Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-08-23
FAST GIRLS.
From the Round Tablet

FROM Inc Round Table.
There is suggested to US 8 distinction
between the fast girl and the wild girl,
who are often, but most unIustly, con-
founded for though the latter in her
behavior often times rather too closeIy Y
initiates the former, it is with q very
different motive and very different ef-
feet. The fast girls main game In life is
the attainment of not0riety this gives
Us the key of all the curiOsities of her
conduct. But the sinGularities Of the
wild girl spring from the thoughtlessness
Of youth, from its headlong t1souciancg
and mischievous srdOr, from sheer ex-
cess Of animal spirits, the bubbling over
Of unusual vitality. The wild girl viii
I conduct vigorous handkerchief fiirta-
ten with stranger at distance, but
she flies in dismay at his approach she
| will answer 8 matrimonial advertise
/ ment just for the fun Of the thing. and
be pTeeipitated into the sorest distress
and terror II the prospective Benedict
should find her out ; disregsrding every
conventional propriety, she yet knows
how to blush at every unworthy deed or
word that gives instructive alarm to her
/ innocence. But the fast girl has lost the
| art Of blushiug, or rather she has edu-
Gated herself out OF it along with the
other weaknesses OF childhood. As for
| innocence, she SCOTS and derides it; she
has eatsn Of the forbidden fruit OF fatal
knowledge, and she is boAsttul of her en-
lightenment. In Ewes place, she would
have screened the serpent, for the sake Of
monOpolizing the credit OF the sin.
The fast girl is easily to be distin-
guished by ths ezaggeratiOa of dress and
manner. If crinGline be in vogue, she |
rivals the dome OF st. Peters; if paniers,
she aspirss to persOnate Bactrisn. The
very smallest OF microscopic hats and the |
heeliest Of high-heeled boots RdOrn her /
extremities; and If the prevailing mode /
allows the slightest resemblance to mas
culine attire, she pushes the fashion to
its utmost. Any particularly reprehensi-
bic masculine habit has to her an ire
sistible attraction she talks slang with /
q volubility and ease that would astonish
an uptown butchers boy, and she is
never so happy as when she can com bine
the delight Of inspiring sherry cobblers
through assrsw with the bliss of smok-
ing the surreptitious cigarette. If rich
enough, she ruus to pony phetOns and
stunning tigers, and she Is usually an ac-
complishe6 whip. At the races she is, |
Of course, in her element, and gives and
takes the odds on the favOrite with Rli
the ease and familiarity Of the most
veteran Iturfte, while displaying 8 ca- !!
pacity for champagne that would do
honor to presidential candidate. She
doesn't care greatly fer dancing, except !
FOR fashions sake and masked balls,
where she gives loose rein to all her in
genuity of intrigue; and she is satiated I
with delight if she can coutrive to be Q
cause Of q quarrel. OF all women I
ne 3 that Helen seems to her the Z
hat loVeIl -bout whom all the heroes y
n earth strovs for ten wears 20 cut eaen 1
,ther,s throats, and all the "'s's G oi EARN
ave been singing for centuries OF g @
Onlv TO be talked about; that is the SIM .
md end of her aspirations. II sne 10 4
married, SIZE would prefer to preface the /,
radding by 81 slopement, and epilogue1 ' '
y vzifh a divorce; cot to be immoral, but y
,nIv to be notorious. II she can't be d.
voreed. at least she can run sway, which y
,ha commonly does with the faithless
'ather of some very lsrge and interest
no family. The larger and the more :
Interesting the better, because the more :
and consequently the more :
I'm n1apt. Sometimes, bat rarely, she =
,ettIes down to q course of quiet domes-
-ie felicity nnarries some retired grocer =
NJ taIIow chandler Of fabulous wealth. y
and is sung by enraptured lenkinses at
,yery watering place she honoss with :;
mar startling presence. Her diamonds -
.re always more costly, her costumes :;
more recherche and numerous, her liver y
es more gorgeous, her horses more
oIooded. her hotel bills inoFe appalling,
han any one else's. Her name is 81 ~
ways in the mouths of men the daily =
oapers chronicle her outgoiDgs and her Z
mornings she Is first among lady direc-
.ors of every ball and church and sewing :,
,ooietv her fame flies abroad, gathering y
frepgtf1 as it goes, and she is happy. =
As for the grocer, if he is not happy, y
everybody strsightwsy reviles him, and :
,rjes shame on him, and tells him what y 4
brute he is, which ought to make him y y
ysrv cheerful indeed. And for her chill y
never has any. : !,
So the fast girl, married and provided n
or goes down to q peaceful and notori- Z
,ns old age, revered by all who don't =
now her, happy in the consciousness Of ii
,rstifisd ambition. Perhaps she is no n
yorse than her slower neighbors, after h
In She Is the product Of imperfect CIV y
Iization acting on an undeveloped moral a
i, NE and q keen perception of the beauty =
- :, o,esirability Of seif-Rggrsndizement,
m in some respects may be held to :,
~ -e;fv thte spirit OF the age. She does no !
- bsr,,1 TO any one but herself, and :
On the contrary, of immense service =
, Mons maiden aunts and proper old
,thers of families as horrible example &
, ingenious female youth. =