The San Francisco call., 1908-09-20

- HE real American girl has at
last been found. II has taken
trihe more than 400 years 10 To-
cate her, and had IT not been
FOR a remarkable collection of
pictures in the American museum OF
natural history in New York her iden-
tity would today be veiled in as much
mystery as II has ever been.
Here is shown for the first time who
she is. what she looks like and how
she arrived al this belated day True
enough. she doesn't correspond with
the popular notion regarding the typi-
cal feminine product OF Uncle Sans
domain. but when il is remembered
that the first Americans We're Indians
and that this wonderful creature is
the composite likeness OF many differ
ent Indian beauties il viii be admitted
that she is entitled 10 the distinction
given her.
For four centuries the real American
girl-the face that typihed in every de-
tail the true characteristics that the
young woman OF this country should
possess-has been the most sought
after individual in the two nemi-
spheres The search has been long
and exhaustive, reaching 70 all corners
OF the globe not in the hope that she
lived and breathed in any other place
than the United states. but IN the be
lieL that somebody IL Europe or IL
Asia or IN Africa or IN any remote cor
ner. for that matter, might ind the
riglt blending OF characleristics, the
ght colOring OF the eye, the righl
ions OF the head, The right curve -
the lips and the right colOring OF the
hair thai would bring her into exist
ence, Just as man was brought into be-
ing from the dust Of the earth
The real american girl-who is she.
Countless times has this question been
asked and countless times mas it gone
UNANSWERED. American artists, having
before them constantly the distinctive
type Of Yankee wOmanhood. and for
elgn painters. entering into the quest
with q Eeeuness OF spirit that showed
how difficult to obtain was the object
sought have portrayed her in mind
and on canvas. 4 multiplicity of types
OF American women have been subjects
for the skill OF the masters OF the
world ana hundreds OF visual impres-
EiOne have been conceived 10 IND the
one that men IN a vague way could
see but never produce
solve has been in knowing just which
type 10 take ia making such picture.
few countries ia the world have sucn
q diversity OF types, although each ls
distinctive ia itself, as can be foUnu
in TIE United States The girl from
the south is as dinerent from the gila
from the north as the German WomaA
Is from the French. There is nttl~
similarity In the features Of the east
ern and western woman. Zach part Or
The United states has its own women,
Just the same as each part OF Europe
has, ana although they all retain their
Americanism there has been no prece-
dent 10 fau back upon IN deciding
which 10 select as the genuine feml-
nine product Of the United States
ND then, too. another obstacle has
A been encountered Four centuries
Is not q long period for the life Of ma
ton. Compared with the other coun-
tries Of the world. this Iand is virtually
an infant, and in finding what is truly
| lmerican il has been necessary to bark
hack TO the ages when white men were
unknown here and the country was IN
habired BY the original settlers. The
Indian tribes being the first known In
babitants the honor OF being the first
Americans goes 10 them and the honor
of being the real American girl TO their
women. In hazy sort OF way this has
always been realized. but it was not
until the, photographs OF the copper
hued maidens, past and present, were
found in the American museum OF nat
ural history that IL was evident the Sc
cret had at last been discovered
So these are the circumstances in
which this viii o the wisp creature
becomes a reality. Women of beauty
and culture In all parts OF the country
who have prided themselves on their
Americanism will learn with deep in
terest that the distinction they regard
as theirs by the right OF inheritance
now belongs TO a mythical being, who
exists only as art and photography have
made her. For this real American girl
IS nothing more than a myth. even
though she is made from realities in
the highest form or Indian feminine
beauty
The portrait OF the true American girl
IS not taken from actual life more
scientific way Of combining the fea-
lures which she possesses has been en-
ployed- Had picture been made of an
individual. any particular Indian woman
OF marked beauty, even though she did
convey an accurate idea of the lowell
ness OF the first American women, IL
would have no more significance than
any other portrait which has been Of
fered 10 solve the problem SOn the con-
trary her features belong to many gen.
erations OF her race. blending the char
acteristics Of the primitive maiden with
her rugged beauty. that grew from
life spent beneath the open sky and in
the open air, with the modern Indian
girl. whose face reflects the advance OF
civilization and the effect Of education
and culture.
Beautiful women there are by the