The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-06-19
American and English FlIrt..

American men and American women
are, perhapst the boldest and most un-
compromising flirts in the world. 1t must
needs be so IN society which banishes
mothers as superfluous, old ladies as nuis-
ances, and any kind of chaperonage as an
infringement ofthe glorious transatlantic
birthright and an insult to human nature.
We do not say for a moment that this un-
checked, uncontrolled intercourse between
the young men and women in America
leads to grave mischances; but we do say
that its leads to an organized system and
recognized tone of flirting which strikes us,
used to more reticence and less freedom,
as odd, to say the least of 1t, and essential
ly "bad FORM" as the youth of the day
would call it. If an Englishman were to
permit himself to say TO a single favored
one anything like what an American man
would say 10 any girl whatsoever with
whom he might converse, society would
mark him as dangerous, and careful
mothers would keep their daughters out
of his way, as watch-dogs guarding the
lambs from the prowling wolves, but the
American girl would and does think MOTH
ing of it. She is used to close sailing and
gives as good as she takes. She has made
one of q party of youths and maidens who
meet up in the mountains for a summer,
and who pair off day after day ana far in
- ~,
in the dusky glades of the silent forest |;
thinking nothing of it, and not supposing
that any one else will think more then she
does She has been used to being taken
to dancing parties by the young man of
the hour, who calls for her and is her
friend" for the occasion. The mother
does not go, and the girl is confided to the
care OF her male chapIron without heslta-
ton or repugnance. Human nature de-
mands gallantry in such circumstances as
an absolute necessity-the inevitable out
growth of the occasion; and unless she is
weaker and rasner than most,
of herself while paying back her enter
tainer in his own coin, shielding herself
while attacking him, and above all things,
showing no fear. Hence flirting be-
comes, as we have said, both an organized
system of intercourse and regular FASH
ion among the American youth; and the
consequences are to be found in certain
dash and boldness and hardness and dis
cretion all combined, whereby the parties
engaged in the pleasant game seem al
ways on the brink Of danger. and yet Sc
cure. 'efr ...t,-
Another consequence is that English
men and maidens are at disadvantage
when they meet with their compeers from
over the water, for the American men
would be sure to say more than they
meant TO substantiate TO the English girls,
and the American girls would lead the
Englishmen further than they meant to
follow, and the chances are that there
would he heart taches and ddisappOintments
for the more reserved of the two.
We have flirts enough, however among
ourselves, and VIC do as much harm to
each other as is done by outsiders, whose
ways we misunderstood because We judge
them by our own. The serious fiirt among
us is especially dangerous, and we ques
ton if the boldest American or the most
impassioned Italian, ever did more DAM
age than the quiet, undemonstrative Eng
Llish fiirt who takes sentiment as his
ground of action and Platonism as his
point d'appui. Soft eyes that look dark
and melancholy in the twilight; a sweet,
sad voice that awakens responsive echoes
in the imagination of the hearer; a lam
guild, still and selfcontained manner. CIV
ing the impression OF reserve fund of force,
of talent, Of feeling, of capacity for sorrow,
of power, of sympathy-thcse are the va
rious items which make up the stock in
trade of the sentimental flirt; and with
these, he or she dispenses sweet pain or
pleasant an~uish to all around. All, that
Is, who are weak enough to believe, and
innocent enough TO be deceived; and who
take tinsel and tinfoil for shining silver
and ruddy gold.-(By an Englishman.