The New Yorker

My second foray into the library went about as well as the first. I am thoroughly convinced that the periodicals section is designed to be as confusing as possible. A simple alphabetical organization seems the simplest to me, but I'm sure the system used is eminently more useful to those who are more knowledgable. After about ten minutes, I managed to find the row with volumes of TIME on one side, pulled down a volume covering the summer of 1963 and began to search through its pages for a suitable story.

Unable to find anything other than news reports (none of which suitably embodied a coming of age theme), I glanced around to find another magazine that I might be able to find an article in. Thankfully, The New Yorker was on the row opposite TIME and I quickly pulled down a volume containing issues from September to November of 1963. I settled on an article about taking care of plants and picking furniture for a house. The article was written from the point of view of a early 20's man, newly out into the world and unexperienced.

Being a young man myself, I understand the rigors involved with moving into a house not owned by your parents. I didn't realize just how much furniture it takes to fill up a house. A couch, TV stand and small coffee table certainly doesn't fill up a large living room.

Gathering furniture is part of growing up--a rite of passage even for some. Without a well-furnished house, some might think less of you upon seeing your house. When was the last time someone said "I really like what you didn't do with this space"? And how can you expect to throw a dinner party at your house with only two chairs and four plates to your name? Adulthood involves having more dishes and furniture than anyone could possibly use in a single day, and the author makes a point of that.

However, the article isn't confined only to matters of furniture. The author also dives into horticulture. He speaks of a 5-week class for amateur gardeners he attended whilst house-sitting for some friends. The plants in the house he was watching had begun wilting under his care, so he decided it was necessary to learn something about the proper care of plants. He was unable to attend the first night of class, but on the second day he noticed just how much the other students seemed to know. Eventually, he asked a woman in the class if she had done any gardening before. She told him that before the first day of class, she was hopeless with plants, but the first lesson had been quite good.

Nine classes later, he agreed. Plants flourished under his care, so much so that he even began gardening at his own home.

Plants require an immense amount of attention, more than some cats. Responsibility is a hallmark of adulthood, and maintaining a garden isn't exactly fun for most of us. But when done well, a garden can look exquisite and compliments a well-furnished house.

The article shows how much of an emphasis was placed on appearances in the 60's, just like the 20's. Today, magazine articles deal more with the practicality of building projects than the wood with the best grain or the nicest species of flower. "How-to" is emphasized over "How-it-used-to-be-done-in-English-manors."

I think that's a good trend.