The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-09-15
Elsie Wins

Modern life brings IA IT'S wake many
Changes. Perhaps one OF the most rad
ical Of these changes Is the evolution
OF the Young girl. No longer Is she
simple and natural but is instead filled
with foolish little airs and gfaces that
mike her attitude toward life warped
and abnormal.
In a small town which aped In its
attitude toward life the larger cities.
the young people had assumed fren-
zied attempt to be modern. The youths
drank little more than was good for
them and the girls had learned to
look cigarettes In the face without
cOughing. At least most Of those who
comprised the smart set did; there
We're stll some girls who held them.
selves a.oof. and with doubt and un-
rest in their hearts waited for they
knew not what
Elsie Merryfied had lived at Crosby
all her life. She was considered among
the best that Crosby had to offer In
the way OF glrlhood. SHE had been to
boarding school. but strange to say she
had not learned TO smoke The girls
had taken to smoking in the dressing
room between dances. There was
much secrecy among them about the
fact. at least much protested secrecy,
for the men all knew they did 1t. and
the girls bridled In consequence. Such
IS the strange humor Of the very
Young So that when Elsie did not
smoke with the rest, She was teased
and criticized severely. M
"Why are YOU such 4 little prude
Elsie?' asked tail blonde in blue
tulle who had learned to manage a
cigarette rather gracefully she
thought
Surely you don't see anything
wrong about II, Elsie, said another;
why, an the very best people are do,
ing it these days. One is out of It.
and noticeable if she doesn't follow the
fashion"
"What an absurd reason for sInoE.
ing Elsie said quickly She was not
afraid Of these girls they were really
all right underneath, and she had
known them all her life, Furthermore,
She felt that they needed TO reasSura
themselves about this fad, and that
was why they were taking it out on
ler, which was perhaps true.
Listen, listen" laughed one of the
group. Elsie is going to read US q
lecture" D@
oh no Fm not, Elsie returned
quickly. mot one Of youagiris really
enjoy smoking, for have watched you,
and know" N t
why, it's the best thing do,r in.
terrupted curly-headed Irene Poke.
Nonsense y Elsie returned. "Nhy
/ have a wholesome respect for the
woman who smokes sincerely that Is
if-she has reason for smoking and sees
no wrong in it. But to follow the fash.
ion as yod girls do, and smoke because
it looks naughty and YOU feel modern,
why itsiheffeetly rldiddlpusH tl:#l
But we don't feel as You do <about
It, " chirped out the tall blonde. ) belt
she pufred little less arrogantly
YES you do underneath, you know
you do. 1t isn't matter of right and
wrong so much, it's what the whole
thing stands for. 1t stands fer the
easy morals and lax manner Of living
OF set OF people who have so much
money they don't know what TO do
with ii, and you girls are trying to be
just like those women"
"Oh, Elsie, cut the preaching pro.
tested Irene, shaking her curly head
disapprovingly.
You brought II on yourselves" Ell
sic retnrped. Al Know the attltudcl
you've taken toward me- and, now that
yoi have spoken Of it al last, I'm going
TO have my say out. I'm not prude.
but frankly | don't like it, and I don,tl
like to see a girl do it,
Men Ike girls to be good fellows
these days. said the blonde. SMOOTH
Ing back an errant tress Of hair Tile
girl has had her day"
'well, | won't try to convince YOU"
Elsie said, laughing at the protesting
faces around her. "But wait and see"
The next morning Irene Poke ran in
On Elsie almost before she was
iressed
"lzlsie,' she groaned tragically. Il
hink You're right about smoking. I'm
fust miserable this morning. Henry
Nillis took me home last night, and
We were talking about girls smoking,
ind he said. Not one Of US fellows
would marry a girl who smokes and
lrinks with men. It's the girl like FL
lie Merryfeld that nun wants for
.eeps. a girl with some principle And
thought he was learning to like me-
rallied Irene. ''0h, Elsie, what shall
dog
why don't you stop smoking and