The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-10-11
Elsie Wins

AOueFn lie brings In It's wake many
changes. Perhaps one of the most rad.
tcal 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 graces that
make her attitude toward life warped
and abnoii0al.
In small town which aped in its
attitude toward life the larger cities,
the young people had assumed a fren-
lied 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 still some girls who held them.
selves aloof, and with doubt and UNI
rest in their hearts waited for they
knew not what.
Elsie Merryfield had lived ut Crosby
all her life. She was considered among
the best that Crosby had to offer in
the way of girlhood. 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 it, and
the girls brldled in consequence. Such
Is the strange humOr of the very
young. So that when Elsie did not
smoke with the rest, she was leased
and criticized severely.
"Why are you such little prude,
Elsie?" asked a tall blonde in blue
tulle, who had learned to manage
cigarette rather gracefully, she
thought.
"Surely you don't see anything
wrong about it, Elsie," said another;
"why, all the very best people are do.
ing 1t these days. One Is out of 1t,
and noticeable If she doesn't follow the
fashion"
"What an absurd reason for smok.
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 reassure
themselves about this fad. and that
was why they were taking it out on
her, which was perhaps true.
"Listen, listen," laughed one of the
group. ELSIE Is going to read us 9
lecture
"Oh, no I'm not" Elsie returned
quickly. "Not one of you girls really
enjoy smoking, for I have watched you
and know"
"Why, it's the best thing I do" in.
terrupted curly-headed Irene Poke.
"Nonsense!" Elsie returned. "Why
I have wholesome respect for the
woman who smokes sincerely, that is
IL she has reason for smoking and sees
no wrong in it. But to follow the fash.
ion as you girls do, and smoke because
it looks naughty and you feel modern.
why it's perfectly ridiculous"
"But we don't feel as you do about
It," chirped out the tall blonde, albeit
she pulled little less arrogantly.
Eyes 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. It stands for 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 it, 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 it on yourselves" FL.
sic returned. II know the attitude
you've taken toward me, and, now that
you have spoken of it at last, I'm going
to have my say out. I'm not prude,
but frankly don't like 1t, and I don't
like to see girl do It,"
"Men like girls to be good fellows
these days." said the blonde, smooth
ing back IN Grant tress Of hair. 1.-THE
Old-fashiOned girl has had her day."
swell, 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
dressed.
"Elsie." she groaned tragically. II
think you're right about smoking. I'm
just miserable this morning. Henry
Willis took me home last night, and
we were talking about girls smoking,
and he said, Not one Of us fellows