Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-25
THE AMERICAN GIRL.

THE AMERICAN GIRL.
German Writer'S Description of
Her-Early Independence-A Disre-
gard for Old World Proprieties-
Creatures of Fashion,
From the Chica-o Times
BERLIN, Oct THE following article Is
going the rounds of the German press: The
American girl, not to be COMPOUNDED with the
English girl. as is often done on the continent.
Is most peculiar creature, and at any rate
worthy OF close observation. In order to I'M
derstand the character of the young lady, one
must keep in mind her childhood, which is far
less constrained in America than anywhere else.
The quick growth of this yet primitive country
even extends to it's people; as for example. a
little girl OF eight years has perfectly formed
and, for the most part, logically grounded
opinions of her own upon great MANY sub
1ects. This early sharpening of the cOmprehen-
sion often works wonders which by no means
increase as she gets on in life The great re-
gard which the American has for the individual
VIII induces him to cOncede even to his own
Child the right of seIf-determnation as soon AS
IL De Ems TO think and develop general opinions
When the parent has expressed a wish to the
child in the form of command the
foreigner Is naturally much astonished to
near IL answer with decided {" / will " or
Wherewith the debate is usually at an end As
littie as this giarlng resistance. may please US.
with our custom of unconstitutional obedience
we must admit 1t to be the most practicable way
OF developing in quickest possible time the will,
the understanding, the Independence of the indj-
vlduai. Now this child at eight years of are is
called Miss. in company wears silk dresses and
costly Jewels OF its own choosing subscribes for
chlid paper, attends club consisting of
children of its own aye, dispenses charity at its
snr Il ~
'H0w IS your beau?" meaning of course some
OF the boys, answers without embarrassment
ana with conscious air. ''Pretty well. thanks?"
me scnOOl in which this creature is trained who
at tne age OF eight has adopted all the forms of
society, Will produce a little lady, if from the
arl>tocracy: II from the people bold-mild
CREATURE. Both at the age Of 16 will have the
unembarrassed self-possessed air which charae-
terlzes the American girl. and at 80 you find her
somewhat enancipated woman AS soon as
the young girl is old enough the mother stems
into the background entirely. The parlor be-
longs to the daughters and their beaux. These
she receives alone.one or moro in number and at
any hour OF the day or evening ACCORDING TO her
inclination Even if an engagement EXISTS he
tween her and any one OF these gentlemen. it ia
not announced unless the young beauty wishes
It. win the same freedom she accepts one or
inc. more OF them as escort to balls promenades,
thea'ers and even takes nightly walks, includ-
Ing restaurant suppers. Little JOURNEYS and ex-
cursions are also made without it once occur
ring to the mother that she should accompany
her or send proper female escort. The Young
, ,auv Is anowed TO exercise her own judgment
upon what Is and what Is not proper without
oelhg Obliged to render the least account of her
proceedings TO either parents or t. her future
nusoahd, whom sucn things little trouble
hheIiCahs, on the whole. have an enormous re-
spect for women. That alone saws a great deal.
and further. the American girl is through and
tnrOu On Knowing. She can seldom be fooled
III couple love each other there is nothing TO
prevent the marriage, even if serious hinder
ances arise, which the parties see will in the
future cause unhappness, because they know
they can be easily separated
Ihese points, taken alto gether make the ex-
pertinent OF freedom much less dangerous than
!. appears TO be- and one can assert that the
american system can take care of itself This
freedom has so much charm that even after a
young lady has chosen one of her admirers for
her husband. she prefers to postpone assuming
the sweet name of bride. which, however does
not prevent other little firtatOns, until her in
tended has taken tour through Europe. turned
MS sheep into Kansas gold or some like excuse.
Inls accounts for the bride being frequently
much older than the bridegroom One fin dis
more young married men in America than in
any other civilized country: but the reason of
this Is the early independence of the individual
ana the absolute want Of all military obligation.
me American women have the decided advan-
tage Of the men, for the social rights of the fem
In inc sex have no end
girl Is nckleness, not only in love affairs but in
her studies. young lady of culture is painter
sculptress, poetess, and musician To be able
TO use the brush does not satisfy her. No. she
must initiate certain style. and it Is the same
with the other arts. She is in most cases ruled
Dy fashion. seldom by conviction 1t sometimes
happens that young lady asks painter or
MUSICIAN ,l. Can you teach me Rembrandt's or
Llszt s touch In six months? and what will YOU
charge for it," The little lady is so accustomed
to have her own way that she considers such
thing quite possible.
am convinced that there is little real love for
ART IA America 1t is mostly specifically studied
for the sake OF ''tone" Although talented and
from Childhood accustomed to think and decide
iOr herself, the American girl seldom amounts
to much, takes life in the most comf0rtable
agreeable. and elegant manner, and is a very
expensive daughter, a still more expensive wife
In the large American cities the ladies dress in
genuine French fashion, and always wear their
diamonds both morning and evening. in the
street and in the ballroom This is a decided
lack OF TASTE and according to our ideas. vnl-
gar. one can scarcely tell a married woman
from an unmarried lady. Both dress alike: in
TACT no costume Is considered too pompOus for a
young girl. The ladies on the other side of the
ocean suffer very little from superfuous fresh
ness, which may partly be attributed to the
climate partly to excessive eating, munchng of
candy, and continual sitting In rocking chairs
american girls are most always pretty and NAV
often be called handsome
OF medium height, extremely delicate and
graceful, most too fragile to suit us; fine small
head aristocraticaly poised; almond shaped
eyes OF deep blue, auburn hair, full cut mouth
and small feet her exterior Is the prototype of a
iady; and they are all alike. the milliOnheiress
OF 9Th avenue and the downtown shop Girl Tn
conversation her face sometimes grows roguish
ana frequently animated. but never expresses
depth of feeling or passion. In all cases and
classes the American women excel the men in
education, even II the greater part of their
| knowledge Is acquired by reading papers, Jour
| nails, and such books with which America ia
overrun and which are read by rich and moor
| with the same eagerness. OF the amount of
printed paper q nation is capable of devonr,nr
one can Judge best In America The women
| are also more cultured than the men. because
an American man Is q through and through