THE MODERN GIRL.

Putaruru Press, Volume VIII, Issue 346, 10 July 1930, Page 3

THE MODERN GIRL.

(By “ The Loiterer.”) “ Why don’t you write something about the. modern girl'/” said a professional man to me recently. I replied that I had not tackier that most intriguing subject because, being a most unpushful individual, 1 was really very ignorant of tire characteristics of wingless angelic bipeds, ancient, modern, or “ futuristic.” Nevertheless, with the valour of ignorance, 1 propose to set down my simple views, ii only to stop any further requests of a line nature: the poor singer is not bothered to perform at subsequent concerts, though he may" receive an iionical encore at his first appearance. Having been honest and hum ole enough to give the reader fair warning that this article is not going to be as enthralling as the title might indicate, I will get me on with the dance. Consideration of “ the modern . girl ” is quite impossible apart from the question of clothes, and in any case I do not suppose my questioner j wanted me to discuss her in the nude! Let me deal with the draper-

ies, and then we shall find some other aspects to interest us. There is much perturbation in London and Paris and New York because long skirts are “ coming in ” again, and I do not wonder at the protests being made, for the, short skirt is undoubtedly more free, healthful, hygienic, and in keeping with the spirit of the times as evidence in all walks of life. To this I would make the reservation that knees should not be exposed. This exception is not made upon any moral grounds, for, as J. H. Curie has whimsically pointed out in his travel books, such as “ The Shadow Show,” morality may be in inverse ratio to the calico, i.e., the more dress the less morality. He instances tribes where the people go about in nothing but nature’s garment, but whose law in regard to chastity is so strict that a breach thereof is punishable by the death penalty. Conversely, we have

all too many examples of the overdressed and opulent of the large cities of the world, wherein the lack of chastity, far from being a serious - offence, may not even subject the “ offenders ” to even the mildest degree of social ostracism. No, the objection to . knees is on artistic grounds, for, despite views to the contrary expressed by some persons who are supposed to be authorities, I could never see that knees were artistic. Somehow they manage to spoil the “ general ensemble ”; moreover, clothes have their own allure, as directors of the ballet have found out to their cost when they have had the dancers out without even fleshcoloured stockings on their understandings. There is a nice balance and proportion in all things, and in women’s dress that balance seems to be upset by being too daring. On the beach it is a different matter; the environment makes fitting that which would be out of place elsewhere. So long as she does not become “ just too-too” then, I hope the modern girl will make a fight of it to retain her modern ideas on dress, or we will soon have the insanitary dragging skirts and even the hideous bustle back again. As to her habits, let me get rid of the nasty ones first. Smoking is an indulgence which, as one who has smoked for some twenty or thirty years, but has not done so for the

past six months, I am of the opinion is a foolish one for men. I would also conclude it is doubly foolish for women, for they have finer nervous systems and are more easily harmed by artificial practices such as smoking and “ spotting.” If such things are as prevalent as some social workers tell us they are, then the modern girl is a great fool in those respects. I can tell you, too, that it is difficult to give up bad habits, hut, hard as it is to discontinue smoking once the nicotine poison has got to the nerve centres, causing an unceasing craving for regular gratification, it is more difficult still to smoke in moderation, or to reduce one’s usual amount. Anyhow, it is certainly unwise to form useless and perhaps expensive habits, for a habit is much more easily formed than discarded. Another little nastiness is overdoing the paint and powder; men would rather see none at all, but too much is revolting. An overpowdered face always reminds me of a floured fish ready for the frying pan. A good face cream is not so objectionable, but it is a fact that most artificial aids are likely to spoil the natural beauty of the complexion, or whatever freshness and bloom it may possess, long before fading would occur it not so aided.”

“ Spotting ” is without the pale in a sense, even though it may be prevalent. There was a time when men thought business could not he transacted without the convivial glass, but long since commercial leaders have ceased to employ as their representatives men who require the liquid “ aid ” in order to land the business. Likewse its use as social functions, except at banquets and the like, is a deplorable, and one hopes, passing phase. Her fondness for athletics is something that the modern girl should cling to, for it is a healthy sign, and opens up to her a whole world of interest and delight that her grandmother knew not. Here I would make another reservation, namely, that sport seems to me to be overdone by both men and women. There is a lack of balance, inasmuch as the young people of today do not go in for cultivating their

minds to the same extent as a past generation did. For example, it was once a rare thing to find a country town of a thousand or more in population without a well established literary and debating society, which gave opportunities for mental development, and provided one with interest to turn to after physical incapacity had ousted one largely from

the -deid of physical enueuyo'dr and I prowess. A vacant mind has nothing with which to provide sell-en-tertainment in later years, no mental hobbies, hence there is nothing watching others play games. This is no doubt good for the gate, but it does not assist mental development . much, or open up to one the glorious vistas of life in the realms of music, literature, art, and the drama. Without mind culture one cannot rise in the scale of human values. However, I am not blaming the modern girl for a fault largely of environment, but merely pointing out a weakness that may be heeded by those attuned to higher things. Yes, keep up the athletics. Slimming. Apart from the decidedly harmful effects to health, including liability to favouring a predisposition to tuberculosis, the slim-slam girl is not artistic, not of beautiful figure, at least according to my preferences. The straight line has beauty only in a moral sense:

Straight is the line of Duty, Curved is the line of beauty; Follow the first, and thou shalt see The second ever follow thee. So you see that when it comes to physical beauty we must have the rounded curves. Could one imagine an Appollo Bellvedere who had practised slimming ? Or a Psyche ? Or an Aphrodite fresh sprung from the waves ? Look at any of those classical Greek figures of marvellous and matchless physical perfection, and all are rounded, no slim-slams among them. But I must close, for space has its limits. Lovely as may have been the lavender ladies of Victorian days, with their long trails and graceful gowns, may the Lord gather me unto my fathers before their like are brought round again in the cycle of time. To make an awful adaptation of a noble speech on liberty, give me the modem girl or give me death.