The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-04-12
The Southern Girl.

An exquisite being, compounded OF
fire and dew, womanly from the crown
Of her head to the sole of her foot. digni-
fed yet not stiff nor stilted cultured,
but without pedantry, clever, witty, be-
witching, the daughter Of the South
was born to enthral and TO fascinate
Her personality is subtly appealing, al.
though she does not consciously invite
observation rather does she accept
homage with gracious air Of taking
that which is hers by divine right.
From the hour Of her earliest childhood,
the Southern maiden is accustomed TO
gallantries from the men Of her family.
The little child Of six or seven com.
m ands her father and her brothers, and
receives their tender attentions. AS
she grows older, she is the pet aud dar
ling OF the household not only, but
also its queen, or at least its princess
royal she is well taught. but In
more desultory fashion than her
Northern sisters, browses at will
in old Libraries where there are
treasures Of the best literature is sent
to school, and, at an earlier age than in
New York or New Eogland, finished
her course there, and enters society
Many Southern girls 20 to college, it
is true but more are sent 10 the high.
er schools for girls than TO the severer
institutions which require a strenuous
four years course before they give the
student her diploma. Much stress is
placed by Southern mothers upon &C
plishments, and Southern girl is
socially well trained, 80 that she may
shine in a drawing room.
No women of any section Of our wide
land surpssses the Southern woman in
versatility and adaptability. Accus
toned 10 homage. accustomed TO being
cared for, to having pathways smooth.
ed before her, and life s hardships elm
mated from her actoal experience, when
the hour comes which sees her fece TO
face with poverty or with sorrow she
meets il with an undaunted front Ex.
pecting to receive politeness every
where, with her soft sure womanly
touch she knocks at whatever door size
pleases, and it flies open before her.
She is not sfraid Of hard work.
but she does IL as a Rentlewo'
man who may, not as a drudge
who must. Her voice is full Of sweet
music her vowel sounds are elusive,
her RS are wonderfully vague. But her
vocabulary is rich and varied, borrowed
from DR.. Johnson and Oliver Gold.
smith. from Pope and Wordsworth and
Tennyson. If she attempts any profes'
sional line Of labor. she does IL with
both hands and her whole heart, and
from drawing and painting and model
ling in clay, to writing novels and
poetry, from teaching, and playing
harp and piano, TO lecturlnR on queen
Anne and Browning and Kipliug. she
makes a success Of whatever she under
takes.
1t is the Southern girls mission in
life to be pleasing. and to have men at
her feet. With perfect tact and admi'
rable poise. and the ease which is h'r
legacy from generations Of adorable
women who went before her, she re-
ceives and amuses and entertains the
men who are fortunate enough to be on
her mothers or her sunt's visiting
list. She has innocent coquet-
ries; they are part Of her charm
II half.dozen men are not de-
voted to her at one and the same time
she feels defrsuded Of something which
belongs to her in virtue Of ner beauty