The Republican journal., 1904-05-05
The Young Man and the
Young Woman.
Their Demeanour in Public. How it May
be Improved. Advantages of Common
Sense Out Door Association. Where
There Must be Chaperone and Where
One is Not Needed.

BY CHRISTINE TERHUNE HERRICK.
Author of Cradle and ursery," "First Aids
to the Young Housekeepers," "Housekeep-
ing Made Easy" What to Eat, Gin City
Tents" Etc.
Copyright, 1904, by Christine Terhune Herrick.)
In the spring young mans fancy
lightly turns to thoughts of outdoor
sports So does that of the young
woman. In fact, it is extremely prob
able that they have not waited until
now to bestow consideration upon such
matters, but have been planning for
them while still the snow was blowing
and the streams frozen.
Now, as the roads get in good order
and the mud dries from the fields, the
golf clubs are brought out, the wheels
are overhauled and put in condition and
all sorts of plans are laid for Saturday
half holidays and vacation times.
With the return to the possibility OF
this sort of thing arises the annual
question as to how much liberty is to be
allowed our young men and our young
women in their association with one
another. Are they to go about together
unchaperoned, as they have done from
time immemorial in the country and
small towns, or are the rules of smart
society in the big cities to be complied
with? There are advocates OF both
sides of the matter and each has its
pros and cons.
There is somewhat exaggerated idea
of the conventions that exist in this re-
spect even in large cities and among
fashionable folk. A fierce light beats
upon the throne, and those who are
almost as we'll known as royalty and
have their actions chronicled in all the
papers have to abstain from many
simple JOYS they doubtless covet. Those
who follow hard after them III their
struggle for social eminence, but who
have not yet attained to it, often
imagine themselves to be OF SO much
Importance that they must conform to
certain rigid requirements. Thus, for
instance, l heard not long ago OF one OF
these seekers for society-cOlumn fame
who severely criticised a mother for
permitting her eighteen year Old daugh-
ter to 60 to the opera unaccompanied
except by her thirty year old brother.
The mother should have gone along,
or else sent some elderly woman friend, ="
pronounced the censor. There is no
knowing to what remarks the Young
people laid themselves open by going
unchaperoped."
To which sensible woman replied,
THE persons who recognized them
would understand the situation and it
would not be worth while to worry
about the Judgment of those who did
not know them
We may afford to lay aside the con
sideration of such standards as these
and study rather what rule should be
followed in the small town or the coun-
try neighborhood among young men and
women who are in good social standing
there. How shall they deal with the
problem of the chaperone? Shall they
ignore it altogether or conform to 1t
in certain instances and neglect 1t IN
others? And how is the discrimination
to be made?
Here is one of the matters where it
is almost impossible to make a POSI-
tive statement. The personal equation
counts for large amount. In every
circle there are to be found young
women who could be protected by no
amount Of chaperonage and others who
would be secure in the midst of any
and al! temptations. But putting aside
either of these extremes. although
like to think that the latter is not al
extreme. but Just what one might look
for from any nice, well brought ul
American girl,-let us try to frame 9
few general plans.
In the first place. then, before grant
ing permission to your daughter to &C
cept invitations to out door junketlngs
from young men, be pretty sure of your
man. He should not be picked up al
random, so to speak. 1t is bad enough
if the man who calls on girl in hel
home is the chance acquaintance will
no endorsement except from those who
know only his name, but it is mucl
worse if he is to be a girls companion
on row or Il ride, or even on the golf
links, although the last is probably the
least undesirable locality i'll which to
be left alone with comparative Strang-
Ell. Putting aside all other questions,
there is always the possibility of acct
dents of one sort or another on out
door excursions and the girl who &C
cepts young mans invitation for one
of these should be sure that he is the
man on whom she would be willing to
depend IN case of such an accident.
Also, one should know the man well
enough,-or her mother OR father should
know him well enough,-tO be sure that
his character is such as to make him d
desirable companion. He may not be
of necessity bad sort, and yet his
bringing up, his associates, may have
been such that girls parents may fee
it is decidedly inadvisable that theil
daughter should stamp herself in public
with him as his friend and companion
But if he is known to be a clean, honor
able, we'll bred young fellow, and if the
girl is the right sort of self respecting
young woman, there is no reason why
the two may not have certain outings
together without laying themselves
open to criticism. OF course, all these
outings must be chosen with judgment
Suppose girl and man have been
infected with the returning fondness
for bicycle riding. The new wheels are
enough to win even old boys and old
girls to desire to learn what wheeling
really means. is there any reason why
the young couple should not go out for
a short spin or for long run? None
in the world. If they choose to take a
compact lunch with them and eat it by
the roadside and rest there afterwards
and read or chat, they may do it with
out fear of censure,- provided, always
provided, that they are the sort of
young man and woman | have descriD-
ed. | do not think it is the wise thing
20 permit this liberty too freely among
needless, feather Drained boys or girls.
There may be no real harm in it. But