The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1898-10-19

Girls of the Present Are Henithiex
and Happier Issscansc u
Outdoor Life.

word. Women who were little girls ~
years ago lnowlhow potento oi repre- eh
II used to be whensit was still in yogns
In the homes ofthe land
IF you are not lady when you are
16 you iiever will be-" many mothers
said, in varying Language, to their
daughters who were more eager for
romping than for making tatting or ems
gaging their hearts in crochet. The de-
scriptions Of the rearing Of Harriet
Hosfner in an active outdoor girlhood
were looked upon with some compla-
cency, mingled with curiosity, because
she had talent for marble and chisel,
and because her health was not robust,
and open-air exercise was known to be-
good for high-strung girls of excep-'
tional endowments But others who
showed lively liking for playing with
their brothers, and following them and
other girls brothers afeld or into tree
tops OF row boats, bore perennially the
tomboy stigma. There was never girl
OF the old unacknowledged regiment Of
the advance guard Of athleticism who
would have given up one Of the joys
wherefore she made battle against the
conservatism of her time for sake Of be-
Ing rid Of that title, To be sure, thou
sands OF little women" felt deep in
ward protest against the ignominy inn
piled In the eppellation, but they did
not know how to say that they were
only following the need Of nature girl
nature as well as boy nature lin find
ing but personally the pleasures Of gal-
Looping on bareback horses or diving
into woodland 1swimmin' holesr OF
resting over game Of "mimblety peg"
when some boys jaoknife twirled
from eager fingers TO make those soft.
delightful. unforgettable thuds Of suo-
cess into the good green ground.
The young girls OF to-day have the
freedom Of their muscles unquestioned,
and enter by right into an Inheritance
OF bicycles and golf clubs, boats and
bathing suits, saddles that are not side
saddles, basket balls and baseballs, too,
that their elder sisters acquired by q
sort OF slow encroachment OF the Zeit-
geist.
The spirit Of the time is embodied In
the girl who is to be the woman ruling
the destiny Of man in the first quarter
Of the coming century. She will step
over It's threshold into her kingdom
with the sure-footed grace gained in
climbing mountain heights. She will
accept its possibilities and responsible
tiles with less strenuousness than nine
teenth century women have always
shown, because action is her birthright,
not her conviction, and health is to her
necessity, like religion.
The passing of the tomboy is COM
plete. The girl of to-day at her Amer
lean best is hearty, healthy, happy,
graceful child. She Is not expected to
be a young lady, although she is trained
toward the serenities of that gracious
estate. She is part of the onward
moving life of her times, as she seems
to be part of her wheel when flying
along city avenues or through wood
land roads. She cannot remember when
she learned to ride, her babyhood's
velocipede having superseded the baby
Jumper wherein her elder sister was
won't to go through violent infantile
exertions without arriving anywhere.
The progress Of the modern young
girl-on-wheels has nothing self-con-
scious in it. She moves joyously,
gracefully, fair to see, along the path
way "blazed" for her through the
jungles Of conservatism by the; pioneer
tomboy of the past. There were al
ways tomboys in all generations, ex-
cept that which is now femininely ris-
ing. They were not confined to the
time when girl who rode a 60-pound
tricycle. to a college door was sure to
be asked if she considered her mode OF
locomotion ladylike.
Once IN awhile you may meet ladies
of so or 70 or 30. gracious and silver
haired, young-hearted and with live
ly interest in the thoughts and pur-
suits of all girl kind, who will tell you
in sweet voices that they were called
great tomboys" when they were little
girls. And If they recount to you theiI
maddest, merriest pranks, their widest
and most daring adventures, you will
find that these were commonplace be
side their granddaughter 30-nile bi.
| cycle ride Of yesterday, cup-winning
| yacht race of the day before, far her
oldad oolf chamnionahfn If Inst weel