Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1890-10-11
~ MASKING. 5"
Our Boys and Girls.

one is brought into constant contact with human
nature in its various forms, and not day passes
but the actions Of many of 'our boys and girls"
as seen upon the streets, deserves at least pass
ing comment from any and every one interested
therein.
1t is to be regretted that not more is said upon
this subject, for it is certainly growing evil,
whose pathway leads only to perdition.
1t is noticeable fact that women are blamed
for nearly every wrong that is ever committed. I
am glad to be able to deny the assertion; and
while woman is probably as much to blame as man,
she is not more so. #7 ses8
The girls and boys of whom I am writing, are
young men and women between the ages Of four
teen and twenty. There is not day passes but,
should l care to do so, may look from my win
dow upon the crowded thoroughfare and see, as l
often do, this continued, detestable, so-caled
habit OF "mashing."
Not long since | read in daily paper that it
was dying out.
1t is not, at least not in this city, and believe
this on par with most others.
Flirting is better word to use, but it goes fur
ther than that and sometimes leads to criminal re-
suits.
1t seems singular that girl or boy, especially
young man or woman, with ordinary good sense,
whose home is one of refinement, and even ele-
gance, whose parents tread the higher walks Of
life, should stoop to so low thing There should
be some distinguishing feature between the good
and the bad, the vile and the pure. The very
things that most of The fallen men and women do,
to attract either sex, is copied in fac smile by
many in the upper classes "Our girls and boys"
do not realize what they are doing. The love OF
life and "fun" is so strong within their youthful
hearts, that under the impulse of the moment,
without a serious second thought, they plunge
wildly into the vortex for the sake of the passing
moment. Girls strangers are not the ones to
whom you should give your sweetest glances, and
encourage to follow you upon the streets by your
winning smiles.
What do you think most men, young and old,
suppose when you act In this way? Certainly that
you are not what you ought to be, and very bold,
to say the least 4t
Young men and boys do likewise, and the only
way for pure, modest, womanly girl to do, when
ogled and smirked upon, is to act as though she
was entirely ignorant Of their presence.
1t is not necessary for respectable young people
ever to resort to anything so vile.
Men and women, too, young and mddle-aged,
presume many times and make such pertinent ad-
vances that the victim is annoyed beyond endur-
ance, and is obliged to not only give glance Of
'withering scorn," but to use very expressive Ian
guage that he or she may 60 his or her way in
peace.
shotgun would be most effective in such in
stances.
Thoughtlessness on the part Of our young peo-
pie is the bane of their existence.
Girls and boys, if you consider that flirting or
''mashng" is the proper thing to do, why do you
avoid all such proceedings in the presence of your
parents, or wiser friends than yourselves?
A pure girl generally estimates man at his true
value, and vice versa, when he or she attempts
anything out of the conventional rule of honor.
These may seem small things to young people,
but it takes oftentimes very small things to shadow
and embitter lifetime.
man when he takes his first second or even