The San Francisco call., 1904-02-07

The chaperon Of to-day, bless her,
IS the legitimate and logical product
Of the fine. broad system Of feminine
education that prevails in America-an
education wherein confidence, self-re-
sponsibility and a knowledge Of hu-
man nature figure broadly. And as for
her who is beseeched daily TO chap
ercn young girls abroad you may
bank upon il that she is a woman Of
large conceptions and Of a fine gym
pathy, and within her lies a love Of
youth, with its earnest friendships, its
love feasts. its misunderstanding. its
reconciliauons and its wholly delight
ful denouement at the prie dieu-these
encompass the chaperon's duties and
prerogatives.
That the up-to-date and popular
chaperon ably abets the little god in
his conquest Of hearts is evident every
where about US. and this is the very
consummation Of her usefulness, like
wise her art. Unlike the suspicious
duenna Of the idle Forties," who with
a vigilance worthy OF a better cause
kept the young lovers apart, or tried
10, the chaperOn brings them together
and usually sees that a little cozy cor
ner with just room for two is Of easy
access. Then she dutifully assumes a
consuming interest in contiguous things
and people, and The young folks work
out their own little problem. 1t is just
this adroitness at supervision that
makes the clever chaperon indispens-
able, and this is her only real function
IN America Here girls are reared and
educated to .self-respect, and resent
watching in the old sense and in the
manner that obtains in Mexico and
on the Continent. American girls-free
and independent from the very air they
breathe-cannot long endure the ap-
palling custom in Mexico Of being
''chaperoned" every moment Of their
waking hours. But 70 defy the long
cherished custom in these countries
would invite social ostracism-and
many tears.
The gods be thanked that the Ameri-
can girl-the average well bred Ameri-
can girls quite capable to-day Of die
tating her own attitude toward the
men OF her acquaintance, with kindly
tip" now and then from her clever
chaperon, who may and often is her
clever mamma.
Monday installed a busy week with
the charming dance given at the
Postlethwaite home on Pacific avenue
in honor Of the debutante daughter Of
the house, Miss Margaret Postlethwaite.
The drawing-room. dining-room and
spacious hall admit Of excellent floor
space for dancing. in which the follow
ing young folk participated: Miss Ruth
Allen. Miss Beth Allen, Miss Marian
Huntington. Miss Jessie Wright. Miss
Emily Wilson, Miss Helen Murison
Miss Frances McKinstry, Miss Elsie
Tallant, Miss Helen Baily, Miss Mabel
Dodge, Miss Anna Foster, Miss Flor
ence Gibbons, Miss Elsie Dorr. Miss
Margaret Wilson, Miss Melaine Lancet
Miss Margaret Nee; Douglas Water
man, J. Early Craig. John Young, Dr.
Dunbar, William Petherick, J. o. Bur
rage. Percy Mills. Herbert Bonnifeld
Mr.. Newbold. Almer Newhall. Sherril
Scheu, Hubert Nee, Arthur Foster. Eu-
gene Farnham, Perry Evans. William
Coldsborough, Lieutenant Clarence
Carrigan. L. S. A; Philip Paschel,
LuciUs Allen and Edgar Zook
Supper was served on the lower
floor. where a fine array of Chinese
lanterns and red blossoms made the
apartment very gay.
The University Club was the scene Of
a brilliant luncheon on the first day
Of the week, when Mrs. Allen Lewis
Of Portland (who has been the guest
Of her mother, Mrs. N. G. Kittle. for
some weeks), was the charming host
ess. The following ladies were guests:
Mrs. George Boyd, Mrs. William Hinck-