Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-08-15
The Summer Girl.

The summer girl is distinctively Amer
lean institution. She is impossible, in
Iact, IN any country but this. Only on
the soil OF her crisp independence, under
tne sunshine OF chivalric protection, could
TINS fascinating flower of American maid
enhood so tragrantly blossom We all
should know her and have loved her She
Is sweetly tangible yet daintily elusive;
tor, II the summer girl flower into the
autumn girl and at Christmas her perfume
seems still precious, she is the summer
glfl no longer. She has taken on new
color and beauty, lasting and very like
~ an lmperlshable seduction, for she
glorlousl y unfolds. as the best girl then.
But the true specimen Of the summer girl
Is ephemeral.
She comes with tie daisies and the
dandellons, In the soitening mornings of
May, her peachy cheeks as yet unsprinkIed
with golden freckles and her virginia. lips
dewy like the uncurling petals of the
mornlng-glories. There are honey-suckles
In her hair. and creamy, odorous lilacs at
her belt. Redolent of the spring time is
she and palpitating with the tingling
temper OF the fresh young grasses and
qulverlng leaves. DecorouS of manner
though she be and but discreetlv smiling,
her attire has yet a sensible, worldly
grace. Her hat of straw tits roguishly
athwart her fluffy head and her fresh frock
discovers dainty ankles In a word, as
they say IN California. shes a bird-and
she knows it.
The summer girl is but a modest
bud IN June, peeping slyly under curling
iashes, and tlmldly bestuwing glimpses of
ter graces to casual men. But when July
comes she has bloomed forth in splendor
unrivaled, and decked the summer resort
landscape with her radiant reflection.
Jaunty and firm is her step and victorious
her ar. Her scepter is parasol of lace
and her throne a varnisned blackboard
her hooking eyes are wide open now, and
they have found the contest nook in the
hotel varanda and the shadlest path in the
woods. She Is perfectly innocent, wholly
delightful and as irresponsible as but
terhy.
The summer girl has a placid mother
who Is toud of nap. a small sister with d
pug dog, and a brother who smokes fur
tive clgarettS, in white kl.ickerbockers.
and has matchmaking instincts. An eva
tive and retiring man. who sometimes
watches her from the veranda on Sunday
afternoons, Is vaguely understood to be
I'LL 1lC SuulIHtI SlIl Cdu 40
many things and prattle about all: but
better than tennis or riding or bathing or
dancing she loves a Irritation: and if there
are nc young men around she will 1irt
with their fathers. But the summer girl
fancy Is for very young men, who must
wear crimson sashes and polka-dot blazers F.:
else, indeed, were she not true summer
girl at all, but seriously disposed
cOquette, which is distinctly different.
The summer girl doesn't look for any in
tentions in particular and would resent
being taken seriously.
When September comes the summer
girl fades from the face of nature. and
her memory is as the faint flavor of dried
rose leaves. Few who studied and loved
her even know into what she transforms
herself and whether she dies. In another
state of existence she may be sedate
young woman, with taste for missions
or cooking schools, who is destined to
marry the sort of man who can't find
time for vacations and knows nothing
whatever about the summer girl. Your
real summer girl never marries. She is
a perennial delight; ageless and fadeess,
whose genesis is an immortal mystery and
the aim of whose brief existence is an
lawful Jolly time. IN. Y. Mail and Elk
press.