The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-04
OIL Xxx
THE YOUNG GIRLS AGE.
Christine Terhune Herrick Writes of One
Phase OF the Girl of the Period.
Copyright, 1901

Copyright, 1891
This has been called the children's age
With almost equal force might it bt
termed the young girls age, for during
the past two decades she has been steadi
ly growing in. Importance. What she
shall make of herself absorbs the atten
ton of intelligent thinkers far more thar
does the question of how to dispose Of
her brother. For her education college:
are founded, for her self support pro
fessions are developed-one might al
most say, invented-for her protection
as worker, Christian associations, clubs
and protective unions are organized
Books are written to teach, to encourage
to direct her, and there are not lacking
those who declare that her influence is
mOlding at least one important branch
of literature. The effect that the ''young
person" has upon fiction is a favorite
lament with certain class Of writers OF
the day who deplore that they have to
avoid high seasoning that might cause a
smart to youthful palates, and to modify
their treatment of what they are pleased
to style the real side of life.
An editorial writer in popular maya
zine recently referred to a late novel that
had excited comment by downright deal
ing with erotic phases, and defended
such plainness Of speech by the assertion
that the average young woman, on whose
behalf parents and guardians were in
dignant with this novelist, was not only
/ familiar with such English classics as
/ Fielding, Smollett and Sterne, but that
she had usually perused also transla-
tons Of the Decameron and the Heptam-
eron, and had a more than casual &C
! ouaintance with other works Of a SINH
/ lar character.
! So far as the writer of this knows, no
| one has yet taken the pains to contradict
so unwarrantable a statement. Their
author doubtless believed he was justi-
fed in making such an allegation; bHt
his association with young girls must
have been singularly unfortunate if those
he knows have been generally addicted
to the class of literature he includes in
this category.
There are two popular beliefs current
concerning the girl of the period. One
holds her to be almost an angel in her
innocence and ignorance of evil, a Great
ure whose absolute purity is only equal
ed by the total lack of perception that
enables her to hive in world like ours,
and yet never suspect that it holds sins
and moral unSavoriness.
The other class of theorists concerning
girls go to the opposite extreme and i'm
pute to them a knowingness' which
verges upon shamelessuess. The injustice
of the latter view is paralleled by the alb
surdity of the former. Unless a girl has
been brought up as was the Sleeping
Beauty, in a tower, or unless she is a
rank fool, she cannot escape the knowl-
edge that there is sin in the world. Yet
the cognizance of chow sad and how
bad and how mad it Is" does not detract
from her innate purity. The innocence
that can be sorrovfully aware of evil
without being contaminated by it out
values that ignorance which either can
not or will not own the existence of
wickedneSs.
Every one who has had an extended
acquaintance with girls knows that there
are as wide varianGes in their characters
as in those of men. Minds clean and
minds unclean are found among both.
There are women in whose presence the
most daring would hesitate to repeat a
salacious tale or allusion, and others
with whom one feels that a "shady"
story, if cleverly told, would be greeted
with applause. But be it said, to the
credit of womankind at large, that the
latter are the rare exceptions-nevert the
rule.
Il have told just one naughty story
in my life" said a middle aged matron.
That was when could not have been
more than IS years old. \ party of US
girls were spending a Jolly evening to-
gether, and there had been numerous
harmless merry jests' exchanged. Final
" there occurred to my mind an anec-
dote I had recently heard, one with a
double meaning, which, 10 do me JUS
tice, had not really appreciated Ex-
cited with the talk and laughter, / an
nounced that I knew an awful story
and, after due urging, l repeated my
double entendre narrative. The moment
the words had passed my lips their true
significance burst upon me, and would
have given worlds to recall them.
shall never forget the shocked silence
that settled down over the group, who
had innocently construed my qualifica-
ton of awful TO mean simply 'droll.'
To this davthe blood rushes tinglingly
to my cheeks as | recall that dreadful
moment. 1t taught me lesson l have
never forgotten"
Really mice" giris-to use this sdjec-
tive in lieu Of one better, but less expires
sive-do not read impure books if they
know it any more than they Willingly
make coarse remarks or tell stories that
are ''off color" Without closing their
eyes 70 the fact that sin exists, they yet
strive to preserve their mental garments
uneulhed. and to Go this avoid contact
Nth pitch in anv form. whether in clever
book or amusing aneCdote.
Such avoidance, Of sin in its least repul-
sive form does not imply Phar.seeism.
There are many women who, assuming
SIS watchworJis "Honi soft qui nal Y
pense7 and "In His Name. 20 fearlessly
into evil localities in the good works IA
miIiar TO most workers in Women's
Christian associations and TO the kings
Daughters From their own e.eSse1T