The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-17
THE AGING OF GIRLS.

How the Period Differs in Many of the
States.
San Francisco Argonaut.
American society moves onward with a
waste of energy, and in nothing is so spend
thrift as with woman's age. TIE charm of
a girls grace and beauty is one Of the few
good things Of life and civilization has a
right to demand that she shall exercise that
charm as long as possible. In the West and
South, with few exceptions a girls social
life expires at the end of the two seasons
This is unfair; and il is worse than unfair
it is uneconomic. The result is that if a
girl is not married under twenty she is not
apt to be married at all. The American man
does not seem to take to a girl unless she
is young. and especially unless she is new"
There is feeling latent in his mind that the
longer she is in TINS wicked world the worse
it will be for her and the worse Tor him.
However, rs American society rests upon
purely emotional basis. it is not unnatural,
perhaps, that he should seek her out in the
springtime of her life. III New York and in
Philadelphia, though, strange to say. not in
Boston. n quite different state OF things en-
lists. There the debutante, instead OF being
from her novelty the center of all attraction,
has rather hard time of it, She must win
her way to favor. She must prove that she
is interesting, for the presumption is that
she is crude. She has this consolation,
however: she may be a long while
becoming belle, but once popular she re-
mains so. This is significant fact, and well
worth attending to. Look into the social
columns of Western paper and you will
find that girl drops ont after two or three
wears. Look through those of an Eastern pa
per, say the New York Home Journal for
instance, and it will be seen that for the last
ten years certain unmarried women have been
quoted as young girls and bellies The result
of this is that the Western girl conceals her
age; is fearful lest she may be considered too
old The Eastern girl, on the other hand, is
quite proud OF having had her two or three
seasons, and is apt to be offended it, you think
her too young.
once Travelled through California in COM
pany with some New Workers, and saw good
deal of the young lady of the party. When
the time came for us to say goodbye she asked
me in the purest spirit of hospitality, to look
her up when came to New York
II think we can make it pleasant for you"
she said quietly. I'm another year, you
know, l shall be an old Cir"
Nonsense" said 1, with rudeness in
tended for gallantry.
Yes will, too" she replied, not little
put out II shall go everywhere then"
Ombres de mes ancetres Here was girl
who was actually looking forward to being
old.
But how about those girls who you say ap-
pear in the Home Journal for ten years? some
skeptic may object By all rights they ought
Stop moment, my friend. Are you not a
little hasty? Have you seen those regal and
ethereal creatures whom you so rashly pro-
nounce old and ugly, simply because they
have arrived at the prime of womanhood?
You would not apply this rule to the actress
on the stage, would you? Then why do you
apply it to the lady IN the ball-roomf