U.S.A. Girls and the War

Levin Daily Chronicle, 4 May 1918, Page 1

U.S.A. Girls and the War

The American young women is going to be a big factor in the war (says Frank Dillon in the Daily Chronicle). There is an idea that American women are pampered and tlattered by their men folk to a degree unknown to our country. This may be true of patches of American society, especially in the richer circles, ljut it is not correct in essence among what for want of a better term may be called the middle-class giri—that is to say, the young woman with opportunities for a moderate education and a taste for reading, and who sometimes from choice, and occasionally from necessity, find their own living in the world. It is not true either of a good many of those in other circles, of those women, for instance, who arc not rich, but who lead a comfortable home life with their parents or are given a moderate allowance. Through one and all of these girls runs a vein of character and temperament which really makes them into a new race of women to strangers from Europe. KEENER, HARDER, IMPULSIVE. They are, perdhaps, a little keener than our English girls, a little harder, a little more coinpaniable for men — which doesn't mean that they are necessarily more attractive as sweethearts or wives. They talk frankly, smoothly and understandinglv on matters. Almost without exception they are warmhearted in their personal relationships, at times swiftly impulsive, and yet ono is startled frequently by a certain coldblooded attitude towards life. It comes as a reminder that they arc the inhabitants of a new country still bearing traces of primitive struggle. I was travelling from Washington to New York, and at lunch time it was my fortune to be at a table with four girls of from 18 to 21 coming down from college. They were strangers to ine. One of the lunch courses was an attractive looking concoction served with honey. A table courtesy enabled me to ask my neighbour the name of it. "You have never heard of Waffles?" she replied, and tliev all laughed heartily. And then they insisted on serving ing me with some of their waffles, also with some of their honey—and then with open delight watched mc experiment. And from then, until we reached New York, two hours later, those four girls talked in a hurricane of interest with the stranger they had found, talking about books, scenery, politics, and Washington where they were compelled to spend term time. MANNERS AND METHODS. I eito this incident because it stands out in contrast to the usual manners and methods of the American girl, as compared with our own. Mrs Grundy l.eise!f i-: not more sovevc witi\ c-isaul icquainances than the A;neric:.u youiijr lady as a rule. Then is geneiv.liy no suspicion of a merry smile, 110 glint of friendly laughter with She young American girl, no eamar aderie, no reliance on the gcntlei'ian'iness of men short of a formal introduction. You may get a frigid ' Thank you" if you pick up a handkerchief; That's the limit. But the face coldness, panic.nlarly noticeable to the Englishman, hrn its counterpart in a thoroughness of friendship once you have been accepted in a circle, a friendship which lias a depth and comprehensiveness which is very stimulating. It would bo embarrassing if it were not so obviously genuine. The secret of the American young woman in her intensiveness. She never does things by halves, whether it is taking up a hobby, studying a profession, or falling in hive. She knows no rest until she has reached the very limit of the experience into which shehas thrust, her interest. The war has given the women here new directions for effort. A score of organisations arc on foot. Iu trains, tramcars, omnibusjs, cdi in the ]ie ture palaces veil see women Knitting comforters in olive-brown wool. But I believe that this is but the beginning. When the need arises—if it should arise —for women's help on an organised basis, the women of America will be capable of surprising the world.