THE MODERN GIRL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 226, 24 September 1929, Page 20

THE MODERN GIRL.

DISCUSSED BY YOUNG MEN.

FLIPPANCY IN CAP AND GOWN

AMUSINC 'VARSTtY DEBATE.

~ There was a good deal of fun and badinage at the University last evening when teams from Auckland and Welling>on Colleges debated that fascinating subject, the modern girl. Wellington moved: "That in the opinion of "this house the modern sporting girl makes .a better wife than did tie girl of fifty years ago." Nobody but very young )nen, wearing their first pair of univer° ■feity spurs, would have dared to tackle 'such a subject, and, as might have been anticipated, the "debate" was a rather shameless attempt to wring, the last, ounce of humour out of the situation.

Wellington team comprised Messrs. W. J. Hall, G. Hi Powles and W. Mountjoy, and their opponents were Messrs. A. Miller, C. Mason, Dr. J. C. Andrews. Mr. M. Rocke O'Shea, the registrar, presided. The audience was neither large nor critical, 'but fortunately for the edification of that part of the world which can listen-in the proceedings .were broadcast.

-.- Mr. Hall set the tune when he quoted the man who said apropos of the modern young person- that she had "out her tresses and dresses shorter, "but then look what she has to show for it!"

:' There was a self-appointed bench of critics in the back rows, all undergraduates, who, of course, greeted this sally with a shocked "Oh!" Throughout the debate the .bench threw in more or less similar superfluous remarks, and contributed greatly to the enjoyment of the evening. When Mr. Mason later rattled off a few lines in Latin (or what-

ever it. was) the "bench" countered with a few lines of imitation Choctaw. The greatest chance for the "bench" however, ,came when Mr. Hall argued"that the modern girl showed-more >backbone in the management of affairs as well as "in the drawing room." Naturally that backbone was dug up quite frequently during the evening and hurled with delight from the back of the hall on to the dais.

-If there was anything serious about Mr. Hall's remarks it was that the young girl of to-day was healthier, better educated, and a better manager than the girl of fifty years back.

. Mr. Miller followed, but, as he adopted the sermonette style, the "bench" was mot sparking at all well.

Mr. Powles evidently chiefly admired the modern girl,for her ability-.to spread and so grease the wheels of matrimony. ■ i

'/•Mr. Mason followed with an amusing collection of missiles, some of which were not wrapped up in tissue ..paper.. He thought the Year Book held damning Evidence against the present generation, for he found there that to-day there Were more marriages -without' children fth'd more children without marriages than fifty years ago. His main concern, however, was that the intricate art of iiiaking antimacassars 'had quite diedout, and he held that the most a modern girl could accomplish was a stitch or so in* a brassiere or some other obscure garment. /Mr. Mountjoy gave ;.me> :modern girl credit for very often 'being the driving force 'behind a successful husband. pr. Andrews adopted the stand that the,modern girl, in spite of the brevity 6f;her clothing,, was much more expend |ive to clothe than her ■ He, ventured the: suggestion that ;"SolQmon,; ifr all his glory, could not even' one of'these." >.' -'■-•' : V.

/; There were bo many , "sweet girl graduates" in embryo present' that; it was perhaps just as well the chairman did not take a vote of the audience, as is; usually done at ithese displays of oratory. The fate of the motion was decided hefore the first joke was cracked, but, the age of chivalry mot being dead; ijo vote was taken, and the lovers of the old and the new may both go on thinking they are right. ..Perhaps the real solution to'the;-pro-blem these young university, men,-:set; themselves to play with is .found iii a melody that one of the ; 'stud£n& struck up on the piano behind the curtain of the dais, just before the debate began. Softly he strummed the pretty old air of me if all those endearjng young charms." • /f ' ■',/r-