Evening star., 1931-04-19

his hands like the good sport that
he Is and shouts "Atta boyI" he means what
he GAYS: "tta boy!" But he's not referring
to the 1881 model girl who is looming up on his
horizon.
For it's not "atta boy" he's favoring to win
the softest spot in his heart, but the sweet fair
one who can only be praised as alta girl,
The athletic girl is passe on the stage. since
the stage forecasts the style, Miss Athletic Is
ON her way out as the best friend Of our men.
This important news Is presented upon the
authority Of that Broadway barometer OF
beauty, Fqorenz ziegfeld.
He let it be known that the mode In fem
inine charms is moving, and that whether she
be blonde or brunette, the important line is not
a straight line, but an ever-so-flowing curve.
GTHE athletic girl" declared Mr.. ziegfeid.
was at best passing fad She bounced
into favor when women suddenly flung them
selves headlong into sport. With Gertrude
Ederle conquering the English Channel. Helen
wills topping an army Of tennis players and
Glenna Collett winning front-page laurels at
golf. their achievements and popularity led all
women to attempt to pattern themselves after
these heroines Of sport
"Of course, this popularity Of the athletic
Rirl was reflected on the stage. With men
making heroines out Of the champions, 1t was
natural for the stage to present the type OF
interest of men at the moment But such
interest could not last. Athletics destroy those
attributes Of beauty which are elemental IN
the eternal feminine. The lines become hard.
The American girl, devottng herself seri-
OuSly TO sports, Overindulged in exercise, with
fatal results to her face and figure. The strain
Of trying to excel in sport thinned out the lips
and drew taut the lines Of the face, thus press
ing out the delicate softness which Is 50 a1lur-
ing In q woman. The tenseness Of athletic
struggle was written In the face with traces
that usually mark age, but are the inevitable
outcome of strenuous exercise.
when I saw this happening to show girls
a well as debutantes felt that the appeal OF
women Of this type was only temporary for
men would not long favor girls without es-
sential girlishneSs. The change came suddenly
about the time skirts sailed nearer the ground
A girl can't very wen stride in long skirt It
lust doesn't fit in with hustling walk. began
to study what type Of womanhood wotA4 sbe
Just ahead Of the transformed tastes OF m@-
"I think of women in terms Of men, because
men come to the theaters to see the kind Of
girls they admire The stage, II 1t, Is TO cater
successfully to the public taste. must be like
the exclusive feminine styles in clothes-six
months to a year ahead of the crowd"
In discussing the Forthcoming favorite, Mr..
Ziegfeld was sure we would never go back
to the popular ideals Of the late 90s. The
modern man is mercifnl and is casting his
vote on behalf of the healthy, hearty girl
with Just enough piquant, alluring curve to
leave no doubt that she is woman.
"Showgirls and ladies Of the ensemble sur
render" said Mr.. ziegfeld, "just as avidly
and completely to absurd feminine fads Of
the moment as do the women outside the
theater Perhaps the stage women yield more
readily than do their non-professional sisters
because novelty and change Is often mis-
taken for allure. and the atmosphere Of the
theater Is very sensitive to new ideas.
"But the amazing result Of the physical
fashions Of the last few years is that they
have been robbing women Of the exquisite.
First came this dieting menace, which has been
carried to such extremes that women have
become haggard, with the skin sagging OF
stretching tight. They may feel great physi-
caIly, but all the subtle, soft lines disappear
and there's nothing left but skin and bones.