The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-10
Girls of the Period.
- in 90 Centrry.

Eliot Gregory, in the Century.
While visiting recently in a neighboring
city I was placed at dinner next 10 a d.
minutive damsel who entertained me dur
ing the meal with her opinions on men
and matters. The talk had a subfiavor Of
the str~ong-minded, oddly out of keeping
with her winsome face and doll-like figure,
but the face was so pretty and the chatter
so amusing that after a time one forgot this
disagreeable impression. Later in the even
ing. when the other guests had left, l asked
my hostess who the energetic little maiden
was. With a half smile she answered.:
Miss B is a very modern person; l
thought you would find her interesting.
n couple OF years ago her parents, VINO, L
suspect. had begun TO find their offspring a
handful. yielded to the daughters request
10 go abroad and finish her education,
naively imagining hat she would settle In
some quiet old town like Dresden or Han
over. A relative was chosen as a duenna.
q bank account opened ana the coupe
started with the understanding that their
destination should be decided by the girl
herself. Well you will think l am romano
ing when I tell you that, after a month in
Paris and a tentative week at Cannes, MISS
B established herself at Monte Carlo
for the winter. 1t Is needless TO add that
her education was finished with a VEN
geance. no. quite on the lines her parents
had intended. but with staggering complete
ness. When she got back from this event
u liz LldkGAEA PAOCCE0C0 ~ ~
her parents the benefit OF her experience.
They were hustled nOlens vOlens out or a
suburban home and established In e town
house, as their daughter announced that
she had no intention Of wasting her life IN
the country Having accomplished this
feat and furnished the new residence with
pictures and bric-a-brac picked up during
her trip abroad, hired a corps of servants
and made out a visiting list for her moth
er's use, the girl, who was not prepared
TO marry just yet, next turned her at
tention to the parental investments. upon
which she brought the light OF her new
IDEAS 10 bear. II faut etre de son steele,
Is her favorite saying. When the family
money matters were running to her salts
faction Miss B, nothing II not active,
the breeding OF bulldogs of some particular
form or color, / forget which. r. woman
she says, must have some serious object In
Hfe.' and she tells me that the way this
over here Is q disgrace TO the American
people. Fortunately for us, she has leaped
into the breach and proposes to raise the
standard. at no matter what personal in
convenience, to the English level. 1t ap-
pears that Minotaur, the famous hve-thou-
sand-dollar prize winner. is on his way
across the ocean TO join her kennel"
This girl may or may not be a fair sample
OF her kind, but that there are hundreds of
households IN our and to-day where pa
rents, from Incidence or ignorance. are al
lowing themselves 10 be run by their
daughters Is certain. 1t Is also self-evi-
dent that In all classes OF society, except
certain conservative circles where CONT
mental standards are observed. the Yankee
girl has seized the helm. With father and
mother comfortably installed in the cabin
and male members OF the crew forbidden
even TO approach the bridge, she is guiding
the family bark, summer and winter, ac-
oording TO her pleasure