The Washington herald., 1910-10-16
ny MRS. CHARLOTTE NJ. CONGER.


try in the world Iu' all civilized places
girl children grow up, and when they
reach the proper age are introduced TO
their parents friends and take their
places in the world sharing IN its dis
traction and its duties. But in older
countries the introduction into the world
OF young women is compassed without
undue ostentation and stir.
There is no beating Of drums, no -four
ism Of trumpets when young woman
makes her appearance on the social
stage Of London, Paris. Berlin. Her pho-
tograph is not published in the paper
nor are her gowns described. There are
no fol de roI reports concerning her va
ried talents and accomplishments,
Her mother introduces her to her
friends who receive her graciously into
their circle and entertain her. but there
is no connection. no great excitement.
The whole proceeding is quiet and disni-
fed
Different I'm America.
How different are the circumstances
surrounding a young girls introduction
into society in New York or Washington.
From now on until the last bud has
made her formal courtesy on the stage
Of vanity fair. the papers will be filled
with the doings Of the debutantes. Their
plctures in many different poses will be
published. their wardrobes described.
Miss Dehutante's favorite authors will
he set down her favorite composers VIII
be noted. her pastimes, the sports she
INDUCES in VIII be listed. Pretty stories
OF her charities Will appear. Nothing
is hidden regarding the doings OF our
little debutantes All the world is in
vlted 10 come and look on al her debut
she lives during her first season in a
glass house.
Why DO the newspapers print such gos-
sip? Because their readers demand it,
because Miss Debutaute herself or Miss
Debutante's mother sent out notices OF
Miss Debutante's doings and Of what she
intends doing. TO be printed in the society
column
While Miss Debutante is being adver-
Used the child herself and her mother
are deeply concerned in preparing for
the event II they are rich the matter
is. OF course. a simple one Mamma and
the bud" run over 10 Paris. bring back
a CARLOAD more or less of clothes, on
which Mr., Loeb exacts the fun duty.
Beside the hnery with the Paris stamp
they bring over favors for the germans.
dinner cards and other conceits that
are 10 be found nowhere else in the world
as unique and varied as in Paris.
Sometimes papa takes deep interest
in the affair and sends 20 Central and
South America for rare and beautiful
butterflies TO be let loose on the gaping
crowd al daughters coming-out cotillion.
some one reading this viii utter the
sophism. Eyes, but that puts money into
circulation" To be sure il puts money
into circulation. but il sets a vulgar and
base standard that counteraCts any good
effect that the money thus put IN circu-
lation might have
Airs of an Empress.
Miss Debutante. launched by her papa,
be ne rich or be he poor, begins the bat
tie. Her coming-out BAH is the overture.
as il were. TO the opera bouffe that Is 10
follow. The child has been taken so
seriously by her admiring parents and
her admiring friends she has been so
their small stage, she has been so writ
ten up and her photograph so widely
published that she has come TO regard
herself as a most important person. and
she puts on the airs and graces Of an
empress.
She has been so humored so given in
70 by her doting parents and the little
clique OF which she is the center that
she is pettIsh and peeyish, capricious and
fantastic. unpleasant qualities, all Of
them, that do not make for the cordial
acceptance Of any one whom they domi-
nate So Miss Debutante finds herself
not so much sought after. not so much
followed and fawned upon as she had
pictured.
She sees older, homelsr. less graceful
girls outdistance her, and she wonders.
Those girls are not as rich, not as pretty,
not as well dressed. What then IS the
charm The reason is not difficult TO
find. They have been out several seasons
ana they have discovered that 10 be
launched at a great ball. to be written
up and talked about. 70 wear fine clothes
and 20 have a rich papa-even that, the
rich papa-do not compel success
All the time and money spent in these
great splurges are wasted except in the
way Of experience and clever woman.
a woman of experience. and OF the world
could teach her more in one morning
than she could learn from all these.
system Mistake.
The whole system governing debuts is
a mistake Il is a mistake 10 make
girl conspicuous, no matter in what way.
before the world. It is a mistake 10 think
that a young girl should be written up"
II is a mistake that. no matter how much
wealth in the family, a young woman
should have such tremendous sums spent
on her coming-Out as we Americans
spend.
1t is a mistake that she should be
taught to regard herself as an important
parsonage. for these things make for ego
tism foolish pride and vanity, and we
should look 70 it that our daughters are
not egotistical that they are not foolishly
proud or sordidly vain, but that they are
pure In mind and spirit. humble, devoted,
unselhsh that they may play the part in
life for which they are cast splendidly,
nobiy.
1t makes little difference what the part
is, whether II IS played in a cabin In some
spot remote from civilization. or whether
it Is the role of a brilliant and fashion,
able woman in splendid environment.
the White House. FOR instance, or an en-
bassy.
II makes no difference what walk Of
life she treads so long as she treads
with firm and certain steps with pride
and dignity.
Would you take all fun. all pleasure.
al her good times away from a girl?"
some one asks. On the contrary. a nor