GRAY, GAY CHARMERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2303, 16 July 1921, Page 4

GRAY, GAY CHARMERS.

S’ THE MODERN WOMAN EVER A “BACK NUMBER?”

(By Clive Holland.) Scarcely anything is more astonishing to the average man nowadays than the youthfulness of extreme age, and the age of extreme vouth. The joy of life—it would seem that only the really aged can rediscover'it in these days— appears to have entered into the bodies ol ladies of three score years and ton upwards who frequent clubs. I saw two of these dear adventurous souls the other day in the smoking room of a ladies’ club in Piccadilly “pulling" at cheroots! They seemed to be enjoying them, too! ~ t , It is amazing how many youttuui grandmothers will “jaz" if they get half a chance. Not long ago at a dance in Knightsbridgc l saw a lady, white-haired and most wonderfully youthful-looking, “jazzing” with zq,st. “Isn’t Mrs X. simply w'hndertul! said my; hostess. “Seventy-three a week or two ago!" In tubes and ’buses, too, one caiidies a glimpse now and then of the agelessuess of age. They like to he offered a seat do many of these delightful juvenile grandmothers. But they like better to be able to decline it.

The most charming of those who allow their youthful spirits to keep their complexions young, rather than flying to all sorts of cosmetics to repair the ravages of time. The “baby faced" grannie, with the “peeled" skin of a new-born infant, is an eyesore; and, luckily, one has seen fewer of this type about lately. I saw one, however, the other day, and everybody was staring at her. She seemed to think she ) was wearing one of thos.e wonderful masks of which we have recently heard so much.

It is not the youthful movement, the keen \nterest, the alertness of middle-aged and older women that revolts. There is, indeed, something rather charming in these tilings. One would like to know what the psychologist says about the oxtieme youtliiulness of some women. It is an interesting phase of post-war conditions.

But, perhaps, the next most amazing thing is the precocity of youth! One almost expects the iiab.v girl in her pram to start discussing eugenics.

Only the other day the 18-yenv-old daughter of a well-known barrister said quite calmly to a girl friend in a room full of people: "If 1 should ever marry Jack" —the young fellow at the moment dancing attendance upon hot “1 shall make it clear to him that I'm not going to he bothered with kiddies." And young typists, and even schoolgirls many of them, it one happens to overhear their talk — which, as they speak loudly, it is often difficult to avoid doing will he found to he discussing divorce cases and sexual matters with a freedom that would cause their mothers to blush, and tjieir \ ietorian grandmothers to “turn in their graves."

]> ibis all for good or evil? There is, however, one thing qtule riear, namely, 1 hat woman is nuwada\-- a long* while in reaching the “back number" stage of her earthly pilgrimage. And she need nol fear doing this, so long a- >he keeps a cheerful outlook, a smiling face, and retains a keen ini crest in life and its many intriguing phases which she see:- around her.