The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-19
VERY YOUTHFUL CHAPBRONS.
SIGNS or REVOLT ~ THE AMER
IC4N GTRL TINS WINTER.
Young Peoples Parties Chaperoned by
Brides or 10 or 80 a Feature or the
social Season-Older Chaprrons Dis
prnsed NIth-Moihers Raise objections.


prnsed WITH Mothers Raise Objections
Mrs Grundy is somewhat anxious these
days on account OF the American chaperon.
Is American society getting careless III
regard to the importance Of the chaperon
and is the time coming, if IT hasn't already
come, when English social leaders, TO say
nothing of the French and the German
will again have reason to shrug their
shoulders az American social etiquettef
These questions she is pondering
The primary cause for her anxiety IL
the young peoples dance, IA It has been
given this season, but she has other griev-
ances as we'll She fears lest the American
girl should elect to declare against any
chaperonage whatever.
1T is queer how the pendulum OF social
etiquette yibIates in this country" remarked
a woman who has grandchildren in the
smart set In England it remains through
the ages almost as unmoyabe as the Rock
OF Gibraltar
As she spoke she glanced discon,entedly
at an invitation Just received by one OF
her granddaughters.
i can remember" she went on that
when rich Americans first began to travel
abroad the American girl was looked at
askance and almost with suspicion In Eng
land she was tolerated rather than welcomed
by dowagers wholly unaccustomed to 4
type OF young woman who was allowed
to go about unattended and who showed
little inclination to shrink behind her mother
or speak only when spoken TO.
Perhaps at that time the dowagers had
more or less excuse for their prejudice.
Gradually, however IA more and more
Americans crossed the ocean and mingled
with European society, We amended some
Of our social customs-I have friends who
won't admit this though and the American
girl toned down bit for the reason that her
mother paid more and more attention to
the question Of chaperonage and showed
more and more regard for appearances
in some cases know Of mothers who
caught the chaperon fever so badly that after
their return to this side of the ocean they
made their daughters lives burden to them
for months. On the other hand European
dowagers began 10 capitulate to American
charms, 10 thaw from their icy disapproval
Of young women who showed so frankly a
disposition TO take care of themselves for
the reason that American mammas were
! conforming more and more 10 English
! standards Of social conyeniences.
Their approval however. never went
/ the length OF copying American ideas in
regard to bringing up young girls. What
il more | don't believe the English will
ever bulge a fraction of an inch from the
J rule they have always held TO in this par
{ ticular whereas even in the upper circles
: Of this country there Is lust IA much dis
similarity in the methods Of bringing ur
\ children as there is in the size OF private
fortunes
In one respect. though--the necessity
Of the chaperon there isn't much diff
! ference OF opinion, or at least there hash
been III the last twenty wears or more
When it comes TO that. there are certain
rules which are quite ngidly adhered 10.
What are they? Well here are some
Of them:
A young woman in good society may
I not 60 TO a theatre restaurant. dance
an evening entertainment Of any sort with
| "A man without 4 chaperon along an Older
woman. Unless engaged to a young mar
il Is not good form for n girl TO go with hin
for IA tete A-tete drive or ride When rhis
rule is broken II brings all sorts Of I'm.
comfortable remarks down upon the de
linquents head and unless she happen.
TO be very near the top Of the social ladder
she is bound TO suffer
one Of the exceptions was a young
woman OF the smart set who about three
Years ago used 10 go tearing up and dowt
the avenue and through Central Park r
some sort OF trap with certain young
man Of great wealth. They were without
the ghost OF "A chaperon.
II made no difference that the families
Of the pair were socially prominent anc
that the young people had known eact
other from childhood. The tongues Of the
gOssips wagged increasingly. and 1t was
with big sigh Of relief that many Of Us
greeted the announcement of the engage
mont Of the two.
Now. it would be quite impossible fol
such thing TO happen in England. Rather
than allow II n parent would shut up hel
daughter behind bolts and bars. Nor does
it often happen in good society here: but
that it does occur AZ all shows the American
J tendency to rebel against irksome rules
I be they never wise.
'Ne have n social canon, too, which nd