South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-01-18
Tea Table Talks
BY May De Witt Talmage
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY GIRL

THE TWENTIETH CENTURY GIRL
1t was after dinner and we sat, a
group of women, discussing some of
the problems of today. One of the
girls suddenly exclaimed:
Il think the girls position today
is a trying one, for the brunt of the
changed condition in woman's life
fall on her. Fathers and mothers
with up-to-date ideas fluctuate be-
tween trying 10 keep their girls
18th century maids. and then give
them goth century education, fitting
them for economic independence.
They give her a college training
send her abroad TO cultivate her tai
ent for art. and then if she wants to
apply her training TO any real work
they get frightened and rebel at the
idea And yet can the parents quite
blame the girl If she wants TO put
her training TO some practical use.
They want their daughters to
take their training seriously. but not
too seriously. They want them inn
bued with the modern idea of life
that a girl must be prepared for any
economic change that might come
in her life at any time; but TO hold
the talent. no matter of what kind
I il may be, up her sleeve as il were,
TO be produced at the right moment
! if it is needed for financial reasons.
They seem 10 forget that unless there
| is some definite aim in sight there
can be no great result from any kind
of work"
The changed condition in women's
lives are making some parents very
! inconsistent. 1 have a friend who is
| full of the spirit Of the times. She
| is keen about having her daughter
excel along some line. She fiatters
| herself she is absolutely progressive.
and she means 10 have her daughter
the most pronounced type of a goth
century girl, yet she told me the
other day that she is most averse 10
all the new forms Of feminism and
| she has decided TO counteract the
| effect Of the modern ideas on her
growing girl of IA Her method is
TO inoculate her daughter with all
, the romantic novels she can find,
Airy Fairy Lillian" by The Duchess.
the books of Rhoda Broughen and
Rosa Nouchette Cary-the novels in
fact of 20 years ago.
/ laughed ar her for trying 20 go
! against the spirit of the age. but she
said she believed that romance and
/ lovemaking. made girls happier than
! the atmosphere created by problem
| plays and the ethical discussions of
| today She did not seem TO realize
that one of the greatest problems OF
! today seems to be how 10 keep
! abreast with the times. not how TO
/ cling TO old ways.
! We shall always have love and rom
! ance. no one need cultivate that. But
/ IL is little more than anybody can
| expect 10 combine the characteristics
OF the pale clinging romantic type OF
| a romantic girl OF those times, with
( tie wholesome common sense college
c:rl Of today. who wants her lovers
and men friends. as well as a chance
to see what she can do in this world
OF big things. Some Of the girls of
today are born 20 experiment. others
are born for the daily routine. and
il they get out Of il they are con-
J fused and don't know what 10 do
next.
The optimistic venturesOme spirit
viii never be downed. it is always
| hoping for something better and If
| they bring up i'm the wrong place
| they get a second wind and start of
again. So the parents OF the Twen-
! tieth Century girl must let her End
| her place in the great scheme OF the
work. even if they have 10 occupy
the unenviabIe position Of the hen
that Matched out a brood OF ducks.