Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-29

human nature and III Vanity Fair may
well BE- There Is certain freshness
and sweetness ami evant-cence about
them Ike the charm ~ flowers. but
TEXTILES and birds. AMI besides this
graciousness aud attrssr riveness ike that
one feels Ia all frisSy condling. fond
young creatures like kittens and lambs
and suchlike helpless. frohcsome and
truatful creatures.
For myself / am devoted 20 girls
wherever I may De-, and l have been, I
believe. IN most parts OF the habitabIe
globe Everywhere | have found girls,
and everywhere there have been many
traits If identity and some Of difference.
AL were nice, and do not know that if
would ( could tell which | like the best.
Our Own .sirls certainly have the most
characts r; also. as u rule, they have the
most beauty. But the question Is. Are
not they. 50 far at least Is the great
cities go-are not they more young wom-
en OF the world than girls pur e simple?
There has been a great deal said both at
home and abroad upon this subject. but
II IS one thar Is always coming upagain.
aud We should not blink the discussion
OF IT,
Il the American girl not enough girl,
or is she 700 much OF a girl1
II is certainly true that the American
girl accepts, Ia fact assumes. response
bllities that no other girl in the world
would dream of doing. and the conse-
queuce Is that she sometimes appears
lacking in that modest humility and
tiinid appeal 20 her elders which Is one
OF the charms Of certain other girls; for
eigners. IA fact, are apt 10 mistake her
calm self assertion for bOldness and
want Of self respect, and acting upon
this mistake they sometimes meet with
rebuifs 50 startling that they rush into
another mistake and set down the Amer
lean girl as a shrewd, sharp tongued
and sharp tempered vixen. and please
themselves by saying thai no man in his
senses would ever venture 20 marry her.
In fact, the American grape Is for him
a sour grape.
And VET how could we wish this free
dom Of action and speech or this capac-
ity for self defense and aggressive war
fare less, when we consider that these
very traits are tho foundation of Amer
lean character. and that these very girls
are 70 become tho mothers Of the men Of
the futsrgf
An American girl fought through two
years Il the Revolution and gained
among her associates a reputation most
honorable % her modesty AS "a woman,
although no one suspected ner sex 10 the
last. Grace Darling was al American
girl. and moro than one or two others
have emulated her noble courage under
similar circumstances. American girls
have taken their fathers places IN com
nand % ships. in the conduct Of fight
from Indians IN the saving of burning
houses. in fact, / doubt not with little
research one could find an American girl
in nearly every position Of trust or OF
command which man of her age and
physical ability could I'LL Shall we.
then. desire 20 see her watered down to
the level Of The shrinking and blushing
inqenss which Is tho French ideal Of
girlho0d9
But On the other hand, the girls who
are called a. fight in the ranks. or 10
"man lfeboats. or rescue their helpless
mothers from Indians. OF % save burn
ing buildings. are very small proper
ton II the whole. and this very courags
and ability are apt in private hfe %
make = restless and uncontrolled and
perhaps assuming character. Our Grace
parhncs tn city society are very apt "a
get tine name IT being fast on man
nish" or loud. just because they have
surh en amount II surplus energy and
force az character. Besides this our
girls have another splendid quality
win "a Is apr to lead Foreigners 10 make
mistakes about theuL They are NOT
afraid ef man. because they feel them
selves perfectly competent 20 CON
t-1l any circumstances in which
they may be- placed and 10 meet any
attack shat may ~ ma'he. They are
Inas who meet the lion with perfect
tranquility. because they know they
can lead him whittier trry wall The
liar-s instruct generally lrats him to the
same convection. put M case he IS stupid
ana don't see BE- the An~rican Ina S
i,ftacapa aie ~ cu1vertng her lily stalk
iatsr aaud ~ vh.te ror steel and gir
m1 fesfer Ltn l--son be does naf
s,rn forget. There % suppose mo- gir.
In tae world 81 re-f ~ capable 81
takine eare cf herself aud ieue 80 well
A. Tie American EIrL n her wcmauIF