Youth Fare Well

THERE IS so little room for life in this world. Even the Civil Aeronautics Board should cherish it, but it doesn't. The CAB is threatening to end the Youth Fare privileges for travellers from ages 12 to 21. The System is trying to squeeze the life from air travel to the great silver birds can fly in peace.

Ending Youth Fare will be first and foremost a blow to mothers and lovers. It will banish caprice from air travel. There will be no more impulsive flights to mothers' cooking or the arms of sweethearts. The airlines will be surrendered to fat executives and government officials with clenched teeth.

The end of Youth Fare will diminish the humanity of airports. Scenes of haggard youths cradling green bills in their hands will forever disappear. At night, the fluorescent lights will shine on empty seats.

If the CAB ends Youth Fare, we will all know why it did.