The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-07-02
NUMBER Is.
The American Girl Abroad.

Prentice Mulford writes TO the san Fran
cisco Bulletin: Our American girl. while
in Italy last summer. three day after meet
ing Prince Nermicclli, makes an appoint
me. 10 meet him 10y moonlight alone, and
that without the least thought of imprO-
priety. She wants adventure. Are you
aware that your daughter has gone out
rowing alone with Prince Nermicelli?"
said an English matrOn TO the American
mother. Certainly" replied she, with
out the least idea Of the enOrmity COM
mitted, at least as regards appearance.
But her next remark was more startling
" And | think she has treated the Prince
very badly, too, for she neglected to keep
an appointment with him yesterday morn
ing"
The English matrOn is aStOunded. such
liberty to her seems license. The Ameri-
can wonders at her companions squeam-
ishness. Neither party understands the
other.
Our American girl should not have gone
out alone with Prince Nermicelli, for on
this side of the water the worst construc-
ton is placed on such action. Appear
ances here are deemed incontrOvertible
proof of acts. But the American girl and
her mother do not care for this. "Her
daughter" she remarks, ''can take care of
herself. They are not going to be cramped
by any such old world notions of propri-
ety." This is Independent, but it may not
b9 profitable. 1t may occasion the incOn-
venience of causing both mother and
daughter to be regarded as almost diSrep-
utable characters by the shocked English.
n nice young lady taking her morning Bit
ters at the Long Tom saloon would not
cause any greater sensation and aversion
than does the lawleSs young American
lady here at times. New let us be pro-
found. Prejudice and custom must be re-
spected to secure friendship. When among
Romans, etc. The Shah of Persia, on
visiting England. had the good sense to
leave his three or four hundred wives at
home. Let us initiate the spirit of the
Shah. and thereby secure closer commun-
ion with our British brethren. If the Co
lumbian lady will be loud and - fast, "
she will not enter the penetralia of the best
English society.
Our American girl who made the ap-
pointment with Prince Vermicelli came
back that day with flushed face and gilt
tering eye. She was in a rage. The Prince
had not been gentlemanly. But she had
"taken care of herself" The Prince had
a black eve. She had, she remarked,
- whipped him - with her parasol. The
Prince was puzzled. He had only acted
as any man of fashion in his country would
have done. But his only trophy was a
black eye. A new light at once dawns
upon the American mother. She sees that
she is in a land where the standard of pro
priety " is widely different from that of
America.
'' could not. with the best intentions to-
ward you," said the kind-hearted Eng
lish woman, in conversation atterward with
her, " afford, after tine liberty you allow
your daughters, to recognize you in Lon
don society," Sometimes the American
girl processes not to care for English Opin-
ion in this matter. But Il don't care, =
too often on the lips means s. do care" in
the heart. 1t is natural to desire that
which is difficult to obtain; to see what
is hidden from the many; to 90 into eX-
| elusive circles. to have a glimpse of Lon
don society. However, the American girls
| self reliance, despite its abuse, seems to be
| the winning card. Continental respecta-
( bility and prOpriety teaches its daughters
| that they are weak, unable to guard them
selves. and that all men are ravenlng
wolves. Otherwise, may not the masculine
be trusted out of the mothers sight with
the pirl'S2