Evening star., 1923-07-08
Girls and Their Affairs.
Conducted BY Helen FL. Fetter

SSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSS$
PRACTICALLY ever since the
United States was established
as an individual country with its
own customs. ideals and loyal popu-
iation. there has been one criticism
OF the American girl that has been
dunned into American ears by al
most every foreigner who has come
TO Our shores. This criticism had
to do particularly with the high
pitch and loud volume OF the Amer
lean girls voice. Time and time
again this criticism has been made,
.and only recently in paper of a
midwestern city does an article by
an English girl appear that includes
many fiattering comments upon the
girl of the United States and then
speaks OF the terrible American
voices, and accent, slang, gum-chew-
ing. rather cheap taste for display
Ill dress, defiant attitude, loud
speaking in public places. raucous
laughter. everywhere and a general
lack Jet%the feminine accomplish
ments."
Naturally enough, England is in
the lead in criticizing American
manner of enunciation and mode
OF speech. because it is the Ian
guage. that was originally known
as English that we share i'll COM
mon with the people of the tight
little isle" ." H. L. Mencken. in
his "Americanisms." and many other
writers OF note are, however, giving
some interesting arguments to the
effect that there is an American
language which is distinct from the
language spoken on the British
Isles.
That matter. however. is not the
one for discussion here at this time.
1t is the statement made by the
English girl, particularly as applied
to the American girls voice. that is
OF interest. Moreover. it is of spe-
cial interest at this time because SO
many sAmcrican girls are summering
IN European countries right now,
and are being watched and criticized
by the people OF those countries.
Not only the girls who are over
there are being SO criticized, but all
the thousands vino are remaining in
this country are also being placed
mentally in the identical category
with the few abroad
* < x X
Gum chewing is easily dismissed
by any one who sees the American
girl i'll large numbers and various
classes and occupations. Gum is a
tavorite pastime with many Ameri-
can girls, it is true, but hardly with
the majority To Judge the matter
from a purely local standard. one
can go up and down. + street in the
busiest hour OF any afternoon and
not see a single girl chewing gum.
OF course, it is traditional that sales
girls and stenographers indulge in
the indoor sport of chewing gum,
b..-..Le habit cannot be fatty stated
as being nearly so popular with the
average American girl as the quoted
statement would lead one to believe.
Even in the circles where it is most
to be expected, the chewing of gum
seems to be definitely on the decline,
i'll spite of the fact that a chewing
gum firm is said te hold. the record
for paid advertising in the United
States, magazines. -.- .A
AS for d. cheap taste for display
i'll dress, it is easy for a Washing
tcnian to recall exceedingly. compli-
mentary and evidently sincere re-
marks made BY visitors from other
lands upon the good taste and
smartness with which the American
girl dresses, so there would seem
small need to spend time here with
,that matter. Similarly with the de
tiant attitude" Only the fappiest
of happers exhibit this attitude to a
marked degree. and, in doing SO, it is
clear enough, to the unprejudiced
observer that this attitude is as
' sumed in much the same fashion
and Tor the same reason that por-
cupine bristles and shoots out his
quills. Petty nagging and constant
adverse comment, such as has been
aimed at the American fapper for
the past two years, will develop a
defiant attitude in even the sweet
est OF young girls. :,
But the criticisms made on the
American girls voice cannot be
gainsaid or easily brushed aside by
: any one who has the real welfare
OF the American girl at heart. These
criticisms on loud speaking in public
places and :faucous laughter do ap-
ply to the average girl. Just why il
should be SO is matter of much
conjecture. bur that it is so cannot
be disputed. These criticisms are
not made only BY English. folk, but
by people from every country, and
even by thoughtful. cultured Ameri-
cans themselves. ..
*xsE IL
There is hardly an individual in
Washington who has not at some
time, on street car, sat behind or
in front of women who discussed
in loud tones and with much en-
phasis the details of their petty
neighborhood quarrels, trouble with
the ice man and other domestic
problems.
An says to John, says, don't
you dare say that ! don't get my
work done. Can help it if the
laundry man goes fishing on the
day he should call for the laundry
so that you haven't got a clean shirt
to your name? Mr. Moore, next
door. takes his own laundry to the
Chinaman each week and don't. ex-
.pect his wife to bother with IT, 2,
Such is 2il example of swift, loud
pedaled narrative as heard this
morning. from a woman who looked
, a sensible; average American house
wife. A parallel grievance was i'm
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