The herald., 1897-04-25
DAINTY GIRLS
Simple Maidens of the
Sunny Southland
CUILELESS AND FANCY FREE
WHAT AN EASTERN OBSERVER
THINKS OF OUR GIRLS.
CUILELESS AND FANCY FREE
Well Dressed and Beautiful Young
Women Students-The High
School Beauties.

LOS Angeles is a wonderful little
| place." remarked a we'll known eastern
visitor, the other day, land the most in
| teresting feature is it's school girls" he
continued, enthusiastically. "Oh, you
needn't smile; I'm speaking Of them al
| class, not as individuals. Besides" he
| added, thoughtfully, "Pm married.
why? 1 don't know; that is, can't
explain the charm, and 1t would be
worse than criminal to even attempt an
analysis.
In the first place." he continued,
wholly ignoring the banter of his friends
as we'll as his own words of wisdom
relative to analysis, they are much bet
| ter dressed"
"Gowned," interrupted one of his
| friends.
than the majority Of the women"
(Which truth, admitting it to be such,
isn't so very fiattering when viewed as
comparative degree" remarked second
| listener.
NO." admitted the school girl cham
pion, Los Angeles cannot boast of
many really well or stylishly dressed
women-at least haven't seen many
but it is said that the more aristocratic
women of this city don't come out ex-
! cept on eventful days, and"
You're getting off your subject" NUT
tered a third listener, who appeared to
! be somewhat interested.
We'll, as I was saying, they are better
dressed. Now, when 1 say better I
don't necessarily mean more expensive
ly, by any means, but more tastefully.
They are nearly all plainly attired, but
very neatly. Possibly the charm lies i'll
the plainness. The greater number of
them wear plain beu skirts of some
heavy material, varying in length from
the shoe-top to the ankle. Nearly all
are neatly booted, and wear light shirt
waists, of figure or dimity, with loose
sleeves of the bishop pattern, and they
look as cool as"
You should be clerk in ladies' fur
nishing house." satirically remarked
the young man who had first interrupted
the speaker.
Now look here" rejoined the cham
pion, scornfully, I'm not modiste, and
don't lay claim to any ability in accur-
ately describing costumes, but who ever
heard of ladies' furnishing house,
You had better retire to your corner
and"
order! Order" fairly shouted the
interested listener. 1.-The speaker will
kindly restrict himself to his subject"
We'll. 1 went up to see the county
| court house this morning before brea'-
| fast, and got there about $3.50. 1t SECS
, that the high school is up that way, and
l happened to be standing in front of the
| court house when the girls came by. 1
never witnessed a more interesting
sight. The style Of hats worn was va
ried, but'with a remarkable coincidence,
all were becoming. Many wore caps,
set jauntily back on their heads, in de-
fiance of the sun. Their compilations.
innocent of cosmetics, were as clear and
fresh as-as-"
Peaches" suggested one of the listen
ers. that's the conventional simile."
"Well. 1 suppose peaches will do" re-
luctantly assented the speaker, but it's
honoring the peaches altogether too
much Besides, peaches don't tan, do
they? And most Of the girls were tan
ned little-just enough to give them i
charmingly healthful bloom-for they
all scorn wells. Wells are a sort of bond
agony wife says so-and those girls
didn't resemble the kind given to volun-
tary bondage of any kind.
''They tripped along with careless
freedom of action which would only be
permitted a school girl, but which is
still granted them as an inalienab,e
right. Innnocent of cares, in twos and
threes, they passed, laughing gaily, in
dependent of all notice. Their arms en-
twined one another's waists. and they
looked into each others face with that
loving expression which, in an older
woman, is supposed to hide malice. But
no malice existed there. Those young
faces were too open and frank They
had not yet learned to dissimulate or
harbor distrust, and it was evident that
they had experienced none of the trials
which render one either pessimistic or
resigned. The sight was as exhilarat-
ing as the ocean breeze on a warm day
at Asbury park, and the girls as effer-
vescent as glass of champagne. Their
books hung unheeded from the strap
clutched in one hand, or were slung
carelessly over one shoulder in the man
ner so universal among the schoolboys
of the east. AS they laughingly carried
on their conversation, If such the dis
jointed remarks and exclamations,
punctuated with laughter and pout, car
be called, now twisting to one side, bet
ter to address remark to a companion,
and now turning completely to laugh
ingly answer question from some one
behind, one could readily understand
why Whittier is said to have remained
true to his schoolmates memory.
when one stops to think''-here the
speaker suddenly stopped, and, glancing
about mournfully extracted cigar from
his case and proceeded to light it.
WELL" impatiently inquired one of
his friends, why don't you go on?"
when one stops to think that in
year or so these happy, careless, care
free young women will be compelled ty
that irresistible tyrant. custom, to SUD-
press their vivacity and traverse the
streets in a quiet, stately manner. hard
ly daring to glance to right or left lest
it evoke uncharitable comment, he be-
gins to realize to what an extent nature
and natural actions have become en-
slaved. Their books, hanging un-
Needed are the safeguard Of these girls
now, as we'll as their passport to frea-
dom of action and defense against
criticism, but as soon as the books are
laid aside, society will demand that re-
- kh. Aakw tai