South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-27

ed in New York, South Bend. Niles
and isn't she that irresponsible we
live today and die tomorrow sort
of girl who good-naturedly tolerates
her mothers fogyism?
From what source springs this un-
multitude OF young girls
who do as they please. say what they
like. dress so shockingly that men
and women everywhere are cOldly
and critically surveying them. dis
with the twentieth century
brand OF young womanhood
I am not 80 old that I fail 10 grasp
the viewpoint OF the modern girl ]
do not compare here to the girl her
mother was at her age for I realize
that her mothers world and her
world are vastly Opposite-one bound
by convention as strict as the rules
Of a convent: the other. liscensed by
every liberty of a mans world. She
does not take my breath away as
she does those who sprang from that
period when good times were rare
in a girls life and when spending
money was a pittance which would
not keep the modern girl IN ice
cream soda.
Considering the difference I'm their
modes Of living. is Il any wonder
that the modern mother has failed
to understand her daughter or that
she is somewhat afraid Of this So
called brainless. sOulless. powdered.
painted. short-skirted young Great
ure? But is she so brainless2 Has
not the American girl as she has
grown older. overlooking her youth
full mistakes. shown how right she
is at heart despite the indulgence of
the American mother who let's her
do so because Mary Jane does like
wise? For all the reproaches that
the American girl receives, I burden
the blame on the too tender mother
She is to be admonished in one
breath and forgiven in the next. Let
me tell you why.
Mothers girlhoOd was an overdose
Of self-denial. Even in wealthy fam
lilies strict discipline was the rule
not the exception. And so when mo-
Their married and had a girl child
Of her own, she promptly set about
to adjust in that age Of adolescence.
a new order OF things She felt that
If she could give 10 the girl all
that she wanted in The material, she
would in a measure alleviate the
terrible longings Of that restless
period. So she let her daughter buy
the dresses. the hats, the beautiful
things which her mature judgment
told her was not suited TO youth.
She gave her spending money OF
whose value the modern girl has not
the slightest conception. She gave
her everything; privileges she had
never had herself and which the
daughter abused-devotion that the
girl accepted as a matter Of course.
Now, why does the young girl
abuse privileges instead OF appre-
Glazing them? The reason Is this
the modern girl IS an extremist be-
cause she has not lived long enough
10 realize the possibility Of failure
She is perfectly sure Of herself FOR
having never attempted anything
she is sure Of everything AS She
grows older. time and man having
taught her some vital truths. the
same girl. will develop into a Capa-
bic and resourcefuI young woman.
When mothers wake up 20 the
fact that 13 IS the age when IL is
their task 20 mould their daughters
into what they would have them
instead Of Is when the girl has al
ready moulded herself. she viii ind
less difficulty in impressing the fun
damental facts OF life as they should
be impressed on the young mind
What does the young girl need ?''
is the question asked by mothers
everywhere in an increasing desire
20 find a real answer. The girl needs
above all else an intelligent love
which IS sympathetic and wisely eX-
pressed and which is entirely apart
from the indulgence which mothers
in the name OF love are bestowinE
upon their daughters TODAY
Contrary 70 popular opinion. the
girl in her teens. thinks She has
been labeled day-dreamer
thoughtless. tnattentive 20 all that
pertains 70 the serious. While that
is often true OF her. she IS on the
whole a thinker and when we fail
10 recognize her rs such. we are
closing door through which NE
might appeal 10 her better judgment.
Il has been said that the young
girl thinks she knows more than
her father and mother and that she
advises her grandmother "a she
does the rest of the members of
her family That IS her trouble-she
honestly thinks she does know more.
Too. she resents the direct com
mand, chafes under dicipline rebels
openly or silently grieves when she
Ia made 70 do chat which she does
not care 20 do. Il is not because che
is stubborn or ill-tempered or
wants 20 be disObedient when she
insists on executing her own de-
sires in opposition 20 the wishes of
her mother The things she wants
seem best for her and because she
believes that they mean her real
happiness. she chooses them There
Is no future 20 the child in her teens
it IS the Now that is so desir-
BILE
When mothers realize the signla-
cant facts presented above they
viii have half-soIved their dimcul-
ties. When the child approaches IS
she IS in a period Of hunger-knowI-
edge and then IS the time 20 plant
in the brain OF the child that which
is desirable and which makes for