The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-24
WOMAN'S
WORLD.


says.
Many changes Of e radical nature have
occurred since 1 lea here twenty-five
years ago. Mentally, morally snd physi-
csUy the attitude Of American men and
women seems 20 have undergone a CON-
pete metsmorphosis. In many things
cannot fail 10 observe vast improvement
IN others I am inclined TO be partial 10
ehs old regime.
Contrast for instance the education and
bringing up o. an America girl twenty
years ago with that Of the American
society gil OF today
In the days waen used 20 attend Mrs.
MacauIey's school IN Madison avenue. ed
vocational standards were almost entirely
different from what they are now. 1t
seems 10 me that the studies were harder
and more thorough. We were required
20 learn Latin and Greek and were given.
substantially. a course which compared
closely with that which university men
had 70 follow.
In those days society girls ATTENDED pri-
vate schools. Now they are under charge
Of ezoverneSses. Il stands TO reason that
many teachers were better than one.
Each branch had a separate teacher and
.he knowledge conveyed was Of a broader
character.
Life was much less complex then than
fl is nosy. There seemed to be greater
simplicity.
Il seems 10 me that life was then more
in accord with real human nature than
st is now. A society girl had very little
money to spend, nor did she seem to de-
sire a great deal. Her dress was simple,
like her life.
There was little strslning at effect ana
there was 20 attempt on the part OF each
girl to become prominent individually.
The life seemed better roundeo-fuller-
more complete.
/ deplore that that system has been done
away with.
In certain particulars, however. the mod
ern American girl seems TO be greatly SUI
perior to her early prototype. For in
stance. in former times it was considered
quite remarkable for a girl to indulge ia
outdoor sports. Women generally did not
ride, hunt play golf, swim and take other
forms OF exercise as they do now.
Physically the modern American girl
might almost be pronounced perfect. Her
figure Is more svelte than was that OF the
girl Of twenty years back. This is due 70
the great amount Of outdoor exercise
which the modern girl takes.
Again ia old times girls wore high
hee.ed shoes and seldom INDUCED ia walk
ing to any great extent This enjoyment
Of outdoor sports is one Of the things
which has made the modern American
girl so charming.
There was little travel in the early
DAYS. owing TO the fact that transporta-
ton facilities were 50 wretched. We had
to sit in two-sated, vi1eIy-appointed con-
veyances which made travel something
70 be avoided wherever possible.
Now eli that is changed. 1t Is for this
reason that the modern American girl
manages to see more Of the world than
did the girl Of early days
The distinctive difference between the
two types Of women Is this: In olden
times society girls were far more natural
than they are now; whereas the girl or
to-day is physically better developed.
There seems to be more self-conscious-
ness on the part of society women now
than there was then, and much less sim
plicity.
Speaking Of American society In gen.
eral, / might say that II differs little
from the society which one finds in Eng
land In this country there is the alb
sence Of the court, which creates and dc
rateg presidents, and which establishes
the English social system.
In America society is governed by GER
tain unwritten laws which, however. are
as are the rules Of the court abroad.
There Is one thing with which stran-
ger coming to American cannot fail TO
be impressed, namely-the opulence and
luxury Of the wealthy classes. The lavish
way IN which money Is spent IL truly
WONDERFUL Entertainments are given on
a scale which Is almost beyond imagin-
ing. The appointment Of the home Of the
wealthy American is magnificent. The
question OF saving expense seems never
to be considered.
Margaret f. Saugster, writing for the
Christian Herald on runaway matches,
says:
Only very exceptional circumstances can
Justify the runaway match. In England,
Gretna Green was for centuries famous
as the Mecca OF clipping couples, forced to
fly from the restraining hands Of angry
fathers that they might be welded just
across the border good deal OF ro-
mantle literature Is based on the troubles
OF young people in love, their union OPP
posed by their parents and guardians for
prudential or mercenary reasons. Lord
Ullin's Daughter" and young Lochinvar"
are memorable among spirited ballads
with this motive. In '"The Little Minis
ter" one Of the prettiest episodes in the
beautiful story IS the marriage OF Gavin
Dishart, over the tongs, I'm the gypsy
camp. to the lovely BAD, escaping from
the clutches OF her elderly admirer, Lord
Rintoul. We find no fault with romance
when Il depicts such scenes, and enjoy
them much more than we do realistic de-
scriptions Of situations IN which nothing
happens the very least removed from
the commonplace. But. believe me- dear
young folk. that in most cases, in plain
everyday living the runaway match Is
the greatest OF foolish mistakes. IL is
usually for both parties to the contract.
marrying in haste to repent at leisure.
II a bride is worth wooing she IS worth
waiting for, until her fathers consent to
her marriage can be gained. II a man
ss worth a woman's faith and love, she
may well be patient until she can be mar
ried TO him. from her own home, with
the approval OF her own people thus get
ting out on her new life under the fairest
auspices.
Love is the staple from which happy
matrimony Is woven. But people cannot
live on love alone. There must be an in
come. Therefore. before a man marries
he should have a trade. a profession, an
srt or a clerkship something that Will
give him assured wages or salary. unless
he has large means and Is independent OF
the necessity 10 work Fortunately this
latter state belongs 10 few men in our
country The rich fdler Is with US in the