Perpetual Childhood vs. Maturity

Reading old books has a way of revealing the peculiar features of our own age.  One of those great contrasts is between ideas about childhood and maturity.  Mark Anderson in his book Pure describes our current state as American Adolescence.  In his aphoristic style he writes, "The First Commandment of contemporary America: Thou Shalt Not Mature.  Hence blue jeans, video games, popular music, and pot." and "The many products of popular culture rated M, for "mature," should of course be rated I."  It seems that adolescence is ever prolonged even well past the college years.

This morning I was reading Lord Chesterfield's letters to his son Philip and was struck by the contrast with today.  Lord Chesterfield had written his son over sixty letters educating him in virtue, history, mythology, geography, Latin, poetry, and more.  The I came to his seventieth letter written in 1741.  It is addressed to "Philip Stanhope, Yet a Little Boy, But To-Morrow Going Out of Childhood."  Here is how the letter begins:

This is the last letter I shall write to you as to a little boy; for tomorrow, if I am not mistaken, you will attain your ninth year; so that for the future, I will treat you as a YOUTH.  You must now commence a different course of life, a different course of studies.  No more levity; childish toys and playthings must be thrown aside, and your mind directed to serious objects.  What was not unbecoming of a child, would be disgraceful to a youth.  Wherefore, endeavor with all your might to show a suitable change; and, by learning good manners, politeness, and other accomplishments ...