Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-08-28
(By Arthur T. vance,

This is a straight-from-the-s
talk to the fathers of young girls. We
hope mothers will read it also, but we
want them to pass it on to their hus-
bands without fail. The American
father needs a Jolt And this is a jolt
handed from one father to anothec'
There is neither meekness nor shad-
ow in the eyes of Miss Sixteen to-day.
Neither is she exactly what you would
leah sweet" She is smart" and am
using, but she does not bring trem"
Iulous smile to the lips of old age nor
fill the heart of men, young and old,
with the fine old desire to protect anti
screen her from all that might hurt Or
contaminate. Her eyes invite and chal-
lenge. Her bearing announces an in
dependence that is too assertive. There
! is nothing reluctant about her feet.
Rather they press eagerly toward the
dress, manners, customs and pleasures
designed for those who have plucked
ripe fruit from the Tree of knowledge.
We men are proud of this new girls
spirit, of her achievements in the class
room, of her resourcefulness and adj
aptability when economic conditions
force her into our factories, stores aod
offices. We smile at her good-humor-
edy and say, GO to it, grille" when
she elbows her way into the crowded
lunchroom or trolley. But we miss
the shadow in her eyes, the lily in hec
hand and we do not like to think Oh
her as a wife for our son. If we stop
to analyze her position in the general
scheme of life we think vaguely that
She belongs in a class of her own, the
class that must hold it's own in the
stern work-a-day world. Perhaps in
preparing their daughters for the
grinding, pitless contact with those
who toll parents have taught girls at
once too much and too little-so muc1
of how to protect themselves from evil
in others. too little of how to fee the
evil in self. And so, flouting her pre-
paredness, this type of girl throws or
the mysterious veil of maidenhood,
melting into womanhood.
What does your daughter wear?
Clothes that inculcate modesty? Hard
ly. Here is what is found most pop
ular for girls in their teens, bound TO"
mountain and shore: Small editions
or limitations of what smart and
ldashing matrons and widows ara
choosing-split skirts to be worn oVel
spider-web silk stockings and not PEI
ticoats; waists of lace and net so thin
as scarcely to veil the. shadow lace
lingerie worn beneath; pumps cut low
in the vamp with dazzling buckles and
ever sparkling heels, sporting coats
in garish colors and blatant stripes in
stead of simple sweaters; evening
frocks so tight of skirt as to make
even the Bunny Hug dangerous
dance and bathing suits not of modest,
Iline-enveloping flannel and serge, but
of silk which clings when wet, the
very quintessence of suggestiyeness.
IAN the sartorial weapons of the ORR
entail siren offered to Miss Sixteen
Small wonder she is woman among
men before her hour!
What are your daughters reading?
TASK the public librarian, who if they
be thinking women, would gladly CEN
sor the books they must distribute 20
young girls.
Recollect how you used to laugh
when you found your sister crying ov'
er the elsie Books" "St. Elmo" THE
Wide Wide World" Dora Thorn" and
East Lynne?" You wouldn't laugh to
day if you could come home unexpect-
eddy some afternoon and find your sew
enteen-year-old daughter reading,
wide-eyed such books as "The Yoke, ,
Three Weeks" and THE House of