The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-06-03
TRAVELLING MANNERS
OF AMERICAN GIRL
Wise Mother Who Sees TO IL that
Many OF the European Gus
toms Are Observed.

American girls abroad are placed rather
at disadvantage because they are more
attractive than those Of other nations;
they dress better. and In many cases have
larger fortunes in prospect. II not in fact.
The combination causes a girl to become
matter of curiosity. II not of interest.
and her sayings and doings are noted
wren similar things in a European would
pass unobserved.
Bearing this in mind It Is a wise girl
who is even more circumspect when
abroad than when at home. AS a matter
Of fact, though, she is far more apt to
think that because she Is away she can
act with more freedom than where people
know her; that because she IS unknown
she has more leeway.
This is where her original error begins.
1t is really much as was said the other
evening BY a New York woman who has
most attractive daughter eighteen years
old. The girl had been taken to the other
side ever since she was born, almost, and
has just set sau again. Said this woman:
From the time we get 10 the ship until
we get back 70 New York again l treat
Josephine in continental fashion. At home
she Is old enough TO go on the street
alone at times, but on the ship and IN
London and Paris she never stirs with
out her maid. who is a middle-aged
woman.
''On deck the maid sits within call. In
European streets the maid walks beside
her. do all that 1 can not to make the
fact apparent that she is an American
Don't think for a moment that
would wish her to be anything else, but
many years on the other side have
taught me that an American girl Is con-
spicuous because Of her nationality She
may not be Of a marriageable age. but
endless impecunious and by no means
always socially desirable bachelors
promptly take for granted that she is
wealthy and therefore eligible. and their
methods of making her acquaintance, il
they cannot do It conventionally, are not
always above criticism.
Then, II they do meet her in the
drawing-room o. a friend, they VIII lead
her on to all sorts of indiscretions-not
necessarily serious ones, but Of a kind
not committed by foreign girls-and then
proceed 10 critiCise the American.
AT no time am l so rigid In all things
for my daughter as when in Europe II
Is not that l do not trust her; 1t is dis
tlnctly lack of faith in other persons.
have heard too many comments In Eu-
ropean drawing-rooms on American girls
TO wish my daughter to be subject 70
the same. however innocently hey may
have been caused.
1T is difficult for a young girl 70 grasp
the truth of all this, but II Is well If
she can take 1t on faith. No Europeans
approve OF any but the simplest dress
ing for he street; the costume may be
of most expensive material and cut. but.
in their opinion, to show good taste II
must be simple.
English girls and their mothers frown
and frankly condemn the manner in
which American girls sometimes dress
when in the street. Even though the
grapes are sour. 1t rs far better to con-
form in a measure to the prejudice while
among those who have it and when trav-
cling abroad to wear only the simplest
frocks except for social occasions"