The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-01-04
WhistlIng Girls.

With the following letter Sun re-
porter went to DR.. f. II. Hamilton for
information:
To the Editor of the Sun--Sir: My
sister whistles. Should l break her of
it? If so, how? Will it do her any harm?
Ought girl to whistle? Do a good
many girls whistle? She says they do.
DR.. Hamilton said he knew of no diff
ference between the vocal chords, bron-
chial tubes, or lungs of women and those
of men that should make the young
mans sister necessarily a poorer whis-
tier than the young man himself. He
didn't see any reason why woman
shouldn't be even better whistler than
some men, if she should give her whole
mind to it. AS to whether they did
whistle Or not, he declined to be consid-
cred an authority; and as to why they
didn't, or couldn't, or shouldn't, or
wouldn't. he modestly affirmed that he
was not a sufficient philosopher to deter
mine, and that he would prefer to leave
it to somebody else.
DR.. A. b. Mott said: "Why, of course.
plenty of women whistle. Quite enough
of them, [ should say. Don't you know
that old French proverb that "a dancing
person, u growing hen. and a whistling
girl never come TO any good?' But it is
all matter of habit and association in
youth. l very much doubt if any girl
that is reared in family without boys
about the house ever learps to whistle.
On the other hand, girl with brothers,
will be very likely to pick il up. But
when she gets to be q young woman she
will give it up-simply because it is not
regarded as ladylike accomplishment.
l say she will, when perhaps should
rather say Il suppose she will At all
events she will be shy of letting young
men hear her whistling. There is no
physical reason why a girl should not
whistle as we'll as boy; not at least un
til she begins sqeez;ng herself short of
breath with corsets. And it would be
better for her health if she did do more
loud noise making, even whistling, in
her youth, for the developing Of her
lungs, than she is accustomed to-"
Dr. Stephen W. Roof said: "Well,
while cannot say that I have ever heard
q girl emulate boys proudest whistling
achievement-whichi is to jam his two
fore fingers into his mouth until he gets
q good hold on his back teeth, or some
WACIC, duu tuCu lCU OA III cal plCi
note that would shame steam whistle
still have heard good many girls
whistle quite nicely. ! don't see why
they shouldn't from any hygenic or
physiological reasons, anyway. It might
be good thing for them to whistle. One
great consideration would be that while
they were whistling they couldn't be
talking. Perhaps that is the reason they
are not often heard whistling. But if
you happen to be about when they think
themselves alone, you will very often
hear them whistle. l think girls in the
country whistle more than those in the
city-that is they do so more generally.
But the popular prejudice against it is
such that women, as a rule, pretend it
would be impossible for them to whistle.
Lots of men would be very much sur
prised to know how we'll their wives can
whistle"
A lady who was asked about it, said
frankly. If you won't expose me, I'll
prove to you that one woman you know
can whistle. And I'll tell you why
women don't whistle, usually where men
are. Their lips don't look pretty when
puckered up for whistle, and they can
not, when whistling, smile to show their
teeth if they have fine set. Surely
those are reasons sufficient why women
don't want to whistle, or at least to have
men catch them at it. And yet it is
good thing; you have got to use good
deal of lung power to get out clear,
fine whistle, and the more you use, the
more you will have. Do 1 know any
society ladies who whistle privately :?
Why yes score of them Tell Won
who they are? No, indeed What
would become of us women if we went
telling things about each other"