agers as 

St. Mary Goretti — St. Stanislas Kostlea 
St. Therese of the Child Jesus 

St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows 
St. Dominic Savio — St. Joan of Arc — St. George 

St. Agnes — St. Casimir 
St. Elizabeth of Hungary — St. John Berchmans 

St. Aloysius Gonzaga — St. Germaine Cousins 
are fascinating true s t o r i e s of real teen heroes and 
heroines. 

These teens came from different backgrounds, lived 
in many ages, and experienced different things — but 
they all had one thing in common: they all did with all 
their might whatever they had to do. They all con-
quered selves and gained heaven. 

T h e thirteen teen saints in S A I N T S W I T H O U T 
W R I N K L E S will make a lasting impression on you 
whether you are a teen-ager without wrinkles or a wrin-
kled adult with the spirit of a teen without wrinkles. 

Don't miss this book! — 173 pp., #2.00. 

Order from: F R A N C I S C A N P R I N T E R Y , Pulaski, Wis. 



b y 

L Y N N A L E X A N D E R 

L E T T E R S TO L Y N N : ABOUT D A T I N G 

L y n n Alexander, popular Catholic columnist, discusses 
such t e e n - a g e problems a s : t h e a g e a t which to s t a r t 
d a t i n g , how t o convince p a r e n t s a b o u t d a t i n g , s h y n e s s 
a t p a r t i e s a n d dances, m e e t i n g t h e r i g h t boy or girl, 
d a t i n g non-Catholics, a f t e r t h e d a t e , kissing, how to h a n -
dle t h e " f r e s h g u y s , " t h e problem of " g o i n g s t e a d y , " a n d 
o t h e r t e e n problems. —64 pp., 20^. 

L E T T E R S TO L Y N N : MORE ABOUT D A T I N G 

T h e a u t h o r t u r n s t o such o t h e r problems connected 
w i t h d a t i n g a s : t h e v a l u e of a r e p u t a t i o n , m o r a l s v e r s u s 
p o p u l a r i t y , expensive a n d inexpensive d a t e s , d r e s s i n g f o r 
a date, d a t i n g on school n i g h t s , kissing p a r t i e s , pick ups 
and let downs, w h y be self-conscious, who w o n ' t be asked 
a second time, and o t h e r s . —64 pp., 20^. 

O r d e r t o d a y t h e s e new, easy-on-your-eyes (and j u s t 
a s e a s y on y o u r p o c k e t ) , book-size p a m p h l e t s f r o m : 

F R A N C I S C A N P R I N T E R Y , Pulaski, Wis.