My April 1947 Seventeen magazine includes some cute rhymes to help teens be better human beings. The threat of a $100.02 fine (or $1,212 today, adjusted for inflation) should prove effective. I’ve never paid a library fine, nor a Blockbuster fee, as I try to live my life by the rules. But I can’t imagine anyone accruing over a thousand dollars in library fees, no?
This next image warns against tardiness, a reprehensible character flaw.
I am reminded of the chorus to Genesis’ “Misunderstanding.”
There must be some misunderstanding
There must be some kind of mistake
I was waiting in the rain for hours
You were late
Lastly, we see a milkman at sunrise, stumbling upon a woman who has forgotten her key, but somehow managed to locate a fluffy pillow.
If this was geared toward 1940s teens, I’m not sure of the implications. Surely not the walk of shame. Couldn’t she simply have knocked on the door and had her parents open it? I don’t get it.
I Don't Get It 
No intent to throw shade on Seventeen but those advice poems were as useful as screen doors on a submarine. Any wonder the yewts of today are a muddled lot. Get off my lawn.
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I doubt anyone took them to heart. Agreed.
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How many seventeen year olds have ever heeded advice given? Personally I have had to pay a few late fees but never late. Also never forgotten my key either.
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Ha!
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Nowadays the library world trend is to waive fines for children and sometimes teens to encourage reading, Kerbey. And in COVID-19 times, some libraries have waived all late fines. There are harsher things to worrier about than due dates …
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Amen.
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I love all these posts! Hard to find one to comment on, but Seventeen Magazine has been a long-time companion of teenage girls. Most of us have read or subscribed to it at one time or another – so neat to know that it was going during post – WWII! Cool. Thanks for visiting my true vintage closet, too.
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