"O’GRADY SAYS”

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1929, Page 11

"O’GRADY SAYS”

THE “FLAPPER” OF TO-DAY. During the time of intense drill preparation for the war there used to be a comical, but useful, lesson in alertness and listening known by the two words hero used as a heading. The embiyo soldier had to “spring to it” when Hie word of command w T as preceded by O ■ Grady says.” But w’hen he went on “springing to it” when the magic words were left out lie had to leave the ranks; and tho last man left in was the winner. Over in Tasmania O’Grady namely, the green island’s Governor —said something recently concerning the good-humoured contempt usually embodied in the term “flapper” as applied to our young women. What he said was well worthy of broadcasting, in view of the alarm in some quarters over the young women of to-day. Sir James called “flapper” an odious term; and so, without doubt, it is (says the Sydney Mail). The Governor was speaking of the splendid behaviour of the young women during the recent disastrous floods, and he said: “Do not let us talk about our young women as superficial. Fundamentally they are the same as women everywhere —-brave, resolute, and full of tho human sympathy which has always characterised our British womanhood.” This is a very fine and well deserved recognition of the Australian girl of our day, who is constantly taking up new fields of community usefulness. As to tho term flapper, it may be written down as an ephemeral slang word that will pass away before long, though while we remain, in tho bulk, a slangloving people it will probably be succeeded by some other term, which it is to bo hoped will add some grace and euphony to its familiarity. But “flapper,” though odious to Sir James and to many of us, has never been an offensive or derogatory term. It is natural for tho youth of either sex to apo the manners and self-confidence of maturity, and that, as far as -our research extends, was the original habiliment, bo to speak, of the word. According to Sir James, the girls of Tasmania imitate maturity and motherliness magnificently,