GIRL OF ANOTHER AGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22847, 30 September 1937, Page 3

GIRL OF ANOTHER AGE

NO NEED TO PITY HER It has become the fashion for the modern young woman to pity the girl of tho nineteenth century and to deplore her lack of freedom, states an overseas writer. "The poor dear had no vote; she swooned at sight of a mouse; it was not considered nice for her to go to business; she dare not wear shorts; her only ambition was to marry; her parties wore so formal; she never really lived, the poor darling; her brain did not develop, you see." The nineteenth-century woman had time to think—and thinking makes us wise. She did not cram her brain to such an extent that she was able to be a business manager, typist, tennis player, dress designer, authority on cosmetics, banjo-mandolinist, swimmer, crooner, and tap-dancer rolled into one. She did not do smart and showy things, and so tho young modern concludes that she had no brains. Yet she was clover enough to know just how to bo completely and sincerely happy. As a matter of fact, her brain was free to assimilate whatever came its way. She had time and tho room in her head to appreciate the real things of the world —tho loveliness of the sky above her and the earth ,beneath her. She had time and room in her head for exquisite music. She played on pianos and harps and was in tune with tho old masters of music. Sho had time for glorious noedlewqrk and for painting. She had time for dreams—and because her dreams were simple sho was able to fulfil tliem. Thus was she content.

Since she knew how to achieve contentment she must have used her head wisely. The female brain cannot have altered in a hundred years. The woman of to-day puts the same brain to a different use. But is it a better use?

The modern girl never thinks what a clever little girl Amelia was because she knew how to get what she wanted. She forgets that Amelia never wanted a vote; that when she swooned at sight of a mouse she took good care that a pair of strong male arms were willing to receive her; that she did not wear breeches because, she knew full well the value of feminine charm; that sho did not go to business because she preferred the less fatiguing and exacting household chores; that she thorougly enjoyed her parties because the age of chivalry had not then passed; that in confessing her desire for marriage she was no different from the modern girl except that she was franker.