The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-07-14
SENSIBLE GIRL-THIs

The Literary Digest in digging
around to find the reason, the why
and the wherefore Of number of
things has tackled q big subject, that
of "To-Day's Morals and Manners"
and in treating OF the subject has
quoted the learned opinion of clergy
men, college presidents, editors Of
students magazines, newspaper edi-
tors, the religious press and num-
Der of others and institutions on
latter day morals and particularly
the part that modern day women's
dress has to do with 1t.
In most instances all that is bad
or will be bad has been blamed to the
dress of the modern maid; all sorts
of evils have been attributed to her
lack Of dress" and she has had few
defenders.
She, however, has proven to be her
own best defender and the Digest in
its effort to be fair and which It
mostly is, has given the girls and the
women an opportunity to express
themselves which they have done in
the current issue Of that publication.
A number Of communications from
women Of all classes, distinctions
and parts Of the country, are pub
lished, but from the lot the most
sensible seems to be that Of girl
who admits that she has to work for
living, buys her own clothes, and
while she hesitates to set up her
opinion against the learned men of
the day, inasmuch as she is being dis
cussed, she gives her opinion, which
is good, and this is what she says:
Why should men be permitted to
tell us how to dress? Why should
women always have to protect their
"feelings?" Why are not men made
to control these feelings" Just as
women are? Why should the fact
that girl has legs arouse the wrong
king of impulses in man? Does he
think we travel on wheels? We are
mere human beings, but we have just
as much feelings as men do, and we
can be just as emotional, but we have
been taught to control these feelings
because they are wrong; but men
have always let their feelings con-
troll them, and now they blame it on
women. -
And, SO, Mr.. Editor, let the men of
the world show by their choice that
they prefer nice, modest girls, who
are capable of doing something be-
sides dancing cheek dances and
chimmying-and then, and then
only, will girls give up their present
manners and morals.
There are still lovely girls who
wear their dresses seven inches from
the ground, and who would not ap-
pear in an extreme decollete, but, my
dear sir, these girls go to the
movies with their mothers or
brothers, and their holidays are
spent entertaining the neighborhood
children or with girl friends. How
many young men are there in the
country today who live up to even
part of the standard they have set
for us? Let the young men of the
country tell us why it is they rush
the girl who arouses their emotions
and let the sensible girl be wall
flower!
! am a girl, and I like to have
good time and have friends among
the opposite sex, and I do not think
that the moral crusade should be
waged entirely against the girls and
their style of dress. I am making
this an anonymous contribution be-
cause my name would mean nothing
to you and could have no effect one
way or the other. I am simply
working girl in a small town, and
you may think that am presumptu-
GUS In putting my opinion against
that of college professors, but am
sure you will agree that girls have
a right to tell their side of this
question, since it concerns them.