Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-28
The Silly Age."

In recent numDer OF Inc PURITAN
the editor has these words of truthful.
ness and wisdom to say concerning the
characteristics of that period which
occurs in the lives of most American
girls-yes, and boys. too. though in
the latter the symptoms are entirely
different-commonly and significantly
known as the Silly Age
Not long Ago a little book came out
with fierce attack on the bringing up
OF the average American girl. The
painful exasperating Stiffness that
often overtakes a young girl is well
described: They arranged themselves
in couples and set out to attract atten-
ton. They first promenaded the side
walk. arm in arm. and talked and
laughed with all imaginable coquettish
airs. After school hours they went
arm in arm, inventing errands to bring
them into contact with the clerks: or
they stood in the postoffice and sim
pered their nonsense in high. strident
tones and posed with affected airs:
they filled in all the vacant time with
excessive gigglng. or stood with eyes
filled with admiration and envy for
every fashionably dressed woman who
schoolboys. insisting upon having at
tention from them
The unchaperoned freedom of the
young American is our most beautiful
institution. yet surely. these silly little
girls will blush some day at the men,
DRY OF how they posed and simpered
and chartered to be overheard And
then they will have right to feel re-
sentful against those who did not pro-
tect them from themselves at the time
when commOn-sense slept over. though
all the other senses We're waking up.
The Silly Age is as inevitable a part
of growing up as whooping-cough or
measles. Beware of the girl who es-
capeS 1t, for either there is a great la ok
in her nature that all her sterling
qualities cannot make up for. or else
she will take i, later in life. with gro
tesque results. One cannot check il.
one can only help her through it. with
a discreet system Of quarantine to keen
1t unsupported. The only remedy is to
Keep her so busy that dreams and
drivel are crowded into the back
ground. Work. study. athletics. fun
let these be crowded together. with one
eye on her health and another on her
associates. In that way only can the
horrors of the Silly Age be mitigated.''
III IS probably quite true that the
SHY Age is as unavoidable as the
whooping-cough or the measles. But
Just as these ordinarily harmless all
ments may. if uncared for. develop
serious complications. so the thought
less giddiness and foolish coouetries Of
the Silly Age. if unrestrained. NAV
lead to indiscretions. memories of
which the tears of shame and regret
shed in after life will not entirely
efface. AT best. young girls who are
loud and boisterous. or in any way
unladyhke and unrefined in their be-
havior. who encourage silly fiirtations
and are fond of appearing often on the
streets' are ridiculed by all. especially
those whose favor they are most
anxious to gain. and often are misun.
derstood and their characters called
IN question. though in thought and
deed they may be entirely innocent OF
all rong-doing.
it would be we'll II young Americans
or both sexes could be given that
Faculty to which Burns refers when he
exclaims,
oh. wad the power some giftie gle us.
TO see oursels as ithers see u.s.
In such case their friends would be
spared the present annoyance Of their
displays Of youthful Stiffness, and they
themselves when they reach maturer
IRE, would be spared mmiliating
memories, vain regrets. and in some
instances bitter and sorrowfui remorse |