The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-08
.CHAPERONS

| HHU0cjlME was when chaperones as
 was chaperones' existed. but
 that was many moons ago."
 The speaker was woman-a ~very lovely woman-whom you and I both know well-who made this statement a few days ago, and everybody bristled and sat up and took notice and inme- diately asked her what she meant. | "In the days of the long ago and not l so very long ago either she said, "chaperones were ladies who were almost akin to 'gorgons,' whatever they may be, and who paid such strict attention to the young girls who were entrusted to their care that the arch of an eyebrow W was noted the crook of a finger; a meaning smile-nothing went by them unnotieed
 Sitting in corner of the sewing bee when the conversation came up was a woman of the old school type, too -one of those omnipresent persons with pince-nez perched high upon her aqui- line nose so that she might note the
 signs of the times,'' and doing so, de- livered herself on the subject, saying:
 Once in great while the chaperone of other days happened to be masculine and then the young folks behaved"
 This statement was soon thwarted however, by "youngish" looking ma- tron, who declared that the very name of ''chaperone' suggested femininity ogre-like and monstrous, hydra headed animal with a thousand eyes before and behind, eagle-like in their all-seeing qualities"
 The conversation then reverted to one Of the sewing bee" the old school type lady taking the floor and relating the story of her grandfather acting as chaperone to her courtship. which was supervised with laws and rules stricter than those of the Medes and Persians
 Whenever Sweet William appeared at the gate grandfather at once turned up in the drawing room, an interested party to the conversation, or sitting in the next room, ostensibly reading the newspaper. overhearing every word of the conversation, she said.
 Once in while when I essayed a remark it escaped grandfather's acute ears, but only then because he was flut- tering his newspaper or clearing his throat.
 'Rebecca Rebecca. that was a very silly remark would come from his lips. hoping, l suppose, to make me repeat what l had said without his hearing. And will you believe me when I tell you that finally William proposed to me bv writing the bald statement upon a news paper
 Will you marry me?' and I had to sit there perfectly unperturbed not dar- ing to show any emotion for fear grand father would ask me what the matter was"
 How dreadfuli' some one said. men tioning how the times had changed.
 on, those wos's parlous days" said the lady, mo Unmarried men or women ever being left together, and if no one else could fill the position of chaperone a small brother or sister was dispatched at respectable distance to see that all went well'
 Ihere nas always been strategy in love as well as in war according to the best authorities. even the most perfect of fiancees, Juliet, stealing a march on her fHod nurse and sneaking put on the balcony to get word with her beloved Romeo, and it is safe to say that the closely chaperoned folk of former gener- ations were as clever at tricks as some Of their grandchildren
 but those things happened a long. long tune ago and now the chaperone. while not quite as extinct as the mastodon performs her duties, which are really more honorary than active. In fact, one seldom hears nowadays of a chaperone who succumbs to nervous prostration or even the more modern neurasthenia be- cause her duties are too onerous
 Later in discussing the subject with