Evening star., 1923-07-01
Girls and The cir Affairs.
Conducted by Helen III. Fetter
MERE is one quality in the
=. young girl OF America, the
girl who has been generally
fermad ufhe f7aDper" for the

young girl OF America, the
girl who has been generally
termed 'the flapper" for the
past few seasons, that has been men
= toned In all discussions regarding
the feminine sex of our country, Of
which there have been many and va
rious. That quality is the inclina-
tion to initiate successful girl Of
the stage or screen in dress. man.
nerisms and even expression of coun-
tenance.
This quality is noticeable in Wash
ington, as elsewhere. II is particu-
'1arly evident In crowds of high school
girls streaming out after viewing a
motion picture. Undoubtedly part of
1t is unconscious.
After asRirl has gone into the busi-
ness world for a few years this quail
fty is shed. even as the tadpole
changes into the frog, and a definite
individuality is developed among the
girls and women OF business life.
This is not true TO such an extent
of the girl who grows up into So
ciety matron. She makes the FASH
ions q more important thing in her
life than does the business woman
and is therefore much more liable TO
follow strictly fashions dress decree
She also spends more time in the
beauty parlor and has the lines of
character carefully rubbed out of her
= face.
Beoause of the widespread recogni-
tion of this quality among the young
American girls. 1t is particularly in
teresting to find that Florenz Iieg-
field. high potentate of the Folltes.
has recently issued n statement to
the effect that girls and women spoil
their own beauty by initiating others
and that originality Is the cardinal
charm. Mr.. Ziegfeld says that ne
selects the girls for the Follies who
don't follow the herd" who do seem
to realize when current styles in eX-
,pressions don't suit them as indiVld-
uals and who cultivate their own
types of expression. Says Mr.. Zieg-
field:
Il am constantly on the lookout
for girls who have originality. ana
nowhere Is this more apparent tnah
In their faces. No matter how pret-
, II a girl may naturally be, II she
comes to apply for WORK with her
face made up so that she thinks it's
going to look pretty, I'm likely to
pass her by for some one else whose
looks have more personality.
Ut is quite true that many girls
j adopt a regular mask for their
features. 1t may be an expression
that some one has at one time ad-
mired and that the girl therefore
thinks makes her look cute" 1t may
be a rolling of the eyes that the girl
thinks makes her lashes look longer.
It may be a direct effort to copy
some motion picture actress that the
girl has been told she resembled
Whatever the motive, II only the girl
would realize that such an expression
stamps her indelibly as lacking In
originality and real charm, she would
certainly stop the effort and turn her
energy into more productive chan-
nels.
In going over the list Of girls who
are leaders in any school or club II
will always be found that these girls
dress their hair Ia great factor in
= developing ones looks). are always
a little different in their dress from
everybody else. and do not spend
their time constantly thinking about
just what expressions they have on Of,
up-to-date frocks, but they seem to
wear them differently. because they
are not constantly thinking about
how they look in these dresSeS.
That is the big, fundamental differ
ence between the girl who Is the In
competent imitator and the popular
girl leader of social athletic or
other activities. The imitator is not
confident OF her own abilities. but is
always thinking abn4e her external
appearance. The leader knows she
lis right and Is so busy putting ove;
her ideas and carrying out plans of
action that she Just naturally reflects
her success in her manner Of walk
ing. wearing her clothes and the very
expression on her face.
y X *
THIS does not mean that the girl
who is a leader shows egotistical
appreciation of her capabilities, but
II does mean that she has wiue-
awake, interested expression on her
face that gives a light to her eyes
and a fascinating mobility to all of
her features.
In groups where some girls ape the
actions of the most popular girl Of
their set" the groups only increase
the one girls popularity. By their
very imitation they emphasize her
success as personality.
The answer TO the whole problem is
the old one that has proved satisfae-
natural" If a girl is true to herself
and does not try to make herself into
some one else, she will develop all
the elusive little qualities of a dis
tinct personality that make for in
terest. and the best way to be nat
urar is to be so interested in things
really worth while that ones personal
expressions and mannerisms will take
care Of themselves.