The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-06-26
The Diary of an >Eneaged Girl
BY Phyllis Phillips

Dear me, how strange l look to my
self today-verily | do. Late last
night, after the men had left US, and
the house was still, | sat up reading,
and then having nothing better to do
and not feeling bit sleepy, l decided
to bob my hair! 1t was done so quick
~, there was no time to stop-and
now! Heavens! l shall be ostraciZed
by friends and family, l fear
The girls squeaked with joy when
] appeared at breakfast this morning,
and Derry slapped me on the back
and said with a meaning look that
there was more hope for me than any
other of the engaged girls that she
knew! Some compliment that, III
say.
But that's not the half Of it. dearie!
No, indeed. It's what my Jack said
when he saw 1t, and he said blue
streak and let out a yell of despair.
| believe that that foolish man loved
my long, snarly, rebellious locks ever
SO much Course l never thought of
this when l cut it of; was thinking
only of my own comfort.
look like a nice little page-boy now
and / feel wonderfully naughty and
comfortable. My. head is light and
no longer hot, and it's tremendous
relief in every way. Long live bobbed
hair, I say.
There'll be a row at home, know,
but I don't care. Can't I do what
like with my own hair? Jack almost
cried with anger and he told me that
l had destroyed my chief claim to
beauty; which was truthful, maybe,
but which annoyed me considerably.
Fiances have no right to tell the naked
truth on all occasions, nor on this sort
of an occasion either. or course l
smiled at him in a superior way and
told him that I was still free to do
with my own body as I willed, etc.
And that my hair had been a source
OF annoyance to me since childhood :;
in fact it had always cramped my
style, and that was out Of the question
any longer.
Aunt Cecilia assured me that it was
most becoming, although true to type
she mourned the loss of "a woman s
browning glory and all that. She
wouldn't be Aunt Cecilia if she didn't.
l forgave her, however.
All the way home in the motor the
wind rushed through my old shaved
head and felt wonderful. 1t was ex-
hilerating to say the least. And |
feel that I can now take my proper
place with those noble women of all
ages and inclinations who have dared
That is lot Of comfort just at the
present moment, for I'm anticipating
a bad half hour with my mother when
| arrive at home.
Four p. m, same day.-The bad half
hour has come and gone and | am still
alive and smiling despite all.
1t was very bad while it lasted,
be sure of that, but it did not last
long. Mother almost tainted when
pulled off my cap and stood revealed
to her eyes. Good gracious, Lindsey,
what will you do next" were her first
words. | explained as kindly and full
ly as | could just why had taken this
step, but it did not seem to help mat.
tiers one little bit
You might as we'll leave your fam.
lily and embrace your own sort of wild
life. down in the studios of Greenwich
Village at once" said she, with a re-
signed look in her eyes. Il cannot
pretend to control you any longer.
and the sooner | wash my hands of
you completely, the sooner I shall have
some peace"
IT'S not as bad as all that, mother
O mine" l said, hugging her in the