The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1912-12-14
Social Notes

Much has been said and is still being
said of the woman of today. Much
that Ii said is in praise of her ADVANCE
ment intellectually, and physically.
Occasionally someone comes forth with
criticism that may apply to rev
but to the thousands of other women
is more or less in an eXaggeration. "A
short time ago one writer in speaking
of the modern athletic woman prophes-
led that the familiar type of American
wonan--the woman who is inde-
pendent yet distinctly feminine posses
eS unusual grace and beauty that sets
her apart from other nationalities--
will be no more in the course of few
short years and the thick shouldered,
heavily developed woman of masculine
appearance will take her place
Still another writer compliments the
woman of today as the ideal woman.
He gives as his setting for the modern
woman a platform addressing a club
meeting and describes her as graceful,
slender and looking about between 25
and 80 years of age She is gowned
in the latest fashion and the softest
celorings and her pretty head is crown
ed with large pink picture hat. She
makes a beautiful picture as she reads
a highly intellectual paper and as she
takes her seat amid loud applause, the
president of the club, who realizes that
the speaker has been the object of
comment, rises and smilingly an
'nounces that the club might like to
know that the lady who has just spok-
en- has four grandchildren. The club
gaSps for a minute and then applauds
SO loudly that the lady is obliged to
rise and acknowledge. the tribute paid
her. On the other hand there are mod
ern women who no doubt deserve the
rather strong remarks which are made
in an editorial in a leading newspaper
of the country which in part is as fol-
lows: AL.
old ladies have definitely gone out,
as every up to date person is aware.
OF course there are just as many of
them according to the calendar, but
they in no way correspond to their es-
it is not unusual to see on the street
clipper built figure in skin-tight
gown and modish hat turn on you as
you pass a Visage marked with the
wear and tear of sixty years. While it
can hardly be maintained that teeth
no longer give out, that burnish ed
locks no longer turn grey, or that the
finger of time no longer scars a lovely
face, yet these damages are so deftly
repaired by dentist, hair-dresser and
masseuse as to enable the former beau
ty to remain the we'll l-preserved woman
in advancing years Gratifying as this
may be, 1t has its drawbacks. For it not
only relegates the grandmother as an
institution hopelessly to the past, but
1T breeds in the rejuVenated a levity
and temerity fearful to behold. Because
woman retains her looks and her
hgure at so, it by no means follows
that she can carry off a costume that
25. = -.
Now that woman has learned to side
step the graybeard with the scythe, she
dreams herself immune from his per-
secuttons. In consequence she fails to
realize that a grandmother can make
herself grotesque more easily than she
can make herself alluring. In matron-
hood she thinks still to bear herself
like maid, forgetting time will not
be cozened, and if he has left her
comeliness, has taken girlishness away.
Our ancestors looked at these things
differently. Their notions in the mat
ter of grandmotherS were far removed
from ours. They thought fripperies
were for girls, whose fresh youth needs
little adorning, but that matronly dig
nlty" demanded brocades heavy with
yet sedate, gowns whose flowing, lines
blurred, rather than emphasized the