The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-09-15
BY CYNTHIA GREY.

Is there anything on earth sweeter
or more satisfying to the mature eye
masculine and feminine-than the
young American girl?
And yet it's true-too true-that
the majority OF them are pert. selfish
and self-centered," as an American
woman who says she knows asserts
In the Ladies Home Journal OF Sept.
1, 1910.
believe It's only because OF want
OF thought. not want OF heart, that
our American girl is guilty OF these
things, and I'm sure she can easily rid
herself OF this ugly veneer II her at
tention Is called to It, Hoping | am
right, quote this American woman"
for II Is evident she does know her
subject well.
How many of you outside OF two
or three cities know anything about
opera seasons in this country-or
anywhere? How many of you know
Botticellis from bottled cherries? In
short, how many of you know any
thing except your own immediate per-
sonal affairs? How many of you read
anything except current novels and
story magazines? You shirk the slight
est mental effort just as you avoid
anything like actual physical work"
"As for your manners, | suppose
you think II will be of small import
ans in the long run whether you
speak in one tone or another. What
difference can II make to the country
whether you lounge about in round
shouldered abandon or carry yourself
with spirit and grace? Society won't
go to pieces, you think, even IL your
conversation Is a mere hash of other
peoples slang. The country won't be
saved by your being polite.
Wont it? Think of some one you
know who has a manner of fine and
sincere courtesy. Rare as the quail
ity is, you surely must know some
one who has it, What traits seem to
shine through it? Are not they kind
ness, sincerity, respect for ones self
and consideration for Others? IL We
need better basis than that on which
to build a national character I wish
some one would tell us about it,
1T does make a difference, even to
the future of the nation, whether you
areas people say you are-ignorant,
selfish and ill-bred 1t makes a most
startling difference in two ways which
will come home to you very closely
| You will not win the lasting love OF
men IL you are selfish. ignorant and
| ill-bred, That is one fact which there
Is absolutely no denying. And an
| other is that you cannot prevent your
children being like you, except that
| il you are ignorant, selfish and i'll
| bred they will be more so than you
are"
Youth Is fine, of course, but, like
NEST things, it is better for a little
seasoning. BY itself 1t isn't really ex-
traordinary. Puppies have It, So do
calves and colts. Why not experiment
for little while-say, for a month
even for week-with seasoning your
youth with courtesy? And while the
experiment is on, Uitch for the effect
II has on other people. See how their
eyes light up. how unconsciously their
manner responds to yours, what a
compliment their change OF attitude
expresses toward you. Listen to the
new note in their voices, the echo oil
your own softened tone.
| Don't calmly contradict men and
women whose ripe experience and
knowledge of life would make your
raw theories seem like a little green
apple compared with a mellow and
perfect fruit. Don't be snippy. II
you knew how ridiculous you look in
the act of snubbing your elders you
would hide your diminished head.
DO you ask how you may become
Nl,af to ar1 n
answer in so many words. The very
term itself implies that it must come
with training Perhaps the most help
full beginning would be to find some
one who can serve you as sort of
model. Women of charm and dis
tinction are, unfortunately, few; but
| il must be poor society indeed
where at least one woman OF grace
and refinement cannot be found