Evening star., 1922-11-19
Some Youthful Efforts
In the Cause of Reform and
the Astonishing Results.

felt worldly wise and 1T
tie, a very little. blase. There
werA four Of them and they were
drinring limeade on the porch OF the
country club and discussing popu-
larity, There was Maribelle Tunis. In
a white crepe de chine; Amy Pritch-
ard in a rose-colored linen; Elizabeth
Green, muffied in a woolly yellow
sport coat that she wore because 1t
was new, not because the temperature
OF the day required it, and, finally.
Nancy Dixon. little and dark-eyed, in
white golfng togs. They made a
pretty group OF youthful. varied
types.
"Of course. every one wants to be
popular" Maribelle was saying. Its
dreadful to have all the men think
you are a lemon and avoid you. Now.
1 just say to any new man I meet:
You must tell me all about yourself
and l look up as interestedly as
can. They all fall for 1t like lambs
and they think In the loveliest! /
read it in book. ever SO long ago."
The other girls bent respectful eyes
upon her. Maribelle was undoubtedly
popular. Amy Pritchard took up the
subject. cousin Eta says" she de-
clared, that any woman can be in
teresting to a man if she'll only ask
his advice about something. Cousin
Eta says it doesn't matter what you
ask it about-just think up some
thing and tell him that you feel that
his opinion will be of the utmost
value to you. And then act as ii your
life depended on what he tells you.
And thank him sweetly afterward. OF
course. you needn't take his advice
its just that he Hikes to feel I'M
portant and smart. you know.
Your Cousin Eta ought to know"
said Elizabeth Green. There never
was any girl in Greenfelds who had
80 many suitors. And to marry that
foreign count! I think she had an
ideal career-so romantic and pic
turesque, And. you see. what she
says and what Maribelle says all
amounts to the same thing-and that
is that you've got to let the men DO
all the talking-at least at first. And
pretend to be interested even II
you're bored to DEATH"
The indignant. protesting voice OF
Nan Dixon broke across these art
less condolences. You girls make me
tired" she said, doing lot Of things
YOU don't want to. and acting silly
and soft generally-and for what for
heavens sake? Why. just so that
you'll have plenty of partners at
dances and heaps Of fellows to call
on you and take You QUITS just
100 piffling. Personally, I'd rather
have a little less popularity and lit
tie more self-respect." She got up
abruptly and vanished in the club
house, her straight little figure fair
ly ouivering with earnestness.
Mans a little cat" burst out
Maribelle, angrily. shes always
taking people up so sharply. as II she
knew it all. She never opens her
mouth except toto
ITO meow" supplied the more placid
Elizabeth. well, we should worry,
she wound up, with superior smile.
x + X
THE piazza of the AgaWapls Ciuo
l. Is a high one. with solid rail-
SO that you cannot see any one VINO
might sit below on the grass and rest
his back against the clubhouse. en-
Toying at once the shade, the delight
full outlook before him and the edify-
ing conversation above. Jimmie Tur-
ner had not intended to be caves
dropper. yet he stayed and hsteneo'
rejoicing in his shame.
When Nan Dixon had made her
spirited defense of his sex Jimmie felt
quite thrilled. THAT girls got IDEAS,
he said to himself. When he saw
Nan emerge from the clubhouse and
settle herself in solitude under tree
behind the tennis courts he presently
found himself standing before her.
Good evening, Miss Dixon" said
Jimmie, respectfully.
Good evening, Mr.. Turner" said
Nan severely, yet with a twinkle in
her eve. She and Jimmie had known
each other from infancy and she was
used to his ways. OF late years they
had seen little Of each other. for he
had become a young man while she
was still in her early teens, and
therefore, to him, only little girl.
Now, however, she felt that they once
more met on equal footing. as In their
mutual mud-pie days.
''Methinks," went on Jimmie, gravely,
from your sad demeanor, that the
world has not smiled on you Of late.
Has aught occurred to give your royal
yeh r-1Sfh
called grouch?"
Her royal highness relaxed into
smile. "Silly!" she said. "Sit down.
can't you. instead Of standing up in
front of me like a May pole. Yes.
do feel groucfy. I was up on the
club porch with Amy and Maribelle
and Elizabeth-and they are so fool
ish-the way they falkland the way
they look at life" Nan pronounced
the word life" very earnestly. AS
she did so Jimmie Turner suddenly
discovered that she had beautiful
eyes-bis brown. thrifty sort of eyes,
with lashes-gee. some lashes!
What did they say" he asked,
"that makes you so peeved?
am afraid that Nancy's loyalty to
her sex was yet quite undeveloped.
"Oh, they were talking about being
popular" she retailed in disguised
voice. They seem to think that
you've got to fiatter and absolutely
coax men into being attentive. I
think it's the limit. What do you
think? Do men. really nice men. get
taken in by such Stiffness? I wish
you'd tell me exactly what you think"