Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-16
GIRLS OF THE PERIOD.
American Girls as street Elirts-A
Marvel 20 Foreigners.

American Girls as street FIirts-A
Marvel 20 Foreigners.
From the Rsvemtion-womAns Paper.
The freedom enjoyed by our young
women is q perfect marvel to foreicners.
They are entirely incapable of under
standing how it accords with safety and
the preservation of good morals. The
flirting which is carried on between slran-
gers in omnibusses, horse-csrs, and on fer
ry-boats, is so open and patent they can
not help seeing it. Il msy be, doubtless,
in many cases, innocent enough, only
engaged in for bit of fun, to while
away the passing moment, but it presents
a series of phenomena incomprehensible
to the transatlantic brain. An English
lady, in this dazed and bewildered condi-
ton once said to US: SIT would never do
to trust English girls with the independ-
ence American young women enjoy.
They are made differently, and the worst
possible consequences wonld ensue.
am surprised that your girls can behave
as see them without loss of caste and
character. The implied compliment
was not undeserved. American girls
possess an almost incongruous mix
ture of daring innocence and the ability
to protect themselves; though they often
commit breaches of propriety and good
taste, they know where to draw the
line, and can, ss general thing betrusted.
Many of our girls here in New York are
idle and fond of excitement-in high
health, with plenty of money to spend,
and utterly free from care. The lounger
up and down Fifth avenue ola sunny af-
ternoon, may meet them in shoals and
squads, decked out in their finery, full of
chatter and glee. There are also speci-
mems of the young genus homo, who
appear to have been born for the sole
purpose of squeezing themselves into the
tightest of tailor's wares, and sffording a
feeble excuse for the display Of cox
combry. These creatures, many of
them promenade the avenue AZ al hours
of the day; few have achieved great
ness, and are as familiar to the jewellers
of the street as the Worth monument.
They have at command all the tricks and
devices by which low grade of &C.
quaintance can be established with the
demoiselles who futter along the pave
ment. There is an acquaintance of the
eyes and handkerchief. Silly, feeble
minded impertinences are practiced,
which, if witnessed BY the paternal rels.
tive of the saucy rather fast young Miss,
who, if she does not invite at least per
mits them, would doubtless be instru-
mental in drawing down the chastisement
of kick on the young male idiot who
has been INDUCING in this silly sport.
This is very absurd and ridiculous girl
play. 1t belongs to the Vesly period.
We are not considering now despiesble
class of sharks who swarm in great cities,
and modest decorous matrons, and are
dangerous to unprotected young girls.
We are dealing with the youthful impro
prieties which prsctised openly, and with
out any attempt at conceslment, impart
to our English cousins such shiyer Of
the nerves. It Is pity to own
it, but our city girls are deplorably IN
cultured. The march of the world has
left them one side; it has got 10 take
them up and break them, as 1t were
With the best material, the most promis-
ing, crude qualities, they are, ss yet in
capable of framing or practising 8 code
of manners which shall develop the in
herent dignity, sweetness and urbsnity
of our wOlnanhOod.