The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-21

English in breaking the young into
society through the medium of infor-
NAL country dances and house parties
where they meet the opposite sex in
the new conditions of being a grown
woman, American society is improved.
1t has made youth less conscious when
the time arrives for them to take part
in the formal life of their elders.
This time has now arrived. For two
months the debutantes who live out Of
small towns have had their first in
nings in society in the country. They
had raced from country club to each
others country houses. They have
worn many Of their simplest summer
evening frocks.
Nothing was demanded of them.
They were being tried out, as it were.
Their manners and department, their
morals. their methods of attacking life,
their management OF young men,
their ability to dance, their judgment
as to what companions to make. have
been keenly watched by their elders.
Where criticism was needed II has
been given, sometimes arrogantly taken,
Il is true. for the young are over-sensi-
tive or calmly superior.
Colts being tried out on the race
track, is the verdict of the old-fashioned
English squire. And so they are, inn
pertinent as the comparison may be to
those who do not care for, or do not
understand horses.
The motor Is responsible for vast and
important changes in social life and this
method of bringing out the debutante
is one of the changes that is to be COM
AnA rlta ts-ot1 NJ fA,,
having been reduced to the minimum of
inconvenience, far away places linked
together by gasoline and time over
come. social life Is welded into one COM
ponept whole no matter how far apart
the neighbors are.
Formally begins in Town.
Talk to the young girl concerning this
modern fashion of giving her the social
track during the summer and autumn
months and she will tell you that 1t has
saved many a girl from being a failure.
II she were plunged into the formali-
ties of big balls where her elders domi-
mated, where the young men looked
more self-conscious. IL possible. than
she did. where the engagement for sup
per was looked upon as a terror when
she realized that she did not know how
to extricate herself from the clutches
Of an undesirable partner. nor how TO
keep from being with one man for more
thai one dance. she might want to re-
tire into social welfare work before
THANKSGIVING
Instead Of losing sleep over these
youthful tragedies (and life has few
that produce more unhappy reactions)
she enters the race with the grand
stands crowded and flags gaily flying.
with the laughter of self-conidence and
a knowledge of how to carry herself.
she has chosen her companions Her
mother has ceased to advise her every
moment with the result of making her
self-conscious Several IL not many
young men have attached themselves 10
her standard. they wear her colors.
Ihey need only the glance of an eye or
the reckoning finger over the shoulder
OF an undesirable to bring one OF them
TO her aid
She and all her chosen set know their
particular S. o. 8. This gives them
serene confidence. They know where 70
20 IN case OF trouble. In other words.
they have gotten the knife of experience
inserted under the shell of the oyster OF
worldly knowledge.
Gaily. then. she opens tie morning
mail and looks forward to the social oc-
casions to which she Is invited She
uoes not KNOW how much she has been
spared or anxiety and disappointment
~ the change in social life since her
mothers time Things were more diff
cult for young women then. Freedom OF
action. the lack OF motor cars. the neces-
sity Tor elaborate attention from men
resting uron the fashion to have a
cotillon always instead Of general at
tention the bouquet TO be sent and car
rled. the frowning by the elders upon
sitting out dances IN obscure corners
these were the social troubles which
mother had to meet.
Informal as life got TO be before the
war II Is now reduced TO something like
natural Intercourse. one can be human
Artificiality, once encouraged, is now
taboo Tho girl who says "prunes and
prisms' gets nowhere. Frank md oren-
spceched as the Young human should be-
she now u.s. What n burden Is lifted
from tho shoulders OF society
or course, there are reactions into