Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-07-20
Copyright. 1883, by American Press Associa-
fion

NSSSHa HAPERONS are class Of
i 4 MlN people not at all to be de-
Haa spised, for like every other
~ element Of society they have
their uses as well as their al7Eses.
There are in England two classes OF
chaperons-pr and nonprofes-
sional. The former, as is well known,
sells its service for filthy lucre, while
the latter belongs to all walks of life and
would treat with scorn any offer of COM
pensation for its kindly acts To the
nonprofessional chaperon it is a de-
lightful condescension to feel that she
can safely launch q young and untried
I girl into the whirlpool Of society.
Among these classes we find the newly
made wife, who likes to exploit the au-
thority which matrimony has conferred
upon her by assuming the charge of her
unmarried girl friends. Then there is
the shabby genteel widow of an army
or navy officer, who proclaims herself
the offshoot of some noble family and
plumes herself upon that distinction.
Her charges are usually selected from
middle class English life.
In France the term chaperon cor
veys an entirely different meaning. The
governess in that sunny cline plays
dual role, for she must everywhere ac-
company the maiden intrusted to her
care. In France. as in England, the in
PRODUCTION Of a young girl into society is
an important episode in her career, es-
pecially if she have wealth and be also
the happy possessor of high connections.
These lend their aid to make the event
as brilliant as possible.
The most particular of all countries
in this respect is Spain, whose sunny
daughters are watched with never tir-
ing eye. They are not permitted to step
beyond the home limits without watch
full attendant at their side. But the
Spanish girl, in one respect at least, is
no different from her sister Of other
climes, for despite the diligent care be-
slowed upon her she finds many oppor-
tunities to telegraph loving glances to
the opposite sex.
The chaperoning of young ladies in
Russia is somewhat different from that
which obtains in other countries 1t is
not that the Russian girl is permitted
more freedom, but that she demands it
and insists on having it. Among the
nobility this system Of espionage is car
ried out with more or less stringency
The college students demand perfect
liberty Of action as well as freedom Of
thought Otherwise how could so many
Of them become embroiled in the acts of
~ 1;1,a-o1 4l,;,I-,,,e f ~, an, ,,i,a9 Tho
daughters Of the merchant or middle
class have very little social life which
calls for the service of chaperon. The
swatka, or matchmaker, takes her place.
The daughter of the household is seldom
permitted to be free agent in the bust
ness Of husband choosing. Her oppor-
tunities are circumscribed, and she per
force yields to the wishes Of her parents.
In Germany this matter is viewed
from very practical standpoint, and
until the engagement Of the young lady
is announced the services of a chaperon
are constantly called into play. The Ger
man life, like the English, is essentially
home one, and many of the same re-
strictions encircle both.
But in England the business of chap
eroning is carried on to greater extent
and under more peculiar conditions.
English girls, as rule, are kept in the
nursery, so 10 speak, till they are past
their seventeenth or eighteenth year.
Their time is entirely given up to study
and sort of maternal care of their
younger brothers and sisters 1t is only
in rare cases that some particular study
Is taken up, with the object of delving
deep into its mysteries. The knowledge
acquired is usually superficial and fits
tho girl for little more than the duties of
q good wife and mother Her entrance
into society, no matter to what class she
belongs, is O marked event in her life
The mother, if alive, is always supposed
to lend her gracious presence to the oc-
casion. If it be otherwise, some female
friend is deputed to perform the duty Of
sponsor. This custom applies to all
classes OF society. from the highest to
the lowest.
We s-c speaking of nonprofessional
chaperons. The professional belongs to
quite different sphere. She offers her
services for money and sells herself to
the highest bidder for whatever Of distinc-
ton she is able to carry into her work
1t has been variously limited that ladies
taking high rank in London's social cir
cles have been found among this latter
class, but this statement is not announced
as fact, for the reason that unworthy
motives are often attributed to the doer
of a generous act. This is especially the
case if the lady have high rank and but
/ little money to sustain the dignity of
her position.
Rich Americans have of late years be-
come somewhat Of prey to the profes-
sional chaperon This is only when
friends are lacking on the other side, and
the young lady anxious to enter good Eu-
ropean society finds it imperative to have
some one who will vouch for her. Some
funny stories involving both sides have
been told in reference to this matter,
but it is not well to give credence to all
one hears. The higher classes Of society
on both continents are becoming so in
termingled through marriage that this
necessity of American maidens will soon
be done away with. The youth, beauty
and wealth of the American girl are be-
ing gradually engrafted upon the nobil-
ity Of the eastern continent.
The question Of chaperoning ia Amer
lea has but recently acquired serious di-
mensions. 1t i practiced chiefly by
anglomaniacs and those who have spent
the greater part Of their lives in foreign
lands. Here in America the daughters
Of the household are as free as the birds
of the air. Restrictions in their case are
very slight, for the reason that the girls
of this country are taught to be thor
oughly independent, self reliant and
above all honorable in their actions.
The young ladies Of the present day take
part In almost as many athletic sports
ss do their brothers. The commingling
Of the sexes which results from this and
the rivalry which it engenders render
the American girl keenly conscious Of
her powers and the privileges Of her
sex. She learns to stand up for her
rights and a1Ways insists upon getting